Rhode Island Red Rooster Temperaments

[FarmerGirl101]

Hi! In my last order I received a cockerel on accident. I was not planning on getting one originally as I've got two roosters already and 18 hens now. However, he is starting to grow on me and I was wondering how RIR rooster temperaments generally are.

Obviously I do know that temperaments do vary between individual chickens but I've noticed that my RIR hens are usually the more dominant ones in my flock. My two roosters are Buff Orpingtons and are nice for the most part but do like to test me and attack me sometimes (generally just me). I'm perfectly okay with roosters who test me but not being overly aggressive. I've heard that RIR roosters tend to be more aggressive and I'm slightly vary that this will happen with mine. How have your RIR roosters been?

 

[C Siena]

We have 1 RIR roo and hen, both are rather docile. The cockerel was introduced to the senior roo when he was 5 mo old. He was shown his place without damage or much altercation. He is now the jr roo at 14 months. The pullets, just beginning to lay are responsive to him.

He does not have the qualities of the senior roo (Buckeye 26 months) but seems to be learning. Not the dominance I read about. All are different and the fact he was introduced with an older roo, when he was 5 months, may have made a difference. My guess.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hi! In my last order I received a cockerel on accident. I was not planning on getting one originally as I've got two roosters already and 18 hens now. However, he is starting to grow on me and I was wondering how RIR rooster temperaments generally are.

Obviously I do know that temperaments do vary between individual chickens but I've noticed that my RIR hens are usually the more dominant ones in my flock. My two roosters are Buff Orpingtons and are nice for the most part but do like to test me and attack me sometimes (generally just me). I'm perfectly okay with roosters who test me but not being overly aggressive. I've heard that RIR roosters tend to be more aggressive and I'm slightly vary that this will happen with mine. How have your RIR roosters been?

How old is he? It’s common to see cockerels going from sweethearts to adolescent hormonal insane murderous wackos to halfway decent roosters, depending on age. You can’t predict accurately how a young one will turn out.

 

[Smokerbill]

I have one RIR cockerel and two New Hampshire cockerels. Right now they're all close to 13 weeks old and haven't started acting out yet.

I also have 6 New Hampshire pullets that are around 17 weeks old and they've been really mean to the younger chickens. I know it's not nice, but I'm kind of looking forward to the day the cockerels start getting aggressive so they can dish out some payback. LOL

I won't leave them together for long, but I think a little karma is called for.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

How old is he? It’s common to see cockerels going from sweethearts to adolescent hormonal insane murderous wackos to halfway decent roosters, depending on age. You can’t predict accurately how a young one will turn out.

He's turning 4 months next week. Absolutely. I know his final behaviour is not likely to materialize right now but I want to get a feel for other peoples' experiences with RIR roosters. My older two were stable for a while then one got more aggressive while the other only got aggressive this past spring at 3 years old.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

We have 1 RIR roo and hen, both are rather docile. The cockerel was introduced to the senior roo when he was 5 mo old. He was shown his place without damage or much altercation. He is now the jr roo at 14 months. The pullets, just beginning to lay are responsive to him.

He does not have the qualities of the senior roo (Buckeye 26 months) but seems to be learning. Not the dominance I read about. All are different and the fact he was introduced with an older roo, when he was 5 months, may have made a difference. My guess.

That's my hope. He is slightly laid back but has been testing my older hens to my annoyance. He was tormenting my blind hen for a couple days but has chilled out a lot. I'm hoping with two established and dominant roosters that he will maybe be more docile but who knows. As long as he is good with the hens then I'm okay with putting up with an aggressive rooster as long as he isn't too aggressive.

 

[C Siena]

That's my hope. He is slightly laid back but has been testing my older hens to my annoyance. He was tormenting my blind hen for a couple days but has chilled out a lot. I'm hoping with two established and dominant roosters that he will maybe be more docile but who knows. As long as he is good with the hens then I'm okay with putting up with an aggressive rooster as long as he isn't too aggressive.

Have you read the article by Shadrach https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/
It's a great one.

 

[C Siena]

Be patient, time will tell.

 

[The Sniper]

My 2 speak softly and carry a big stick
they never crow, and treat their hens and everyone else nicely
unless
unless something bothers their hens
them thangs will go wild until the threat is neutralized or subdued in some way
neither has ever lost a fight but one to the other
no roosters go for their hens, even the loud mouthed barred p rock