Light Brahma rooster and kids…

[Pandang81]

I would encourage you to buy a young cockrel from a breeder. Most brahma breeders will only hatch from parents with good personalities. With hatchery cockrels, your chances of getting a "good boy" will be greatly reduced.
Of course, there are no guarantees. My rooster is very gentle, and to date, all of his offsprings have been also. Two of mine are extra large. They don't always love each other, but they co-exist without injury. They are not aggressive to children or adults. I'd never leave children unsupervised though, for the child and the animals sake.

You might consider getting eggs from a breeder and hatching your own. I imagine your kids would love that. Some people say that you should raise roosters with a hands off approach. I think it all comes back to temperament, and if I have to raise a rooster to be fearful of me, then he isn't a rooster I'd want. I want to be able to give my roosters the same affection and care that I give to my hens. So far that has worked out great for me.
I was concerned, initially with the difference in size and considered keeping smaller roosters. My main rooster is 12lbs and he ignores the smaller girls.
Here is a picture of Goliath (8 months) with his sister, Cookie.
View attachment 2973243
Unlike his father, Goliath likes the smaller girls. He does well with all the hens. His favorites are naked necks and a little bantam sized legbar. He is very gentle with her.

Sorry for writing a novel!

Good to know! I have no doubt that a rooster would be fine with me. I do well with animals and frankly would kick his 12 lb butt if he tried to dominate me . It’s my kids I don’t want to ruin the chicken experience for so I have to have a rooster who likes them otherwise it is pointless for me to have one. I may bite the bullet & get one just to eat it later if it turns out unfriendly with my kids.

 

[Pandang81]

Why do the kids want a rooster? For hatching chicks? For flock protection? For a Pet? Personally, I think you would be changing the dynamics of the flock, which will potentially impact their relationship with the kids.

This is what I worry about and why I hesitate to get one. I may wait a few more years before I get a rooster. I love our current dynamic except I do wish that my hens had a protector while they are free ranging & eventually I want to hatch my own eggs. My kids want a rooster because they’ve never had one & they are excited about something new…at their age that’s how they think although I have explained to them time & again that roosters can be mean & fight.

 

[janiedoe]

I would like to encourage anyone who is thinking of adding a rooster to their flock, to educate themselves on rooster behavior first.
A rooster breeding a hen can be scary for children (& a few of us soft hearted adults) even when the hen is willing. Most roosters will occasionally chase and make a hen submit. This is because his job is to control them, in order to be able to call them when danger arises. If a hen refuses to submit, it can become dangerous for the hen. Not necessarily because the rooster will injure her, but because she may injure herself while trying to get away or be taken by a predator.
I do think roosters change the dynamics of the flock, but I personally, enjoy having them. Not everyone can or wants to keep roosters. Hens do just fine on their own. And, your favorite hen may love the rooster more than she loves you.
As far protecting your flock, they most likely will sound an alarm and lead the hens to safety. It is rare for a rooster to defend a hen from a predator. I appreciate the alarms. I've been alerted many times when mine are out ranging. Usually there isn't any danger, just a duck or heron flying over, but when there is danger, I really appreciate my roosters.
Good luck in your search for a good rooster. If you have the opportunity to hatch eggs, and raise some yourself, or even better, have a hen raise them, keep them until they are at least 8 months to see how they work out. It is best to seperate them from the girls until they calm down. Then let each individual interact with your hens. Let the hens pick.

 

[K0k0shka]

It's the unpredictability of roosters that's the biggest buzzkill. Even if you happen to have "a good one", he can still flip and turn on you or your kids after a traumatic event (or what he considers to be one). Like a predator attack, the lawn mower, etc. can suddenly put him on high alert and make him suspicious of anything and anybody, and end your peaceful days together. So, get one if you must, but don't take anything for granted, and don't assume the good times will last forever. Keep an eye on him around the kids and be prepared to part ways if he turns. Personally, I don't want roosters for that very reason. I don't trust them, not even the good ones.

 

[Pandang81]

I would like to encourage anyone who is thinking of adding a rooster to their flock, to educate themselves on rooster behavior first.
A rooster breeding a hen can be scary for children (& a few of us soft hearted adults) even when the hen is willing. Most roosters will occasionally chase and make a hen submit. This is because his job is to control them, in order to be able to call them when danger arises. If a hen refuses to submit, it can become dangerous for the hen. Not necessarily because the rooster will injure her, but because she may injure herself while trying to get away or be taken by a predator.
I do think roosters change the dynamics of the flock, but I personally, enjoy having them. Not everyone can or wants to keep roosters. Hens do just fine on their own. And, your favorite hen may love the rooster more than she loves you.
As far protecting your flock, they most likely will sound an alarm and lead the hens to safety. It is rare for a rooster to defend a hen from a predator. I appreciate the alarms. I've been alerted many times when mine are out ranging. Usually there isn't any danger, just a duck or heron flying over, but when there is danger, I really appreciate my roosters.
Good luck in your search for a good rooster. If you have the opportunity to hatch eggs, and raise some yourself, or even better, have a hen raise them, keep them until they are at least 8 months to see how they work out. It is best to seperate them from the girls until they calm down. Then let each individual interact with your hens. Let the hens pick.

