Does anyone have a “nice” Rhode Island Red?

[Ajp23]

I hate to say this, but this is the only breed we’ve had that we have begun to regret . We have three and they are all mean as heck. Of course they are at the top of the pecking order so I expect some dominant behavior but these three are just brutal. We might be making other plans for them soon last straw was the top gal holding down my favorite Easter egger and picking her muffs clean off!!

I was talking to several friends who have RIRs and they’ve shared the same experience. Anyone have a different experience with this breed? Anyone have another breed they regret?

Should I try separating them to the grow out pen for a while or is it delaying the inevitable?

 

[MGG]

I hate to say this, but this is the only breed we’ve had that we have begun to regret . We have three and they are all mean as heck. Of course they are at the top of the pecking order so I expect some dominant behavior but these three are just brutal. We might be making other plans for them soon last straw was the top gal holding down my favorite Easter egger and picking her muffs clean off!!

I was talking to several friends who have RIRs and they’ve shared the same experience. Anyone have a different experience with this breed? Anyone have another breed they regret?

Should I try separating them to the grow out pen for a while or is it delaying the inevitable?

I've got four right now, two adult hens and two 7 week old pullets. I've had more in the past. I've never had a mean one. Mine are all great with people, and have never shown any aggression to the other birds. My current adult two are from Hoovers through TSC, and my two chicks were ordered from mt healthy. I love the breed, they're excellent layers and I like their dark red color. Good foragers too. However my neighbor bought a bunch from TSC a couple years ago, and his are all pretty standoffish, but they were not interacted with at all growing up. He had me hatch some chicks for him from his this year, and those were some of the meanest day old chicks I've ever seen. They were just attacking each other all day for no reason. Toes, eyes, wings, they were biting everything. One had a mild rough navel that I hadn't noticed, and they almost killed it in like ten minutes. Even when I reached in to feed or water they'd try to attack my hand. I was very happy to hand them off to him, I've never seen anything like it. I don't know what caused them to act that way, unless it really was just breed aggression. I know chicks sold through farm stores are usually pretty poor quality. I've heard breeder/show quality ones are not aggressive like the inbred hatchery ones can be.
I've personally never had aggression in mine, but I do socialize them a lot and brood them right in the living room for the first week or two. I spend half an hour with them at least every day. I don't know how much that plays a factor, but mine have always been great.
My sweet two babies yesterday. They hop up on me all on their own and fall asleep.

 

[Ajp23]

That’s good to know! Mine are from Valley Hatchery, two years ago. They came along with four lav orpingtons who are the sweetest things. I can put up with a lot usually but this old gal is really something!

 

[GuineaMania]

I have two Rhode island reds. At first, one of mine was really mean and whiny, pecking other chickens and being loud. My other one is nice. Now, the mean one is much nicer.

ETA: Also, for some reason all my barred rock hens aren't nice! I thought they would be docile and sweet, but they often peck my other hens.

 

[Ajp23]

Anyone want to adopt my three?

 

[townchicks]

I did, my all time favorite hen. In eight years, I never once saw her peck at any others. When she was alone due to sudden deaths of her 2 companions, I adopted some adult hens, and she was the one who got bullied. I sorted that out, but she stayed at the bottom of the order the rest of her life. My friendliest hen to me, also.

 

[Ajp23]

I did, my all time favorite hen. In eight years, I never once saw her peck at any others. When she was alone due to sudden deaths of her 2 companions, I adopted some adult hens, and she was the one who got bullied. I sorted that out, but she stayed at the bottom of the order the rest of her life. My friendliest hen to me, also.

She sounds amazing maybe I got a unique crew of them.

 

[Ajp23]

ETA: Also, for some reason all my barred rock hens aren't nice! I thought they would be docile and sweet, but they often peck my other hens

This is interesting! I guess it proves that they really are individuals. My barred rock is one of my least problematic. I really don’t have any mean hens other than my RIRs but if they weren’t there to rule the roost, who knows how that would change other personalities.