Rooster Characteristics? Agressive vs. non agressive

[Cynthia 085]

Hi everyone.

I thought to ask this question although it is a silly question. I am fairly new to chicken keeping and would like to learn more.

I have a rooster he is almost a year old. He is a smutty buff silkie. He has 7 hens to hang around with.

Here I have read many stories of agressive roosters.

My question is why are roosters agressive or not agressive? What is the deciding factor? Is it the breed type? The way the chick was raised? Or is it because eventhough they are all chickens each has their own personality?

I would like to know more information about this topic. Thanks
My roo is way too nice and docile. He is so clumsy and lazy, but never has he shown any agression towards me.

 

[sourland]

The way a rooster is raised may b e a factor - frequently 'pet' roosters will try to subordinate the people caring for them. Personally I feel that genetics plays a far greater role as far as human aggression in roosters.

 

[Cynthia 085]

sourland
Thanks for the info.
Is there other "types" of roosters? You mentioned "pet" roosters.
Genes huh? Can you tell me more about this?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have had only one aggressive roosters, all the others have been different breeds, some are good with the hens, some are buttheads. My only aggressive one was a bantam cochin frizzle, who I handled a lot, handling, petting, feeding from your hands is what in my opinion is the problem, but here's the other side, I had his brother as well, treated them both the same and only one became aggressive, so it's a mix of how you interact with them, as well as the individual personality. I also had a little d'uccle rooster who decided at a year old to come after me, so for the rest of that summer every time I saw him I threw my plastic feed scoop in his direction, took him about a month to stop that nonsense and regret that he started it, he is now 6, and is a perfect little gentleman, to me at least. So right rooster, right interaction, with some just being nice.

 

[sourland]

sourland
Thanks for the info.
Is there other "types" of roosters? You mentioned "pet" roosters.
Genes huh? Can you tell me more about this?

Why, sure there are other sorts of roosters. There are show roosters and eatin' roosters, and ----------------------
Many breeders select against 'human aggression' - such roosters are just not used for breeding. Hatcheries don't generally follow such a culling process. Game fowl roosters in my experience are among the least human aggressive. For obvious reasons man fighters are not bred from.

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

I have had...hmm...thrity some roos? One one has been mean. All were Silkies, Polish, Cochins, or Seramas. So I guess they're all in the pet catergory. All were raised the same, with lots of attention, and were super spoiled. The mean one was a Polish. He was the little guy and always picked on by the other chickens. I think that made him mean. I never bred him because I agree on the gene thing. I eventually found him another home with no other roos and he ended up being sweet once there were no other roos.
I think it's genes and how they're raised. Breed may also play a part, but I think a mistreated Silkie is more likely to be mean than, say, a spoiled pet game stag.

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

Oh yeah and meant to say...I think roos are a lot like dogs. If they're scared, they'll bite/spur/whatever.
A roo running around with the world at his disposal is far less likely to be mean then one stuck in a small cage. In a cage he feels cornered, threatened, and with nowhere to run. He'll get defensive because he's scared.
Roosters are very misunderstood. I've never met a roo who couldn't be calmed down under the right circumstances. It takes time and patience, but I think any roo can be nice.
The most important part in a human/roo relationship is trust. If you wanna be the head chicken, you've gotta show your roo that your trustable. Afterall, if you're in charge, you're taking care of his hens. You've gotta show him your boss, but you've also gotta show him that you're not only his boss, but his friend.
I love roos, and honestly prefer them over hens. Spend time with your boys and you'll have a friend. I've dealt with many different kids of roosters, but all I've personally owned are the pet types.
Another thing that makes a roo mean is having too many other roos. It makes him defensive and makes him think he has something to prove.
Good luck with your roo, and I'm all too happy to answer questions about calming down an agressive roo :-D

 

[Mrs. K]

You are getting a lot of ideas here, and some of them are contradictory.

I think you get the best roosters by raising them with older chickens in a multi-generational flock. Most of us spend time with their birds, but not 24/7. The older birds teach respect and proper chicken society.

Many times in a single generation flock, the rooster chicks get bigger than the pullets, sexually mature sooner than the pullets and become very aggressive, this aggression can become toward people too.

I am not much for getting a mean rooster to be nice, I would never trust him again, and even if they respect you, anyone else visiting the coop can be fair game.

If you have young children, a rooster will often attack them at face level. If you have young children, I would wait to get a rooster.

Mrs K

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

I'm not saying you should trust roos...and if I had small children I have several I'd keep an eye on. I'm just trying to say that roos shouldn't be given less of a chance just because they're roos. They can be very nice. And I agree...there are some roos who should be approached with a suit of armor, but there are other who you can turn your back on without a worry.
I'm just trying to say that roosters aren't stereotypical, and that not every roo is waiting for you to turn your back and spur you. I'm sure there are some, but I've just never met one who couldn't be better under different circumstances.
I do have a roo who is fine with me but might nip at someone he doesn't know. You've just gotta know your roo and what he's fine with. I'll never have a flock without at least one rooster again because I've had good experiences, but that doesn't mean you should trust a roo you don't know well.
All roosters can be aggressive. And all roosters are aggressive to defend themselves. But hens are the same way. The only difference is roosters take it more seriously and it can cause problems, especially with first roos and people who haven't dealt with them before.
I'm just trying to say that there are plenty of roos who can be trusted and can make wonderful pets. And when you get an aggressive one, there's usually a reason.

 

[sourland]

Roos will jump up and kick with their hind legs. They will also strike out with their forelimbs. Roosters on the other hand behave in a decidedly different fashion.

I'm not saying you should trust roos...and if I had small children I have several I'd keep an eye on. I'm just trying to say that roos shouldn't be given less of a chance just because they're roos. They can be very nice. And I agree...there are some roos who should be approached with a suit of armor, but there are other who you can turn your back on without a worry.