Is there a nice breed of rooster?

[harleyjo]

I am concerned that this little guy that we have, it is a mutt, is going to be mean. He hasn't come after me yet and in fact, it runs from me because when I see him being mean to my pullets I will chase him down. Tonight one of my orpington pullets lost a bunch of feathers when he attacked her. I went charging out after him. He sees me coming and he runs.

So I am wondering if a certain breed produces nice, calm roosters?

 

[Mahonri]

My Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas are wonderful.

My FBCM tried to attack me once.

I have a BWA X Salmon Faverolle that is wonderful. He'll be going to my cousin's farm on the west side of Phoenix this next week... and he is a looker who can crow... at just 4.5 months.

 

[turtlebird]

Any breed has its fair share of perfect gentlemen, and mr. nasties. Well, I have heard that RIRs tend to be more aggressive....but others have had total sweetheart RIRs. Establish yourself as top chicken, don't let 'mutt' mount a hen in your presence, give him a fair chase at times, but also pick him up from time to time (I turn mine so he can't gouge my eyes out!) and carry him around. Pet his wattles, speak gently, let him know you are in charge - but that you aren't going to hurt him or the ladies.
Oh, and don't forget.....never ever turn your back to him.
I tested my roo the other morning and turned my back, just to see what he was going to do. Sure enough I heard that tell-tale pat pat pat pat-pat-pat of his feet. When he was almost at my boots, I turned back quickly, raised my arms, and squawked at him. He almost tipped, I think

. Then I gave him a little chase and he has left me alone for a few days. Yesterday, I picked him up and gave him a hug. He LOVES that!

Good luck with your roo, I love 'em!
ETA: my roo is 18 weeks, he's just learnin'

 

[harleyjo]

I can't get close enough to this roo to pick him up. He was raised on a farm and had no contact with people handleing him. He doesn't really understand treats the way the girls I raised from chicks do either. I got him when he was 4 to 6 weeks old.

 

[mama2many]

I was just wondering this same question. I have a full grown roo who has a problem with my kiddos. I have issues with that, he dosn't spur me just the kids. How can I help the kids straighten him out or is it too late? I have found him a home but would love to have a roo.....would love suggestions for a friendly roo. Or is this too much to ask?

 

[WonderChicken]

There is a very interesting read about a woman who tames roos by holding their beaks to their chest until they stop fighting. After I read this I used this technique with my own roo and all my hens just so they know who is the big dog and have found it to work very well. I did this while they were young and still do it occasionally just to remind them. I handle them often and my Rose Come RIR roo is most gentle, enjoys contact and has never challenged anyone 2 or 4 legged. http://hubpages.com/hub/Taming-Wild-Roosters. I can only vouch for my own, but it has worked like a charm.

 

[WallTenters]

Our Dominiques are wonderful. They are a bit stand off-ish, unless you have FOOD, but we didn't coddle them much as chicks because we didn't really want them underfoot since they were free ranging for some time.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

There are good roosters & bad roosters in every breed I've ever owned. I've heard horror stories about RIR roos, but our current RIR roo is a big baby at 2 years old and one of the gentlest I've ever owned. It just depends on the individual bird. If I was recomending a breed for gentle roosters I'd suggest Favrolles or Cochins as those breeds seem to have fewer mean roosters from my experiance.
I expect a bit more from my roosters than most it seems. To me a good rooster is one who looks after the hens and is gentle with them, is fertile and breeds dependable, doesn't stray too far from the farm, protects the flock from danger, calls the hens in when he finds a tasty morsel or sees trouble coming, and is not aggressive to me or the family. I expect him to be mean to strangers, predators, and competing roosters. Basicly, I expect him to act like a male chicken, not a pet.
I give all our chickens treats daily and talk to them. I do try and handle them a bit when they are young, but don't expect them to be a pet like a dog or cat. ours come running when they see one of us coming because they know it's treat time. I don't worry about turning my back on any rooster on the farm. Any rooster that attacks one of the family gets to swim in a big pot of dumplings.
Life's too short to put up with a mean rooster.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Our cochin rooster is just a big sweetie.

So far, our EE cockerel is behaving himself. I cornerd him in the run and told him that he better not bother the hens too much or attack a person. The first time he attacks, the axe! (Ok, a .22 carbine but it doesn't rhyme!)

I used to work at a ranch that had 2 Australorp roos who were docile and basically just ignored people. Their RIR on the other hand ...

 

[BayFillyZ]

I have 6 large cochin roos. They are all gentle giants and get along pretty good with each other too.