Hi winky, just spotted this thread on the verge of becoming inactive, but thought I'd respond because it's a topic that interests me. First off, RIR roosters have a bad rep - of all of the breeds described on Henderson's list (check it up on Google if you haven't seen it, it's a wonderful introduction to the huge variety between chicken breeds) only the game breeds get a worse write up for the temperament of their males. Our very first roo was part RIR (with an alleged touch of Araucana in there too) and was a demon. So I reckon you were off to a bad start with the breed of your roo. Second, I think everyone's advice to rear a roo from young is spot on. We currently have 10 birds, 3 of which we've hand-reared from egg, the others from ages ranging from 1 day to 5 weeks. Even though 5 weeks is relatively young, there is a huge difference in friendliness between the birds we reared from egg (one of which is a male) and the birds we got when 3 or 5 weeks old. Finally, I think that there is the potential in all roosters for unreasonable aggression. It's something embedded deep in the nature of chickens - the mating system of junglefowl, from which chickens are descended, is one of harem polygyny, in which fights between males competing for access to breeding females are routine. Even with breeds that are extolled by many for their good natures, like Brahmas, Welsummers, Faverolles and Orpingtons, you don't have to look very hard to find someone who has had a bad experience with roosters of that breed. That said, I think you'll be maximising your chances of acquiring a friendly rooster if you raise a male chick of one of these breeds from as young an age as possible, preferably from egg (which would give it the opportunity to bond closely with both you and your dog).
Good luck!
Mark
Good luck!
Mark
