Most docile large breed rooster?

[asher]

I am preparing to start a small flock (6 or so). It has been many years since I had chickens and those were always specialty breeds and almost always show quality bantams. I am doing it for different reasons this time and will be doing standard chickens.

I am curious what the best docile, multipurpose rooster would be. I am in Western NC so although we do have some colder Winters, I could do feather footed breeds. Was considering Orpington or Giant Cochin, but I am definitely open to other standard rooster suggestions that would be docile and less likely to be aggressive to people. ( will likely have a mix of hen breeds, but all will be standard, also.)

Thanks!

 

[nuthatched]

It's up to the individual bird, temperament is not breed specific.

 

[fluffycrow]

If you wait long enough, you’ll get every breed recommendation you can think of.

No one knows for sure how the male you get will turn out. Claims for an entire breed are also rarely accurate across the board. One poster will have the best experience with RIRs, the other found them to be demons.

Since you’ve had chickens from show breeders before (and possibly have been one yourself), I’m going to assume that this will be the route you’ll follow this time round. A responsibly bred line is going to be much more predictable when it comes to temperament than whatever the hatcheries produce. A breeder, unlike a company, would also be able to tell you personally what most of their boys are like in temperament and in behaviour. Of course, nurture is also said to play a big role. Since you’re quite experienced with chickens, I doubt there’s a reason to say much more about that. I’m sure your management will be quite good.
If you’re not necessarily looking for chicks, a rooster (so after 12-18 months old) that’s looking for a new home would be a great idea. At that point, his behaviour would be known, and you wouldn’t risk raising a rooster that torments his hens.

As far as breeds go, I think you’ve already mentioned some that are said to be incredibly docile. I have had no experience with them, but I don’t think you’d risk too much by purchasing one from a show breeder.
I would add Brahma to that list; even the worst of the hatchery stock aren’t nearly as aggressive as some other breeds we’ve seen on here. I’ve not had any pure Brahma males, but all the mixed males I have had have been excellent both around me, and with the hens. No guarantees from me though .

If you aren’t willing to accept anything less than the perfect boy, be prepared for the first male to need culling, no matter what breed you choose in the end

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Keeping in mind that everything that has been said above is 100% true, I am going to throw in my 2c worth. First let me say I've had to cull my share of monsters and I've had a couple of sweethearts of mixed breed. But right now I am the delighted owner of two amazing 8-month old black Aneraucana cockerels I got from Cackle hatchery last July and I could not be happier. I have a flock of 28 girls, some 2 to 3 yo and 15 the same age as the cockerels. They have been wonderful to the girls, to each other, to me and other human family members throughout their puberty to this day. I have never seen them fight or even "stand off" at each other. One cockerel will mildly chase the other a bit, but that's it. The dominant one shows the pullets where to lay, tidbits for them, keeps them together - they follow him like star-struck groupies, tbh. I've NEVER had such a solicitous rooster, and at his age, I'm floored. Keep in mind this is a purebred Ameraucana, NOT an "Americana" and I paid close to $30 for him at hatch. He was well worth it, IMO.

 

[asher]

If you wait long enough, you’ll get every breed recommendation you can think of.

No one knows for sure how the male you get will turn out. Claims for an entire breed are also rarely accurate across the board. One poster will have the best experience with RIRs, the other found them to be demons.

Since you’ve had chickens from show breeders before (and possibly have been one yourself), I’m going to assume that this will be the route you’ll follow this time round. A responsibly bred line is going to be much more predictable when it comes to temperament than whatever the hatcheries produce. A breeder, unlike a company, would also be able to tell you personally what most of their boys are like in temperament and in behaviour. Of course, nurture is also said to play a big role. Since you’re quite experienced with chickens, I doubt there’s a reason to say much more about that. I’m sure your management will be quite good.
If you’re not necessarily looking for chicks, a rooster (so after 12-18 months old) that’s looking for a new home would be a great idea. At that point, his behaviour would be known, and you wouldn’t risk raising a rooster that torments his hens.

