Least aggressive roosters?

[OrganicFarmWife]

Yes no lasting damage, I got lucky.

 

[CatsMenagerie]

It's not a breed, per se, not even how you raise them, generally. Any line of a breed that is bred for temperament will give you better, more easygoing males. I have a line of BR males that a couple generations back, I had to breed in my Delaware rooster, Isaac, because I did not have access to the proper breeding male (killed by a snake). Every male from Isaac is easygoing, friendly, easy to handle, just exemplary.

The truth about handling is this-it's what I have found out of all the males I've had in several breeds, not just one. If you handle them as chicks, if you don't handle them as chicks, that does not change their genetic tendencies to either be aggressive or non-human-aggressive. It only brings out what is already in his genetic makeup. For instance, a cockerel who is genetically programmed to be aggressive will be that way, no matter what. If you baby him, he'll just be all that much more comfortable taking you on as an opponent sooner. If you don't, he'll still be attacking you when the aggression begins to flow.

Hatcheries have bred aggressive strains of males that usually would be considered easygoing, overall. Again, not the breed, it's the breeding of the line/strain. I started with an aggressive strain of Delawares from McMurray parentage. Sold them all early. Didn't want more. Breeder talked me into hatching from her heritage line bred for temperament and I got Isaac, best rooster you could hope for. Suede, my 14 lb Blue Orpington, never bit or flogged anyone in his entire almost 6 years of life. Sons and grandsons from those two males are almost all the same way.

I also have a theory that's never been proven wrong, IMO. The more intelligent males are the ones who will not bite/flog the bringer of food and water. They are subordinate to their human keepers and never challenge them. Biting as a youngster does not count as true aggression, only what happens when the hormones kick in.


This rooster, Isaac, met this teenage girl this weekend the video was filmed. She just went into his coop and came out carrying him! He had really never seen many people other than my husband and myself and her mother, my best friend, on a previous visit. And he was fine with anything she did around him. She is the daughter of my best friend. Isaac was one of the smartest roosters I ever owned. His grandson is my current breeding male, 2 years old, just as sweet as his grandpa was.

Breed from the best, cull the rest-that means cull any male who shows aggression, do not reproduce him, period.

Wish I had read this BEFORE the purchase of my late Black Copper Maran rooster. He eventually went too aggressive and ended up in the freezer after trying to attack our elderly, super loving/kind cat. (She never met anyone she didn't like.) He also attacked me several times before that fateful day.

Thanks for the info!

 

[McChooky]

Bantam roosters are better for families with small children.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

I've had Rhode Island Reds 3 Marans 6 Ameracaunas 3 Leghorns 1 buff Orpington 1 Bantam and all were aggressive! What breeds would you recommend? Thanks

rhode island reds are the worst! I recommend a silkie, as they are very docile birds. however, my boy is a plymouth rock and he is the best chicken ever, so I guess it depends on how they are raised?

edit: forgot, I have a meat bird. typical cornish cross, he was deceptively lazy and sweet as a chick, but I'm probably going to get rid of him if he pecks my sister again. meat birds are supposed to be fat, but my mom says when that thing went after my sister and she kicked him, it felt like kicking a brick wall. my mom used to play soccer. meat roosters are scary man.

 

[WoDia]

I agree with @ChickensComeHome2Roost. I have a bunch of teeny roosters that actually like me holding them. They fly up into my arms, hop up on my lap, and settle in for little naps or go with me to do chores. This may not be the experience of others though.