Evil barred rocks?

[pharmchickrnmom]

I have 4 barred rocks and they are as different as can be. They have different personalites but can be very sweet. I never allowed mine to peck me and will peck them if they even look like they are thinking about it. Mean Marge is probably the most difficult one although she is beginning to mellow a bit. The wyandottes are quiet and reserved compared to the rocks. Nellie is the most immature of the rocks and likes to talk to me. She and Marge do try to peck me from time to time and I go after them, chase them around and pick them up and hold them. Protestation generally follows but I make sure that I hold them and pet them on my terms to let them know that I am the boss. When I put them down again, they still bawk a little but their attitude is much better. Like any animal, you have to establish the rules. When they are out freeranging with me, I dont allow bullying, pecking or going in certain places. When I sit next to their pen, I will also correct bad behaviour. Like everyone else, chickens have individual personalities. Some are nice, others not so nice.

 

[sixxchixx]

My BR has never pecked at me. She doesnt really like to be held but she is certainly the most curious about her surroundings. always the first to taste a new type of treat and the first to run up to me in the coop to see if i have treats. But she has never been agressive toward me or my other chickens.

 

[vscampbell]

My experience with Barred Rocks was horrible. I have several breeds and, having read some good things about them, I ordered some brought into the Grange. I brought in 25 birds, they were aggresive with the other birds, flew like rockets (even with one clipped wing) and ran like jack rabbits. They refused to roost up and the raccoons got 14 of them before I sold the rest to a gentleman that wanted some meat birds for Tandori Chicken. Now I have Sex Links, Welsummers, Speckled Sussex, and a bunch of mixed birds from a friend.. mostly Sussex from the rooster, I think....

I have about 160 birds at the time and will never have another Barred Rock in my flock... I know some people have had good luck with them, but a lot of people have had rotten times also.... not worth the risk as far as I'm concerned.... The Sex Links are laying machines, the Welsummers are great dual purpose birds, and the Sussex are the most friendly things I can imagine.. they follow us around like dogs and will often come right to us and let us pick them up.


Val

 

[Dora'smom]

If I had to do it over again, I would not have any Barred Rocks or Rhode Island Reds. Between those two breeds, everyone in the original flock has been about pecked to death. We don't have any egg-eaters, but everyone looks moth-eaten, and has a bare bottom. I've tried everything, too.
The second flock lives in total harmony, but there are neither of those breeds in it.
There are so many breeds to choose from, I just don't think I will ever chance having either Barred Rocks or Rhode Island Reds again, despite the fact that both lay nice, large eggs very regularly.

 

[katdam]

my barred rocks go about their business...my white rocks on the other hand are the ones that peck at everything on me...i have to watch them or they'll sneak up on me!!!! i think they do it out of curiosity.

 

[Whimsy]

I have two BR's and they really are the comedians of the roost. Always the first to greet me ( I think it is just to tattle ) jump on my lap if I am too slow with treats. They are the talkers of the group always chattering about something. The one will sit next to the fence and talk to my Shi Tzu pup who is trying to reach in to grab a treat (bread, or chicken poop he doesn't care).

The reason I got chickens was my friends BR Bantam Pepper who had personality plus.

 

[Aumlet]

This thread has cracked me up! While my first 3 were chicks, I thought the BR was the "sweet" one. Now she's boss hen and sassy, even with me. When she came near the new chicks looking like she was going to peck them, I pecked her my index finger and she pecked right back! I held my ground, and she flounced off after realizing I wasn't intimidated. She not horrid, but she's definitely the least sweet of the three older girls I have. The Delaware will take your hand off trying to get food, but it is exuberance and not nastiness. The EE is a sweet dingbat. But the BR - oh she thinks she's the Queen of the yard.

 

[mydog8it]

These stories crack me up, too.

I think the situation with my evil twins is improving. Yesterday, I took the meanest one out and set her up in the kitchen, all alone. I felt terrible doing it, but I left her alone for about 5 minutes while she peeped for her flock, then went over to comfort her. She bit me (HARD), I "pecked" her on the back a few times, and left her alone for another 5 minutes. When I went to comfort her the second time, she snuggled right up to my hand. After that, I let her sit on my desk next to me for a couple of hours. She only latched onto a finger a couple of times before she realized I meant business and it was back to the time out corner if she couldn't behave. Today, that one pecked me once, I pecked her back, and that was it. Progress

Now I have to work on the other one...

 

[SC_Hugh]

I have a solution, get some Dominiques!

My two Dominiques are great layers and they behave great towards people, but they do rule the roost.

--Hugh

 

[hiker125]

So if you had to choose, what is the concensus on black austrolorp vs barred rock? I need a quiet layer that can stand DD loving all over them. I have a SS, EE, RSL coming, but want one more for a total of 4.

Since I have never had chickens before, I ordered a variety....