As far as breeds go, I think you’ve already mentioned some that are said to be incredibly docile. I have had no experience with them, but I don’t think you’d risk too much by purchasing one from a show breeder.
I would add Brahma to that list; even the worst of the hatchery stock aren’t nearly as aggressive as some other breeds we’ve seen on here. I’ve not had any pure Brahma males, but all the mixed males I have had have been excellent both around me, and with the hens. No guarantees from me though .

If you aren’t willing to accept anything less than the perfect boy, be prepared for the first male to need culling, no matter what breed you choose in the end

I will not be showing nor breeding for show qualities this time. I will likely have a mixed flock and they will be a source of eggs and possibly food in the future, but mostly just because I miss having birds around. I am hoping to start with well started birds (I do realize they may be more $, but cost isn’t really the important factor for me), at least, if not already laying age and will absolutely be willing to provide a home for a spare too, if the “right one”. I have never had brahmas that I recall and will definitely look at those, too.

I am mainly asking for docile because we are caretakers for my elderly in-laws and I know they will want to participate so I want something that I am not on edge with every time they try to go in the run. (I know much like dogs, even the gentlest roo is not guaranteed to always be kind, but I want to hedge my bets a little lol)


Thank you for your input!

 

[asher]

Keeping in mind that everything that has been said above is 100% true, I am going to throw in my 2c worth. First let me say I've had to cull my share of monsters and I've had a couple of sweethearts of mixed breed. But right now I am the delighted owner of two amazing 8-month old black Aneraucana cockerels I got from Cackle hatchery last July and I could not be happier. I have a flock of 28 girls, some 2 to 3 yo and 15 the same age as the cockerels. They have been wonderful to the girls, to each other, to me and other human family members throughout their puberty to this day. I have never seen them fight or even "stand off" at each other. One cockerel will mildly chase the other a bit, but that's it. The dominant one shows the pullets where to lay, tidbits for them, keeps them together - they follow him like star-struck groupies, tbh. I've NEVER had such a solicitous rooster, and at his age, I'm floored. Keep in mind this is a purebred Ameraucana, NOT an "Americana" and I paid close to $30 for him at hatch. He was well worth it, IMO.

I will definitely check them out. Thank you!

 

[asher]

It's up to the individual bird, temperament is not breed specific.

Although that is somewhat true, in my experience some breeds definitely have it on their lineage to be more docile than others.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I am in WNC mountains too. My Leghorn rooster is a dream but that’s probably not what you’re after I have a couple Brahma girls that I got for free who are surprisingly good in our climate. I haven’t had them in the summer yet. My Turken mix rooster is also lovely. I got them both as older boys and that’s the route I would go when getting a new rooster not raised by the flock. Turkens, in my experience, are great in heat and cold and generally have a great temperament if you can get over their appearance Personally I think they’re charming

 

[kattabelly]

Although that is somewhat true, in my experience some breeds definitely have it on their lineage to be more docile than others.

I'd say that can depend a lot more on the specific line than the breed as a whole, though.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd say that can depend a lot more on the specific line than the breed as a whole, though.

Exactly. I consider strain to be extremely important in this. If the person selecting which chickens get to breed considers behavior towards humans a criteria then you can get a line that is much less risky than a line where behaviors are not a criteria.

A story on that. Rhode Island Reds are often trashed on here, both as aggressive to other chickens and to people. Several year ago a gentleman on here was hurt by those posts. He raised RIR's for show and was an APA judge. He bred his to not be aggressive to other chickens or people and they were not.

Many breeders don't worry about behaviors, they are only worried about what a judge sees. A lot are not worried about eggshell color or other traits a judge doesn't see. But if you can find one that does breed for temperament your odds of getting a non-human aggressive rooster go way up regardless of breed.