Did your chicks' (including roos) personalities carry on into adulthood?

[thecatumbrella]

I only have a sample size of 4, but 3 out of 4 were consistent in temperament from Day One to Point-of-Lay. Everything from the ones that don't like to be picked up, to the ones that like to snuggle, who's the most vocal, who's the most food motivated, etc.

I'm especially curious in hearing from those that have raised roos. I'm 90% positive I have one right now, and he is a chill dude that prefers peace and quiet to rough housing. I'd love to know if that has a chance of influencing his adult behavior.

 

[newchickmomma3-2025]

No experience, I am on my first batch of chickens this year. But i have seen many people rehoming their favorite, sweetest, most loving rooster. Usually state that they became aggressive once hormone/full maturity reached.

 

[thecatumbrella]

No experience, I am on my first batch of chickens this year. But i have seen many people rehoming their favorite, sweetest, most loving rooster. Usually state that they became aggressive once hormone/full maturity reached.

I see that a lot too. I'm hoping that because mine isn't particularly outgoing (we're more like polite acquaintances) that he'll be cool.

But I'm kidding myself, aren't I?

 

[newchickmomma3-2025]

I see that a lot too. I'm hoping that because mine isn't particularly outgoing (we're more like polite acquaintances) that he'll be cool.

But I'm kidding myself, aren't I?

Well, you know how those teenage years can be. You never know what you will get.

 

[K0k0shka]

Don't let yourself fall in love with a baby roo. It's a recipe for heartbreak. Among the many generations of pullets I've raised, I'd say they more or less stick with their baby personality, with few exceptions. And the exceptions tend to be in the favorable direction. The ones that start out friendly, tend to stay friendly, and among the more skittish ones, some will come around and get friendlier later in life. They all have a "cooling off" period once they really hit puberty, where they want their independence and won't be all up in your face like when they were chicks. But they'll be the same way with their broodmates, too, so don't take it personally. When they are young, chicks will huddle together for warmth and company, and sleep in piles together even when they no longer need the warmth. But as they grow up, they will do less and less of that.

Major life events can kick them into a friendlier gear, too, if it involves additional positive interaction from you. For example, one of my more skittish hens needed medication at some point after she grew up. Twice a day, every day for weeks, I would grab her and take her out of the run for some one-on-one time where I'd feed her scrambled eggs laced with medicine. She LOVED it! It became our special time together. She got less skittish about being picked up and handled. And she continued following me around and expecting something special for years after her treatment ended. Another skittish hen turned out to be a great broody. I'd bring her scrambled eggs and hand feed them to her while she sat on her eggs. Again, it became "our thing". Then I brought some to the chicks, and she'd teach them to eat from my hand. Later she'd teach them how to be proper lap chickens, by sitting in my lap and calling them over. She had never been a lap chicken herself before that. But I was an ally among a flock of (what she considered) enemies, beating them up if they got close to the chicks, but being totally cool with me picking the chicks up and interacting with them. She's raising her 4th brood for me right now, and we still have our special bond. She has kept her lap chicken status even when she doesn't have chicks, and comes over to hang out with me every time I go in and sit in the run. Her sister of the same breed and brood, who had the same personality, has never been broody and still runs from me if I get too close. So that was a major personality adjustment there.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Don't let yourself fall in love with a baby roo. It's a recipe for heartbreak. Among the many generations of pullets I've raised, I'd say they more or less stick with their baby personality, with few exceptions. And the exceptions tend to be in the favorable direction. The ones that start out friendly, tend to stay friendly, and among the more skittish ones, some will come around and get friendlier later in life. They all have a "cooling off" period once they really hit puberty, where they want their independence and won't be all up in your face like when they were chicks. But they'll be the same way with their broodmates, too, so don't take it personally. When they are young, chicks will huddle together for warmth and company, and sleep in piles together even when they no longer need the warmth. But as they grow up, they will do less and less of that.

Major life events can kick them into a friendlier gear, too, if it involves additional positive interaction from you. For example, one of my more skittish hens needed medication at some point after she grew up. Twice a day, every day for weeks, I would grab her and take her out of the run for some one-on-one time where I'd feed her scrambled eggs laced with medicine. She LOVED it! It became our special time together. She got less skittish about being picked up and handled. And she continued following me around and expecting something special for years after her treatment ended. Another skittish hen turned out to be a great broody. I'd bring her scrambled eggs and hand feed them to her while she sat on her eggs. Again, it became "our thing". Then I brought some to the chicks, and she'd teach them to eat from my hand. Later she'd teach them how to be proper lap chickens, by sitting in my lap and calling them over. She had never been a lap chicken herself before that. But I was an ally among a flock of (what she considered) enemies, beating them up if they got close to the chicks, but being totally cool with me picking the chicks up and interacting with them. She's raising her 4th brood for me right now, and we still have our special bond. She has kept her lap chicken status even when she doesn't have chicks, and comes over to hang out with me every time I go in and sit in the run. Her sister of the same breed and brood, who had the same personality, has never been broody and still runs from me if I get too close. So that was a major personality adjustment there.

This actually made me a little emotional to read. I love the idea of being able to connect with some of the more skittish chicks over time, so thank you for sharing your experiences. Also, I'd been away from BYC for a couple years and hadn't seen you since I came back, but I'm glad you're still here! You helped me quite a bit in 2023

 

[K0k0shka]

This actually made me a little emotional to read. I love the idea of being able to connect with some of the more skittish chicks over time, so thank you for sharing your experiences. Also, I'd been away from BYC for a couple years and hadn't seen you since I came back, but I'm glad you're still here! You helped me quite a bit in 2023

Aww, I'm glad to hear I was helpful! And welcome back!