Breeding for PERSONALITY. AKA Hello SWEET ROO!

[centrarchid]

If we keep talking about game fowl and what they were bred for, this thread is going to get LOCKED!!

Please, folks, this thread was started to discuss breeding for PERSONALITY.

Not for everyone to argue about whether or not this is an acheivable goal.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I think in this situation will be OK. The inclusion of gamefowl in the discussion helps define variations on behavior that are directly and indirectly related to aggression. Additionally the gamefowl have been subjected to a lot of selection related to behavior yet there is variation which can be a resource enabling further desired changes.

 

[chicksurreal]

Interesting points of view on this thread. I'm totally ignorant of the whole breeding thing, we have never even attempted it, but maybe when our current pullets get older and we have the possibility of broody hens. Glad to know there is so much interest and experience on this topic.

 

[GhettoRoo]

. In my experience California Grays and Easter Eggers can more than give games a run on their money on that measure.

What did this mean?

 

[centrarchid]

What did this mean?

Individuals of this breed like to pick fights and go after hens even when target not of similar interest. A good way to measure is to have a rooster in with a bunch of other birds. The more aggressive rooster will launch more numerous attacks against others within flock. Attacks can be to enforce pecking order as well as simply covering hens. Testosterone will likely be higher in individuals that score high.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'd like to suggest that those who want to discuss game cocks, and your opinions why roosters can't be bred for personality (ie. not human aggressive) please start your own thread, where you can discuss such points of view to your heart's content, without trying to derail this thread. I'll be sure to give your thread a wide berth, instead of spending my time arguing with you. Thank you very much, and have a very wonderful evening.

 

[centrarchid]

I'd like to suggest that those who want to discuss game cocks, and your opinions why roosters can't be bred for personality (ie. not human aggressive) please start your own thread, where you can discuss such points of view to your heart's content, without trying to derail this thread.   I'll be sure to give your thread a wide berth, instead of spending my time arguing with you.  Thank you very much, and have a very wonderful evening. 

The perception of arguing is simply presenting an alternative view and investing effort so as to explain rational and where needed present points and counterpoints. You have done similar.

Only one party concluded birds could not be bred for personality that is of the gamecock group. That was not my position. None-the-less the gamecock folks are uniquely qualified for this issue because bird-human interactions have been a consistent issue for longer than the other breeds have even been around. We often interact with individual birds over protracted lengths of time (often many years) under a range of conditions where a rooster that attacks people is extremely problematic. We are also more likely to track pedigree over many generations which enables getting a handle on heritability of behaviors including aggression towards humans which is at the heart of the thread's discussion. It is not all about controlling aggression through management, it is a combination of management and selection.

 

[lazy gardener]

As I see my rooster getting older (he's now 9 months old, it's impressive how nice he's turning out.) The older he gets, the more attentive he is to his ladies. I'm looking forward to seeing how this spring's hatch goes with his babies. It would be good to have a broody. Have not had one in my flock. If he becomes an attentive daddy, that would be an other plus regarding him earning his keep.

 

[LaylaFlora]

I am so glad to have found this thread!

I am starting a breeding project I'm the spring with my gold and cream brabanters and have previously declared I will be selecting for, most importantly, PERSONALITY!

My brabanter roo is named Sweetheart. He is a lap chicken that trills when I pet him. The cream hen is also quite docile. They come from two separate lines and yet are my least flighty/most friendly chickens.

Must be because it is already in the brabanters genetics!

 

[centrarchid]

When setting up for selection on basis of personality I would devise a set of criteria used. That set of criteria is extremely important. Ideally you can look for activities that are not simply gross examples of physical contact / agression. Another point I will suggest is that you do not make final selections until roosters are what we call cocks which means they around for their second Christmas. You can still do some culling earlier but do not end it there.

There are lifestage considerations to make as well with terms to go with them. Criteria not mentioned with them below.

Cockerel / Stag is bird you can identify as a male that is not yet fully mature. Within this classification age related changes are readily apparent with many being transient.

Bullstag (no equivalent term with non-games) is a stag with first adult featherset fully in which most standard breeds released by 8 to 8 months post-hatch. This when interest in hens can go beyond simply mating.

Cock is when second adult featherset fully in and he is usually a little larger than he was as a bullstag. Feathers are also a little more elongated. Term we use with respect to final / mature weight is "cock out weight". With at least some birds you can see further behavioral changes and many hens if they have the choice will hang out preferentially with such males.


In nature (think Red Jungle Fowl) the males have differing reproductive strategies as a function of being bullstags or cocks. Normally the non-bullstag stags are denied mating opportunities by all older birds in the population making so some of the mating activities of younger birds are not even played out as seen with birds that are all of the same age and not fully mature. Think "Lord of the Flies" where young operate outside normal social bounds typically maintained by adults..

I mention again no actual criteria indicated above.

 

[centrarchid]

What are your criteria for assessing aggression of roosters? Is it based only on outright attacks? Feigning outright attacks? Posturing? Vocalizations? Most people do not seem aware of the latter two even after keeping birds for many years.