I have 2 roos - a silkie bantam and a huge light brahma. Both were raised from day olds and are sweet as can be. They eat out of my hand, let me pick them up, don't spur the kids, etc.
I've had lots of other roos who were NASTY, also raised from day olds. My best guess is that its breed related?
I love my LF brahma roo Thor. I didn't handle him as a chick, don't handle him now except for health checks and to give medical care when necessary. He tolerates my handling him just fine, even waits patiently for the treat he knows he'll get afterwards; but he doesn't like to be handled if not necessary. Think alpha roo (me) penning down a subordinate roo (him). That's why he doesn't like it.
I couldn't ask for a better protector and provider for my hens.
Here's Thor, after doctoring, waiting for his treat:
I have 7 Bantam roosters. 5 are nice and will come to me and let me pick them up. The other 2 are skiddish but not mean. I also have a Large Fowl roo and he's not mean, he doesnt like being held but he's nice other than that
I have two sebright roos that are sweet... and I had two sebright roos that were vicious.
I have three (grown one, at least) Delaware roos... one is a bit of a jerk, one is calm and stays to himself (my Elvis), but I also have one of Elvis' sons that is the quietest friendliest sweetest rooster I have ever dealt with... and to top it off he is gorgeous!! (YAY!) I'm working on a breeding pen for him and my friendliest Del hen to stay in for awhile. I'm going to have her hatch a clutch with his genes and can't wait for those lap chickens!
I've had many well behaved roo's over the year's along with some "beastie" one's as well.The biggest 2 roo's I had were Jersey Giant and a Huge RIR.I had them hand tame all through thier breeding and with the girls.I had a Crazy Polish roo that would tear meat off your leg's and cochin that everyone hated including the UPS guy and half my family lol.I had a Boxy Serama too but he couldnt hurt a fly no bigger than he was but he thought he ruled since he was basicly one of the first roo's I ever hatched and raised.Most people found him quite entertaining.Working on my new "protege' now Buddy my OEGB black roo.I hatched 4 roo's so will keep him and the blue and most likely sell the other 2 black.He is doing great with being gentle and loves flying up on my hand and shoulder.He may wind up be cocky as well but....I wont keep a mean roo here anymore since youngest grandson live with us full time and he only 19 months old so.. They better all behave
Our Serama roo, Roosevelt, things he's a lap dog. He prefers being held and sitting in our laps to being in his cage or outside. He's just plain ROTTEN and knows it. Even our 6yo austic son holds him and Roosevelt is so patient with him.
The 2 past Serama roos we had were sweeties, as well.
Welsummer and Ameraucana roosters are mild. I had one of each (the Ameraucana died suddenly...for no apparent reason) with no problem. I gave 3 away and they are also very nice....not a mean one in the bunch.
I have had many roosters, and none have been mean. Right now I have 3 serama roos, a LF blue marans, bantam blue salmon faverolle who is the nicest boy ever, and 2 polish roos. The polish roos are happy to be on the ground and in their own space, which is fine. When I need to get them they don't try to hurt me at all, and they are nice to the ladies. my marans roo, Big Blue, is funny. He will follow me around looking for goodies, then give them all to the girls. He is very good at his job and if he gets carried away trying to impress one of the girls, I'll scoop him up, and he just looks at me like "what the heck just happened??!!" It's the most confused look a chicken can give
My seramas... I ADORE them! Sunny is just a love bug & as nice to the girls as you could ever want a roo to be. He will follow us around outside looking for treats & to be cuddled up under my coat - WHAT!? No, he is not spoiled at all!!
My other 2 roos are nice, but not the lap chickens Sunny is. Peep-eep (salmon faverolle) loves his chin rubs. He will fall asleep if I start giving him a chin rub.
I do have 2 other bantam salmon favs (1 blue the other black), and they are both really nice also. They are still young birds, but I have no doubt they will stay friendly.