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- #11
Thanks, Gander, Katie, Sourland, and Drumstick Diva.
Temperament was one of my criteria when I was initally choosing breeds. (Other criteria included both heat and cold tolerance, as well as dual purpose.) My husband originally did not like chickens. When he was young, his grandfather had thousands of chickens. Many would chase my future husband to be. When we were dating, my family had a flock of mixed varieties of bantams, including a few roosters. One would attack my future husband to be. I consider myself fortunate that that initial box with 15 roosters included two different roosters who were not aggressive toward people but were willing to protect their hens from danger.
I consider myself extremely fortunate that one was Mr. Milquetoast. He was very good at communicating with us. It was easy to see what he was thinking and what he wanted. We did not always do or give him what he wanted, such as more time with the girls, but at those times he seemed to think that we were just unable to figure out what he wanted. He was able to develop a great working relationship with my husband and got him to see that some chickens could be pets while still being chickens. Mr. Milquetoast, once he became the alpha rooster, maintained that position, but never seemed to see us as a threat. This was even more fortunate as he grew to be a large rooster with large spurs. I sometimes thought he saw me as either alpha hen or Mom as he would sometimes dance around me to get me to pick him up.
I do not know how much is due to inheritance and how much is due to nurturing, but I am glad that the male offspring of those two initial roosters are also not aggressive to us, even if they are not all as friendly or as smart as Mr. Milquetoast. Five of our seven roosters will let us walk up to them and pick them up. The other two do not like to be picked up and will walk away, letting us either herd them where we want them to go or trapping themselves in a corner where we can pick them up. I will hold and pet each rooster periodically so that they remember that I am either super alpha or a source of comfort (mom).
I will still, however, give a freezer ticket to any rooster or hen that will persistently attack people knowing that I am the one in the family who will do all the work of processing the chicken.
Temperament was one of my criteria when I was initally choosing breeds. (Other criteria included both heat and cold tolerance, as well as dual purpose.) My husband originally did not like chickens. When he was young, his grandfather had thousands of chickens. Many would chase my future husband to be. When we were dating, my family had a flock of mixed varieties of bantams, including a few roosters. One would attack my future husband to be. I consider myself fortunate that that initial box with 15 roosters included two different roosters who were not aggressive toward people but were willing to protect their hens from danger.
I consider myself extremely fortunate that one was Mr. Milquetoast. He was very good at communicating with us. It was easy to see what he was thinking and what he wanted. We did not always do or give him what he wanted, such as more time with the girls, but at those times he seemed to think that we were just unable to figure out what he wanted. He was able to develop a great working relationship with my husband and got him to see that some chickens could be pets while still being chickens. Mr. Milquetoast, once he became the alpha rooster, maintained that position, but never seemed to see us as a threat. This was even more fortunate as he grew to be a large rooster with large spurs. I sometimes thought he saw me as either alpha hen or Mom as he would sometimes dance around me to get me to pick him up.
I do not know how much is due to inheritance and how much is due to nurturing, but I am glad that the male offspring of those two initial roosters are also not aggressive to us, even if they are not all as friendly or as smart as Mr. Milquetoast. Five of our seven roosters will let us walk up to them and pick them up. The other two do not like to be picked up and will walk away, letting us either herd them where we want them to go or trapping themselves in a corner where we can pick them up. I will hold and pet each rooster periodically so that they remember that I am either super alpha or a source of comfort (mom).
I will still, however, give a freezer ticket to any rooster or hen that will persistently attack people knowing that I am the one in the family who will do all the work of processing the chicken.
