Barred Rock the meanest breed?

[LovinMyPeeps]

I cant help but laugh when I read this thread... I was out picking feathers in the yard for crafts. I have 17 hens in the yard... and three trailing behind me.. all three were my ONLY three barreds. I love my BR girls, they have the most personality in the world. I love all my girls, but I truly think they're my favorites.

Cookie and Sydney with my chantecler Myrna.

 

[speckledhen]

That's pretty typical of Barred Rocks, their curiosity. They have to know what you're doing all the time. Barred Rocks are, as a rule, calm, inquisitive, intelligent and rarely at the bottom of the pecking order. As I said before, they are not pushovers, by any means. They are my favorite breed/variety (I have barred, blues and one black Rock).

 

[mchl]

my br girl is my baby the calmist bird i got out of rir buff sex links i dont know about roos but my hen is cool.......

 

[undergroundchickens]

I love my 2 Barred Rock pullets. They follow me around when I am outside and almost always are the first to run to me when I open the back door. They are sweet to me and my kids. They are a beautiful chicken. I love the black and white barring with the bright red comb and wattles. Seems their "bloomers" stick out a bit more than my other girls and I love that look. The only thing I don't like about them is they are the top two of the pecking order and are not very nice to my other girls. I am guessing though that that is just how the pecking order works...and it just happens the top of my flock are the Barred Rocks girls. I don't think you will be sorry you have them if they are all girls. I have no experience with a roo. Best of luck!

 

[Thatchickenguy]

Listen. A roo is easy to break. Start with hittin him when he challenges you. When he comes back....grab both of his legs, and hang him upside down. In front of his girls. If he is still mean, remove the spurs using the hot potato method. Its de-masculating to them. Chase him. It sounds weird but it works. Make him eat from your hand. Hm. I cant think of anything else right now. But dont just beat him senseless. lol

 

[speckledhen]

If you hit a rooster, he thinks you're fighting him. He won't respect you, just fear you, and when you least expect it, he'll find his chance to get you again. I don't see how abusing a rooster will do anything except possibly injure the rooster.

Aggression can be hereditary. I will not keep human-aggressive roosters here because I dont want to propagate that aggession (in hen or rooster) and I can't watch my back every second I'm in the pen. There are way too many calm-tempered ones to always have to watch your back.

 

[allpeepedout]

Haven't read all the posts here so apologies if this post is redundant, but on another thread, "Spurred" I think it was, is a discussion of a technique used to train roosters involving pushing down on their back and their neck firmly but kindly until they relax, which is how roos naturally decide dominance. Sounds worth a try on birds still young or approachable. I was very happy to have a technique in mind to correct behavior as my youngster grows.

Regarding BRs, my 3 are the sweetest at almost 5 weeks. My cockerel is a lap chick, though I know hormones yet to come...

 

[schellie69]

I have 2 BR hens and I love them they are high in the pecking order. They are queens and they know it.

Zelda loves to fly up on the wagon to see the world. Zoe stays on the ground they are both sweet to me never peck when I get eggs out from under them. I think people are mistaking that just because they are at the top in the pecking order and it seems they pick on the other chickens that they are mean thats not the case in a flock its their rules not ours. I love my BR and will get more when I have a farm why because they are a hardy take charge kind of chicken they do not need to be pampered even if they think they do. I have heard that RIR are the meanest chickens but I hear others say they are the best so I think every breed has the good ones and a few bad ones. I would love to know how things turned our with the rooster

 

[wekiva bird]

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[Jake Levi]

All the NRs I've been around since a kid have been very good to be around, some hens become pets. Ditto Wyandottes.

The meanest breed I have ever seen is the Aesil. And some Old English Games.