Is there such a thing as a docile Roo?

[Sunny Side Up]

No matter how docile your roo, even how friendly your hens might be, you always want to monitor your little ones when they're near your flock. But of course you already knew that. It IS possible to have a roo that won't attack you when you approach his hens, one who won't stalk you when you cross the yard and try to spur & flog you when your back is turned. But little kids, with their quick unpredictable movements, can startle or upset even the nicest chicken.

As your kids grow, you may want to get them involved with 4-H Poultry Showmanship. It teaches the kids a lot about the right way to handle & hold chickens.

 

[maurerwerks]

My roo, Cyril, is a SLW and is about 33 weeks old. He isn't aggressive at all. He is very attentive to and protective of his girls. I haven't tried to pick him up since he was about 3 weeks old and he certainly doesn't act like that's on his list of things he'd like me to do. But I think come spring, I'm going to try some training sessions to get him so I can pick him up. He allows me to pick up the two of the girls who like to be cuddled, so we have a "good" relationship now, but I'd like to be able to handle him without too much trauma. This photo was taken back in early December when there was just a little snow on the ground. Doesn't look like this now - LOL.

 

[ScotianChick]

A bantum would cause less problems if he did turn out to be a little jerk haha. Rhode Island Reds are kind of well known for being aggressive. I have one but he and I are on good terms. He doesn't do anything to me, I don't do anything to him and he kicked a hawk's butt a few weeks ago. We lucked out. When everyone was just pullets we had 2 Silverlaced Wyandotte Roosters and 3 Rhode Island Red roosters. We gave away two of our reds for free to some people who wanted to show trios of RIRs and we ate the two SLWs. They were mean... which is odd because it's usually the other way around...

Whatever you do, don't get a leghorn one. Those are flighty roosters! And they can get mean!

 

[Yazzo]

Well, I know some people on this forum would disagree with this, but I think pretty much ALL roosters can be docile, if handled right. But I've worked with dozens of different roosters and have found that they can all be at least tamed down. Certain breeds can be harder, and I think we all know bantams can be feisty little buggers, but even they can be worked with.

I have three huge Australorp boys now who are absolutely wonderful. They're what some people would call total gentlemen, leaving the hens alone most of the time while still protecting them, and acting as 'rooster police' when one of the young roosters starts getting too cocky (no pun intended). Plus, they are insanely tame to boot.

Some people seem to to think that roosters are either born 'mean' or 'nice' and can never be trained, but that's just not true: as is apparent by all the ridiculously nice roosters I've had (I know, that sounds like bragging, but hey, I'm sure not the only one with nice roosters

)

ScotianChick: Leghorns in general, especially white leghorns, seem to be a pretty flighty bunch, but I've had leghorn roosters that were very tame and docile. Of course, I did have to work with them a bit (which mostly just involved picking them up and making them tame - not much work really), but it was all worth it.

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Anyone looking for more info on taming roosters and rooster aggression can check out the link in my signature.

 

[secuono]

All my Roosters are friendly, haven't had any 'evil' ones like I keep hearing others have...
Are you talking people friendly or other chicken friendly?

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
Now that I think about it, I don't think I'd leave a little kid unsupervised around any animal. Respectful behavior goes both ways; we have to teach and REteach our children to care for our animals and property, but not everybody does. Little kids will poke sticks into anything (and anybody!) and throw things (and pets!) or chase moving objects, often deserving whatever sharp, pokey protection a rooster dishes out.

We had to post No Trespassing signs and gated fences (as prescribed by the APHIS brochures), because other people's poorly behaved, stick-launching, rock-throwing, animal-chasing children have roamed unsupervised into our property to wreak havoc, uninvited. Police call it trespassing and vandalism. Their parents say, "they're just being kids". Some neighbors have no respect for privacy and property rights of others.

I try to protect myself from liability. Escorting unwanted "visitors" out of my yard, I have helped the children read the signs posted on my gates, and told them what the signs mean, that they may NOT enter our yard, because the poor kids have been told "you're just a kid" (or a version of "Get outta here, don't come back until dark!") and nobody's taught them how to be a respectable neighbor. I've provided photos of the signs and gates, compliance to the APHIS recommendations for Backyard Bird Biosecurity measures to my homeowners' insurance agent, and keep a copy of police officers' name/date of interventions for my own records.

Your point about the rooster around kids is a good one. The more people bring chickens back into the fold of family life, the more often roosters will be exposed to poorly socialized kids (and their parents!), and some roosters will have to defend themselves. Unfortunately, its something to think about. The last thing we need is somebody complaining "your rooster attacked my kids!", even if it's THEIR kids trespassing and vandalizing on SOMEBODY ELSES' PRIVATE PROPERTY. ...

 

[fshinggrl]

Now that I think about it, I don't think I'd leave a little kid unsupervised around any animal. Respectful behavior goes both ways; we have to teach and REteach our children to care for our animals and property, but not everybody does. Little kids will poke sticks into anything (and anybody!) and throw things (and pets!) or chase moving objects, often deserving whatever sharp, pokey protection a rooster dishes out.

Oh believe me, I don't like it when kids 'abuse' animals... even when they don't know any better. I certainly wouldn't tell the kids to go at them. They kids basically want to just 'hold' the chickens and that is what I called 'playing.' They know they don't 'catch' the chickens by grabbing on to feathers. But, like any kids, if someone isn't looking, it's not as if they won't try if they are 'desperate' enough. They are supervised!​

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
Oh believe me, I don't like it when kids 'abuse' animals... even when they don't know any better. I certainly wouldn't tell the kids to go at them. They kids basically want to just 'hold' the chickens and that is what I called 'playing.' They know they don't 'catch' the chickens by grabbing on to feathers. But, like any kids, if someone isn't looking, it's not as if they won't try if they are 'desperate' enough. They are supervised!

Oh Totally I agree with you! But the problem is surprise, unexpected visits from OTHER PEOPLE's kids that had me worried; unsupervised kids without responsible parents. Kids with no idea how to behave or why. I had never known people would be so bold and so rude as to trespass and fuss over our pet birds. Even, try to hurt our birds. But there, they are.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

I know I'm waaay late jumping in this, but I had to add that I have one rooster that's scared poopless of me, and another who is a HUGE baby!! He's a cross between my BR and EE and he's such a baby that he's almost a wuss now LOL He loves to be picked up and carried around. I was scared of getting a mean one too so I got really lucky!

 

[Beekissed]

I don't know that I've ever had a docile roo. If you mean docile as in submissive and liking to be handled. But I've never had an aggressive roo either....my roos have always been....well....just roosters. They don't like being cuddled~not that I've ever tried to do that to one of mine~ or handled in any way but they don't fight or flog me if I have to handle them.

They are wary when I am around but they don't run in terror. They would never approach me too closely or eat out of my hand, nor would I expect them or want them to do so. My roos are noble, proud, male animals that do their job and act like a roo should. No more, no less. This I like!