My rooster is a bully

[old biddy]

Genetics play a big role in attitude. If papa was mean, odds are son will be mean. Granted that doesn't mean a nice papa will only make nice sons either

Yes. It finally occurred to me that both roosters originated from my one and only barred rock hen. My other roosters were perfect gentlemen. Bad genes I guess, even though my barred rock hen is a sweetie and one of my favorites. Go figure.

 

[Studabird]

At the beginning of the summer I had four cockerels. Two died due to heat (and I thought while they were my two favorites both Buff Brahmas that my ratio was now in order). Then Jewel tried to kill one of my Buff Brahma pullets. So he is in and will remain in isolation. Oreo who I can only assume is his brother has acted differently. He is nice to his ladies. While sometimes in the morning when they are let out of the coop he gets a little frisky a quick and annoyingly loud noise from me will always remind him if he does not stop a golf ball is in his future. ( I have one that I always keep in my pocket whenever I go out to the run in case a chicken is being mean. Or if I have to throw it at an unwanted visitor to my yard. I am surprisingly accurate with it.) He has never flogged me or acted aggressive unlike his brother. So as long as he is nice to the ladies I am going to keep him. I like baby chickens and if he fertilizes an egg or two I will be happy. Make sure that the cockerel is kept in check. Mine are always most randy in the morning and settle down once everyone is in the run for a few minutes.