Looking to add a rooster - What Breed??

binders

Songster
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I have a mixed flock of 11 hens/pullets and am looking to add a rooster to the mix. I am not looking for any specific breeding traits, just want a friendly guy to keep my ladies in line and watch over them when they free-range. I do not want an aggressive jerk though. Any suggestions on a breed I should look for?
 
I think you'll get tons of different answers. I researched before I got my first chicks and decided barred rock were great roosters. Mine was, until he started attacking my legs. I really think it's partially due to the fact that I got him from a hatchery.

I've heard that BO's are nice, also some of the Reds. Do you know of any breeders in your area? See if you like the looks and descriptions of their roos, call them and ask about their personalities.
 
There is a speckled sussex/danish mix rooster available that I hope to go take a look at this evening. Don't know much about either. My research says that sussex are calm and gentle but don't know anything about the danish. Don't know what that is. Still doing resaerch.
We were adopted by a free-ranging asian jungle fowl rooste (neighbor's)r several months ago who was very brutal to one of my hens. I was lucky that she survived (he did not). Hoping that will not happen again.Hoping that by getting one younger it will help.
 
Talking to breeders would be a good start. I've had a few hatchery roos, and have picked up many, many roosters for people who have had aggressive roosters of all breeds. Right now, I have an older hatchery RIR who is a very good guy - very good with the hens, good with people (avoids them), and doesn't freak out when my kid (4 y/o) runs through the flock when they free range. I think he's 2.5 now? I also have a year old breeder quality BLRW who is very, very calm, good with his hens, and tolerates handling very well by the same 4 year old (she likes to pet him, he doesn't care - the RIR keeps away from her).

I started with 12 chicks when I got back into chickens, 5 of which were roosters. The RIR is the only one left - the rest were sent to the freezer when they either challenged me, over bred the hens, or thought about chasing my kid. The BLRW I picked up from a breeder last December along with a batch of other non show quality culls (she knows I process them for food, and is comfortable with that).

I think it just depends on the individual, but breeders are a good source since they are aiming for high quality instead of producing masses of chickens. My BLRW is very calm and gentle for being an adult roo, and though I don't let the kid out unattended with the chickens, he behaves very, very well when she is out (and I'm right there). All of the hens (I'm up to 19 now) do not have bare backs and are happy.
 
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