Befriending a Rooster?

[gimmie birdies]

I had hatched out 3 birds, 2 big and one small. the small one was always beating me up. I thought- I better cull this one. one day before the culling, she laid an egg, well my attitude to wards her changed and so did hers. I picked her up and gave her a hug, from then on all she wanted was hugs, I think she was beating me up for attention all this time, plus being raised with 2 roosters, she thought she was one.

 

[Chicken Chat]

My main goal is that I want to be able to handle all my flock easily, roo or hen, in order to administer mite treatments, cut toenails, check for injuries, and in the case of some of my silkies and polish, a haircut so they can see. It would make for some long days if I had a fight on my hands every time I needed to check the flock for these things. I had a silkie roo that needed regular spur trims because one of them curved around and would dig into his leg. I could easily pick him up, put him on his back on my lap and check or trim his problem spur without fuss. If he had not been hand tolerant or trusting, both of us would have been stressed out every time, which is why I like to handle all my chicks early and often, especially my boys. I think it depends on how you want to manage your flock.
To answer your original question, let me add that for 2 years this silkie roo free ranged and he protected his girls and was always a gentleman to me. They eventually had to be fenced because I had an issue with every neighbors dog constantly coming into my yard and he was attacked by 3 of them. Luckily, I was home and stopped it. He was stitched up and lived another 5 years with his girls. Best roo I ever had.

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! I have 2 roos (Pat & Buckle) and I have spent so much time with them that they're very tame. (I used hand feeding, picking them up often, walking around with them, etc..)

Unfortunately, not all roos are this way.. Even specific breeds (such as Polish) are naturally aggressive.

If you want a pet rooster, try to search up friendly chicken breeds. I would def raise it from a chick, so it would be very used to you. (One of my roos is a Barred Plymouth Rock, and a mixed breed. Both incredibly sweet. )

I've heard that silkie Roos are friendly. (The hens too!)

 

[gimmie birdies]

The hen that thought she was a roo was part silkie and part EE bantam. I hatched her egg because her dad the EE bantam roo was so wonderful, but I had two other roosters that took him out. I had pulled the egg out of the fridge and hatched it because I had to have more of him.

 

[JeanR]

Even a gentle rooster can quickly become aggressive if you pick up a (his) hen right in front of him! Don't "challenge" him. Move the hen away and stand between them when you pick up a hen in his flock. I handle my birds after they go to roost, and they are used to it and very quiet. With a flashlight, I check some for mites and smooth their feathers every night or 2, so in a short time, all birds are gently handled. And I do not keep aggressive males very long. Sometimes, but not usually, they will "slow down" and be agreeable.

 

[Chickassan]

Even a gentle rooster can quickly become aggressive if you pick up a (his) hen right in front of him! Don't "challenge" him. Move the hen away and stand between them when you pick up a hen in his flock. I handle my birds after they go to roost, and they are used to it and very quiet. With a flashlight, I check some for mites and smooth their feathers every night or 2, so in a short time, all birds are gently handled. And I do not keep aggressive males very long. Sometimes, but not usually, they will "slow down" and be agreeable.

Everyone does things there own way and that's how it should be. Personally i can't have a rooster i have to tiptoe around at night just to do flock matinance. I need to be able to grab any hen at any time without worrying about my rooster that's just how it has to be. My cockrel stays right beside me when I'm having to do anything and I talk to him while i work,sometimes even give him a little scratch if the situation warrants it. I'm just way too old and clumsy to be messing with chickens at night. And I'm totally in agreement with not keeping aggressive roos. That's one thing I've come to accept, if they start out mean they're probably going to stay like that and it's time to try another roo.

 

[Diannastarr]

If you hand tame a rooster and spend lots of time with it, can it free range without becoming aggressive towards you? I kinda want to keep a rooster so this will be very important info.

you keep your wonderful sweet roo...!!! youve got one of the good ones..!! be happy you have him...!!! i lost one just like yours and to this day i miss him & i still sad he passed away.

 

[sharlysharlss]

Disclaimer- I have not read all threads just giving you my opinion based on my breed and experience:
I have 3 Rhode Island Reds since birth. I thought they were all hens and get them in the house until about 16 weeks old. I picked them up them roam around the house and I hand fed them. One turned out to be a rooster and he is "ok". He is not aggressive towards me but he is to my husband. He lets me pet him and hand feed him. So with that I will say if you raise it from birth and spend time with him/her they will bond with you. (hopefully)

 

[LittleDinosaur]

I say give it a go. I'd keep a couple and handle them everyday from hatch (or arrival if you order chicks) and keep the nicest one. My best rooster came from 'chickensforbackyards', a middle-man site like MPC. He was an EE that never once acted even remotely aggressive towards me even when I cornered him on purpose to see if he'd attack. Super sweet guy, but turned out to be a rough mount and had to go for the sake of my hens' backs. The sons I've got off of him right now (6 in total, 2 full-brothers and the rest half-brothers) are all people-friendly but one of them inherited his rough mounting while the rest seem to be fairly docile.

 

[Chickassan]

@(chicken pun) I do want to let you in on something. I don't know how savvy you are with an incubator but if you can possibly hatch your future rooster that's a huge help in having the kind of fella you want. That way the first thing he sees and hears is you. Always use a nice vocal tone and don't ever yell. Also be aware chicks are born with the ability to relate sounds to situations and they relate certain sounds on their own. You can use this! Example, you know that noise roos make when they see danger? My chick's instincts told them my yawns sounded enough like that to take duck and cover action. To this day if i need them to get to safety i just yawn really loud.