OP, I hope it all works out for you. Remember that you are getting a cockerel - immature, hormonal and unpredictable. It’s likely that he will not protect your girls (who are currently considered pullets since they are not of laying age yet) until he matures (around or after a year old). He will reach breeding age before they do. This often results in the pullets being chased down and mounted before they’re ready, causing them to be stressed.
A good, mature rooster does watch out for the flock. However, he is often just a speed bump for a predator. While a rooster might injure a hawk, he stands no chance against a mink, fox, coyote, dog, or anything that gets into the coop at night.
As stated before, a cockerel/rooster who goes after the humans that feed him and his flock is NOT doing his job. He’s not smart enough to figure out what the real threats to his flock are. My idea of a good cockerel/rooster is one who stays out of my space. When he sees me coming, he moves away. The flock will move away with him because they are more dependent on him than you, so it would be hard to make pets of the girls if you wanted to.
Since this is your first cockerel/rooster, I would like to point out a few behaviors to watch for that may indicate that he’s thinking bad thoughts about you:
Giving you the stink-eye (you’ll know it when you see it)
Stalking you
Raising his hackles
Not respecting your space
Stomping his feet at you
Wing dragging
Pecking you
These behaviors don’t necessarily mean an attack is imminent, but they could indicate that one is coming. Be mindful of where he is at all times. Especially if you have young children living with you or who like to see the chickens when they come visit. So many times I read the words, “It came out of the blue! I had no idea….” Rooster attacks don’t come without warning. People just don’t always recognize the warning signs.
