I see articles on here and people say that their roosters never peck at people and aren't aggressive except to predators. I won't be getting one for a while if I ever do get one but I just want to know what to look for if the time comes. So, does anybody know of a breed that produces nice roosters? Thanks!
Buckeyes. If I had to choose a breed that I think would have the best chance of the most percentage of non-agressive toward people, good at protecting and leading hens, good at producing more non-broody egg-laying chicks (hens), then I would try a Buckeye. I've had a few Buckeye roosters. Easy to work with. Their level-headedness is passed down even when mated with another breed of hen to make more good roosters.
I got my Buckeyes from a breeder in Ohio that doesn't frequent this forum and from Cackle hatchery. But many Buckeye breeders and owners will brag on how great the Buckeye temperment is, so I have a tendency to think that it is a breed trait. Of course, I could be wrong.
Second, there is an element in which this is also conditioning. From day one, we never, ever treat the young cockerels as pets. There's an old adage, make your hens your pets and leave your cockerels alone. Some truth in that perhaps. I want to largely ignore the young cockerels. I walk by them in an nonthreatening way. I'm just the guy who brings the feed and little else.
Yes, I too have been ignoring cockerels from Day 1. It also means that I ignore all the chicks because I can't tell the hens from the roosters until they are about 6 weeks old or so, depending. But it's worth it to me to have great roosters that don't see me as a threat and ignore me as much as I ignore them.
Other examples include entering their coop especially is it is small, cornering them intentionally or non-intentionally, moving between them and hens,
I totally agree with above statement. The hens and the coop and whatever land they are ranging on is theirs ... the roosters' (I almost always have two roosters running with the hens). That's their territory and their possessions (hens). I do not move through the area like I own it. I give the flock a wide berth. I give everyone time to move out of my way. I don't make sudden movements that could be seen as threatening. I also avoid looking them in the eye very much.* I am not afraid of them, but they know when I'm looking at them and in nature that's a threat. When I move to the back of the coop to gather eggs and a rooster is in there, I don't make a bee line to the nests, I take a step and give the rooster time to move out of the way, then take another step, giving him time to get out of the way. I try give the hens and roosters time and space/room to get out of the way ... cornering them is not an option for me because it stresses them and triggers their fight or flight response. There's no point in me working against their instincts, especially since riling them up once can start a habit or pattern.
I also think that two roosters keeps them focused on each other instead of focusing on me and then I can't go about my business more easily, plus maybe they know what another rooster is because they live with one and won't think I'm another rooster.
I've heard it said by an old timer to never wear anything but blue around roosters because the other colors (esp. red) could make the roosters think that you are another rooster. I don't seem to need to pay much attention to that, but I definitely don't wear much red or orange.
*I watch them after I've given them their feed/water and they start eating/drinking. Or I watch them from a few feet away as they forage. Basically, the only time I won't look at them is when I'm walking next to them.
