I think it is basically a personality thing. I've treated 12 Roosters in my life, pretty much the same, with caring & affection, some more receptive & lovey dovey than others.
2 joined my family already as adults...1 Ameracauna was aggressive & needed to be rehomed, where they wanted a good protective Roo (Baron was great with his hens but attacked people) & the other is still here, Vagabond, a RIR is not mean or aggressive, he actually runs away if I reach for him, so occasionally catching him to gently check him over isn't his favorite thing, but he knows I won't hurt him. He was actually abandoned in the nearby town & I rescued him before someone shot the 5am crowing young bird running loose. He doesn't want interaction unless he sees a treat in my hand, which he will begin his "I see a treat cluck" for his girls, but is very wary of eating from my hand, so I don't expect him to, I'll set up his corn cob hanging or flock block then give him privacy to enjoy.
1 Barred Rock Roo I raised from just 4 weeks old & he was a sweet chick, but he got ornery, it's a game to him, try & run up behind me to spur back of my calf then run away laughing, I kid you not, he laughs! So my game is, I see him coming towards me out the corner of my eye, spin around, run towards him & scoop him up before he can spur me, & I haven't been kicked since. Rocky is a little stinker, when he comes at me he wants me to take a min & pet him, sit down with him on my lap & then he turns into a sweetie making sweet little sounds. If I need to walk & carry him somewhere, I have to tuck him under my arm, during which, if he can, he will try to bite. I know better, no bare arm, he just gets a beak full of sleeve Lol. My baggie hoodie has a lot of sleeve, it is hilarious when he goes to bite that, tugs on it, then lets it go & looks up at me with a puzzled expression. I know many wouldn't put up with this, but he actually makes me laugh, he's never really hurt me. He's very talkative with me, too, a funny bird.
The rest of my Roos are all very sweet & LOVE being pet. If I garden they come check out what I'm doing. If I am digging, they dig to help! If I pull weeds, they peck & play with the weed pile. If I sit down they jump on my lap & hunker down. All will eat from my hand or come running if I call. These are Wyandottes, Ameracaunas & Buff Orpingtons & 1 super sweet RIR.
There's no way to predict who will be nice, or who will stay nice, but so far, the 5 Roos I hatched out, are just as sweet as their daddy Roos. I hug most of them every single day.
3 of them expect hugs, walk up to me & stand there waiting...like where's my hug mom.
Maybe it's part inherited, part learned, part mood & part smart enough to see that friendly equals more hugs or treats.
