In your experience--what breeds are the nicest roosters? And meanest?

[Chickenmaven]

I have had a couple darling Silkie roosters .... and one absolute DEMON.

I currently have a huge, fierce-looking Ameraucana that is so mild & quiet. Yet he is a vigilant guardian of his ladies.

The "good" roosters were handled often when young.

 

[Cirsius]

From my conversations with other poultry folk, It seems that mean behavior in not breed specific. I noted above that one reply cited that their Rhode Island Red rooster was among the most well mannered birds. Yesterday, my RR attacked me while I was collecting eggs. I incurred some facial gashes and scalp cuts of the quality that would draw lawyers to plaintiffs. The rooster is just one year old, but has been becoming increasingly aggressive with his attacks especially around his flock. I think this is a male thing, as he does not bother my wife. The rooster has 21 hens, with whom he spends the day doing his thing in a 15 acre free range environment. He is a good looking bird, but liability concerns make him a candidate for the gumbo pot.

 

[chickenlittle1980]

I had two very very nasty leghorns and I messed with them when they where little........ I think that made them meaner Then I had a kind of nasty roo he was red and i had no idea what he was he always waited in till you turned your back! Then pow right in the back of your knees!!! He is know my mothers problem!!!!!!! Hey she wanted him....... But the one I have now, Nigel all I know is that he is red..... is a sweet guy The thing i have noticed is one they start attacking you or anything they dont stop!!!!! My moms chicken jumped up to attack my grandfather when he was at my moms place ...... Face on stupid bird.
Well my grandfather being a farm boy just wraped his arms around the bird and held him there!!

 

[chick4chicks]

I had an EE roo that was nice. My Barred rock was so nice he sat on Santa's lap at Petco, no problems. People wanted to pet him so I let them he was gentle.A evil weasel killed both of them.

. Now i have a buff orpington that is nice. Love my roos.

 

[embkm]

I had a Barred Rock that was a HUGE sweetie... until I went on vacation. He attacked the teenager that came to care for the chickens. Ever since then, he went after everyone except me.

I had a trio of OEGB roos that were Satan's spawn. They attacked as a pack.... like mini velociraptors!

My current roo is an EE that I raised from a day old (the others I got at around 4-6 months old). He had been good about keeping his distance from people until recently. Now, about once a week he challenges me and I have to kick him across the pen. He never goes after my husband, but I am now afraid to let my kids go in there. I want to rehome him, but my hubby refuses to let me get rid of him without replacing him with another roo for flock protection.

 

[ChickenCat]

Welllll, my black astralorop roo is the perfect guaridan, he's courteous to me, a little rough on his girls. But I like him.
My bantam roo is adorable!!! He stays away from me when outside. In the hen house he will show aggression to me, nothing i can't handle.
I have a 12 week old buff orpington roo that believes hmself to be Mr. Macho. He runs to my feet, I think I'm standing on his foot reach down to him, (stupid) and he grabs my skin and pulls back!! Yesterday I grabbed him around his neck as he's pulling on my skin and pick him up, tucked him under my arm and we had a talk. Today, he's been very nice. I hope he learns quickly, he is gorgeous. He just needs to change his attitude.

 

[dixiedoodle10]

We had a Barred Rock rooster... he would flog everybody. He was very hard on the hens...we tolerated and tried to change his aggressive behavior, but unsucessful. He is no longer with us. We also have 2 buff orph roos, they are not aggressive towards us. They are pretty skiddish of people. We also had a mille fleur roo and he thought he was bad, he was a beautiful bird... but lost him to a racoon attack.

 

[texaschickmom]

I have a BO roo who is a perfect gentleman around me and a good protector of his flock. Always on the lookout for threats and such. On the other hand...my RIR roo, Romeo, is always giving me the "stink eye" and has done his little rooster "dance" around my legs ONCE and has run up behind me ONCE! I'm really trying to work with him because he is so beautiful, but the jury's still out on him.

 

[funfeatheredfeet]

I have a small Banty roo, Red, (he looks like the one on the Corn Flakes box). He is really tiny and just a joy to have around. Follows me everywhere, today he climbed up on my riding mower, too cool! I also have a beautiful Silkie roo that likes to pick on Red. I'm always coming to the aid of Red and the Silkie (Jack) sidesteps me because everytime he does something I don't like I make a big hissing noise at him. He is kind of rough and tough around the chicken pen but has never tried anything with me. I've had a bunch of Barred Rock roos and they have been really good to have around.

 

[vetgirl00us]

The meanest I ever owned was a Barred Plymouth Rock roo that wouldn't let you out or into the house without carrying a stick, broom or umbrella. I whacked that sucker so hard he bled on the comb once and he finally quit attacking me. However, he never quit scaring the bejesus outta my mother. I have two OEGB roos that are fine. I needed my dog to herd one the other day and he went after her but they never come after us. They follow me around like dogs- wanting treats.