Mean vs nice roosters

[wvchics]

I usually have about 15 males together all summer. I am down to 6 now.
Maybe that helped then. This is my first flock, and I wanted a cockerel for reproduction. Luckily I got one. I heard so many stories about them attacking people that I fulfilled this role. On the few occasions he tried to peck me I just grabbed him and held him until he calmed down. As he got bigger and started doing his"dance" at the hens I just made sure if he did any posturing to move in and make him back up. He would just turn around and walk away. Now he doesn't do it to me, but if someone else is upsetting the girls he will. I just tell everyone to leave them alone when he's around. I don't really want to discourage him from protecting the girls. But my point was I kinda filled the role of dominant and he respects that. He always goes around me or moves out of my way. If I stand too close to the run when I let them free range he won't even come out. I've never had to physically hurt him just remind him I'm bigger and not intimidated by his posturing. I figure all cockerels try to establish dominance over the flock and when they don't it's cause another already has. I just became the other lol.

Raising them together in a staggered age range greatly reduces aggressive tendencies, actually. They learn early on that they aren't the biggest baddest thing in the world. I quite dislike having to handle cocks that have been raised with only same age pullets---they are bratty and disrespectful. Thank goodness I rarely purchase grown males.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/is-it-worth-it.1217178/page-13#post-19443949

 

[RiverOtter]

I have 2 adult roosters and 4 cockerals right now. none of them are mean.
I don't treat them special, I neither give them attention nor stay out of their way, there's no training, just for several generations, any rooster that's so much as looked at me sideways has gone.

But, I also don't make pets of my chickens. As some have mentioned, I have flighty breeds, I expect them to forage and look out for predators. Hens and roosters all keep a respectful couple of feet away from me unless they're very excited about the feeder being filled. They really don't have any desire to interact with me past that, and that's ok. It's possible I'd get a mean rooster if I was in one's business, but we all have a live and let live kind of vibe going.

if I need to do anything with a bird, I gently catch it in the coop without chasing or stressing them, which I'm sure also helps

 

[Dharmachick]

Many of us keep chickens as pets. It's a different story when you do keep pets. I don't have, nor will keep any roosters right now. When I move on to 2 1/2 acres, I will get a roo. He won't be a pet. My son's pet roo attacked me and left scars, so he went into a neighbors pot.

 

[richicken]

To add to my earlier thoughts. It seems that most people seek out friendly, calm, docile breeds. Things like orpingtons, silkies, brahmas, cochins, etc.. I have no desire to hold, pet, hug or kiss livestock. I only handle them out of necessity for evaluation. After over 30 breeds of chickens, I can say that people who want egg laying machines and birds that do their job while being fairly predator proof are doing themselves a disservice by avoiding the skittish (flighty) breeds.
I wouldn't own polish again nor would I consider a silkie. I have too many around-the-clock predators to have breeds that aren't self sufficient.
On 2 occasions I've seen a fox grab an Orpington in the middle of the day before the hen knew anything was afoot. I've seen hawks pick up docile breeds and birds with obscured vision.
I can assure that none of those things would happen to a Penedesenca or similar wary, fleet footed breed.

I have had several roosters,most Rhode Island reds and one lakenfelter, who I got as baby chicks from online hatcherys. I treated the roosters just like the hens and for some reason they ended up being mean. I finally got a nice Rhode Island Red rooster and he is Big, I got him from someone who didn’t want him anymore. I can feed him from my hand and he isn’t aggressive with me but keep a good eye on everything else, he now has a son and the son is just like him I feel so lucky to have him.

 

[richicken]

I have had several roosters,most Rhode Island reds and one lakenfelter, who I got as baby chicks from online hatcherys. I treated the roosters just like the hens and for some reason they ended up being mean. I finally got a nice Rhode Island Red rooster and he is Big, I got him from someone who didn’t want him anymore. I can feed him from my hand and he isn’t aggressive with me but keep a good eye on everything else, he now has a son and the son is just like him I feel so lucky to have him.

 

[Peeps61]

I usually have about 15 males together all summer. I am down to 6 now.

Raising them together in a staggered age range greatly reduces aggressive tendencies, actually. They learn early on that they aren't the biggest baddest thing in the world. I quite dislike having to handle cocks that have been raised with only same age pullets---they are bratty and disrespectful. Thank goodness I rarely purchase grown males.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/is-it-worth-it.1217178/page-13#post-19443949

Totally agree with you Banty! My first cockerel was supposed to be a "she" and by the time he was 12 weeks old, he was kicking up his heels at me and making really angry chicken noises at me. He met the end of my foot more than once, but just got meaner and meaner. My other cockerels I've taken a hands OFF approach with, and all of them have remained respectful. I have the two - one is plainly the senior rooster. They have enough hens that both have sufficient to keep them happy.

 

[RiverOtter]

One other thing to consider is how many roosters you have. From what I've noticed, it's most often a single rooster that gets mean. I always have at least 2 and often more (I like the handsome things, and they are good about watching the sky and keeping the ladies safe) and if they're going to take their frustrations out on anything, it's each other.