Does anyone have a NICE adult rooster?

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

I have a question...not to hijack, but this may help NYRIR and others. Is it better for a cockerel to fear you or be friendly with you? A little over a month ago I got a d'Uccle hen and a then eight week old chick that she hatched. He's a cute little squirt, d'Uccle/Ameraucana, and I have decided to try and keep him. He's going to be gorgeous when he matures. Ever since day one of him being here, he has been a TOTAL SPAZZ BOY. If I try to touch him or handle him he screams bloody murder and tries to bolt out of my reach. I regularly, and very gently, try to reassure him that I'm not there to harm him. Should I continue to do this or just leave him be? I don't mind having a rooster that doesn't enjoy sitting in my lap. Some of my girls aren't into that, either. I just don't want to end up with a rooster that won't even let me enter the coop! He's never going to be very big, I can't imagine ever being afraid of him... I'd just rather take the correct steps now than have to correct the wrong ones later.

 

[SeaHen]

I've had lots of roosters over the years and currently have several. Only one was ever aggressive or confrontational, and he was a Barred Rock. His brother was very docile and sweet. My boss guy now is a RIR, and he is an extremely good boy (BTW, I've NEVER experienced a mean RIR, and I used to raise them exclusively!). His chief competitor is an EE that is much more assertive and territorial, but our sweetest rooster ever was also an EE, so there you go. We also have several RIR-BO-mutt crosses that are just very nice and well mannered among themselves and towards us, so my unscientific conclusion is that roosters have individual personalities that can't be chalked up to breed.

 

[PunkinPeep]

My favorite roo is a one year old-ish RIR, named Rocky. He and i aren't exactly buds, but he protects his flock wonderfully, he never attacks anyone, and that includes small children who walk up and whap him. He's a great rooster. I did cook his brothers though. I only had to correct Rocky one time, at puberty, and after that, he understood.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
I used to have d'Uccles and they were all spazzes! LOL I like the eating out of my hand but don't really like them in my lap in case they "snap" one day...I like them to have a healthy respect--not so much fear...but just respect for me. Staying out of my way when I'm cleaning, feeding, watering, etc is nice...vs the shuffling/wing-drop/dance or flogging.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

There is hope. The old line of RIR was not mean, not even the Roosters. My Dad raised them shortly after they were developed. I grew up with them and started taking care of them when I was 5 years old. Believe me if they had been mean they would have been soup pretty fast ( actually I think a few were).

That said, yesterdays RIR are evidently not the same as what is being sold by the hatcheries. But that old line is still out there perpetuated by breeders.

So, there is hope. If you find yourself with mean roosters, cull, cull,cull. Breed the nicer of the lot to your best hens and then cull them once the 2nd generation is well on their way. But that is the same advise for any breed for various reasons to get the flock of your desires. If you aren't willing to cull for desirable traits, then don't breed your birds. Its that simple. Even your 2nd generation flock will be an improvement on your original, and each generation should get better if you cull for proper selection.

For example, I had one little RIR hen that wasn't really mean but wasn't exactly nice either. I breed her to my NN Roos who was a sweetheart and so good to his girls. That little RIR hen's daughter is a nice hen that is giving me wonderful babies. I culled the original RIR after I knew I had her daughter. I did not breed it to like breed of course because at the time I only kept NN Roos. But you can with your RIR's.

Good luck in your endeavor.

Edited to correct: Grandpa had RIR's then Dad had them as a young family man. By the time I came around we had RIR or NHR's, my brother said Mom would switch back and forth. I assume depending on which was available.

 

[redhen]

This is what i've found so far... (and i'm sure i'm wrong...lol..)
The roos that i held when they were young and spent alot of time with.. turned out to be agressive and they challenged me....
The ones that i didnt really hold much,and let stay scared of me... turned out to be no problem at all. They keep their distance from me.. which is what i want.
Yet..i can still catch and hold them when needed... and they will even sometimes take a treat from my hand...
But they havent even attempted to challenge me at all. And i believe thats because they have a healthy fear of me...

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Quote:
I used to have d'Uccles and they were all spazzes! LOL I like the eating out of my hand but don't really like them in my lap in case they "snap" one day...I like them to have a healthy respect--not so much fear...but just respect for me. Staying out of my way when I'm cleaning, feeding, watering, etc is nice...vs the shuffling/wing-drop/dance or flogging.

Yup, I don't think I'll have any problems getting this little guy, who I've named Knucklehead, to stay out of my way! Well, I'll just do my thing and let him do his and we'll see what happens! Thank you

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
Wow...that'd be a great idea...thanks for posting that. I am very new to this so I hadn't thought of breeding your nicer ones,culling,etc. I don't like the idea of culling but would with a mean roo for sure.I've read so much about passing it on...injuries,insurance,etc. I do have production reds, I should mention. When I bought them I had no idea there was such a thing...the bin said..RIR's. It wasn't until I got on BYC that I learned I had been duped

Don't get me wrong, I love them all no matter what they are! They are still beautiful....take a look....does anyone see a "meanie'?

 

[burntmuch]

Whats it mean & look like when they ""drop a wing on me""".?? Ive got a couple 3mth old roos Im watching. So I need to know whats aggressive behavier. Need to decide which one stays & which one gets invited to dinner.

 

[Lbrad7]

You will know it when it happens

He will lower his head, raise those hackles and soon after go up the side of your leg, giving it to your shin with his spurs and wings. If you can't break him from it quick...into the pot he should go!

A mean roo shouldn't be taken lightly...they can pop you in the face when you are bent over working in the run or hit you from the side when you are not expecting it. If they have spurs they can do a lot of damage. My brother took one to the head when he was a kid and my dad took two in his throat while leveling a waterer. The roo got another chance when he hit my brother but when he put both spurs in my dads throat a few days later...well lets just say my dad ended that BR's reign of terror.