Thank you for the advice! Especially about separating the rooster until they calm down. At what age do you typically recommend separating them & what age do they usually calm down? Also do you recommend any breeds that have a higher chance of being gentle & kid friendly? I am thinking amauracana, light Brahma or Salmon Favorelle. I have production brown, golden comet, olive egger hens & silkies, will be adding light Brahma, salmon favorelle & ameraucana hens to my flock this year.

 

[3KillerBs]

I would not trust any rooster with a child.

Marion, my in-town rooster, was a Light Brahma and quite calm -- allowing me to do anything I needed to with the girls -- but my then-6yo was never allowed close to him.

 

[janiedoe]

Thank you for the advice! Especially about separating the rooster until they calm down. At what age do you typically recommend separating them & what age do they usually calm down? Also do you recommend any breeds that have a higher chance of being gentle & kid friendly? I am thinking amauracana, light Brahma or Salmon Favorelle. I have production brown, golden comet, olive egger hens & silkies, will be adding light Brahma, salmon favorelle & ameraucana hens to my flock this year.

I seperate mine as soon as they start showing interest in the girls. If you want to keep more than one, try and pen them together, away from the females if possible. I've had favorelles before, and did not have to seperate them from the girls at all. Langshans are usually very gentle too, if you get a well bred one. They are beautiful and tall.
I'd recommend favorelles or brahma or even orpingtons. I love ameraucanas but, they often don't always get along with other roosters. If you get an easter egger, he can be mixed with anything, and may be unpredictable.
Doris, my rooster is an easter egger, 1/2 ameraucana and 1/2 English blue orpington. He is 4 yrs now, and last year was the 1st time I had been able to keep any of his male offsprings. It may be because they are 1/2 brahma and tend to walk away from a fight, or because Doris is getting older.

 

[Pandang81]

I seperate mine as soon as they start showing interest in the girls. If you want to keep more than one, try and pen them together, away from the females if possible. I've had favorelles before, and did not have to seperate them from the girls at all. Langshans are usually very gentle too, if you get a well bred one. They are beautiful and tall.
I'd recommend favorelles or brahma or even orpingtons. I love ameraucanas but, they often don't always get along with other roosters. If you get an easter egger, he can be mixed with anything, and may be unpredictable.
Doris, my rooster is an easter egger, 1/2 ameraucana and 1/2 English blue orpington. He is 4 yrs now, and last year was the 1st time I had been able to keep any of his male offsprings. It may be because they are 1/2 brahma and tend to walk away from a fight, or because Doris is getting older.

So when you separate them until they calm down how long does that usually take? A month? 6 months? So I know what to expect.
Also I have no issue putting rooster in his own pen since I have 3 pens each with their own small run but I usually free range my poultry during the day so can the rooster be let out for free range or caged the entire time?

 

[janiedoe]

So when you separate them until they calm down how long does that usually take? A month? 6 months? So I know what to expect.
Also I have no issue putting rooster in his own pen since I have 3 pens each with their own small run but I usually free range my poultry during the day so can the rooster be let out for free range or caged the entire time?

I usually just leave mine for a month. If the girls are nearby they will "talk" to them and get used to them. I do let mine out to range when the girls are locked up, otherwise they will chase the girls.
The most important thing to remember, is that if your kids are used to picking up the hens, the rooster may take offense to anyone handling "his flock".
Be sure your kids are well supervised at all times.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I would encourage you to buy a young cockrel from a breeder. Most brahma breeders will only hatch from parents with good personalities. With hatchery cockrels, your chances of getting a "good boy" will be greatly reduced.
Of course, there are no guarantees. My rooster is very gentle, and to date, all of his offsprings have been also. Two of mine are extra large. They don't always love each other, but they co-exist without injury. They are not aggressive to children or adults. I'd never leave children unsupervised though, for the child and the animals sake.

You might consider getting eggs from a breeder and hatching your own. I imagine your kids would love that. Some people say that you should raise roosters with a hands off approach. I think it all comes back to temperament, and if I have to raise a rooster to be fearful of me, then he isn't a rooster I'd want. I want to be able to give my roosters the same affection and care that I give to my hens. So far that has worked out great for me.
I was concerned, initially with the difference in size and considered keeping smaller roosters. My main rooster is 12lbs and he ignores the smaller girls.
Here is a picture of Goliath (8 months) with his sister, Cookie.
View attachment 2973243
Unlike his father, Goliath likes the smaller girls. He does well with all the hens. His favorites are naked necks and a little bantam sized legbar. He is very gentle with her.

Sorry for writing a novel!

Your birds are gorgeous!