I would like to know everyone's opinion about a breed or breeds with roosters that protect the hens but are friendly to people. Ones the children will be safe around. Thanks
My Red Star (red sex-links) roosters are very good with my flock. I really enjoy Brahmas and Cochins as some of the friendliest birds I have owned but I haven't owned Brahma Roos. My Cochin Roos were great! I regret selling them, but I didn't have any Cochin hens at the time.
Depends on the rooster and how old your children are. i have silkie and orpington roosters. All my boys are very gentle and do like to be held,but i have invested a lot of time with them to ensure i have no problems. A bantam breed is smaller(silkies) and they are known to be gentle,but in my opinion cannot protect against a predator attack,not saying my orpington boys are better protectors,but b/c of their size(huge)they stand a much better chance. My orpington boys are the protectors of all my chickens including the silkies. That being said, roosters are very protective of their girls and will die protecting them. At any given time you never know what/who they may view as a threat,it could be a small child chasing their girls or squeezing them too tight and having hens squawk that may set off an attack. My point is respect them for what they are and realize that as with all animals,supervision is a must with small children. I love my boys and have never had any problems with them,but i do respect them and i would never allow any other children(apart from my own)to hold/approach them unsupervised,my children's friends do hold/visit with the hens,but with the roosters not around.
X2 It really is a rooster to rooster basis. There are good and mean roos in every breed. I think be calm around roos and handling them from time to time makes them the best, IMO. Not everyone agrees with handling roos, but we have yet to have one go mean, and it makes them easier to deal with when one gets hurt or needs attention. (You should always be watchful even with friendly roos.) That said, we LOVE LOVE French Black Copper Marans roos... sweet, friendly, docile, gorgeous, gentle and gentlemanly and careful to their ladies. They have a distinct crow, but don't crow all the time, like some other breeds. Partridge Cochins roos are just like this too, but quieter, crows less, less friendly/ outgoing. Both are very silky soft and fluffy solid birds. We have 15 Production RIR roos (60 + hens) and they are sweet, friendly and some like to be held, but high energy, crows alot, and eating machines. They are good flock watchers and would be best for older children due to their active personalities. OEGB Black Breasted Brown, ours is only 1 3/4 lbs, but he's friendly, sweet and the head chicken of a flock of 96. The best watch bird! He has never fought any of the others or been mean to us in any way.
Have to agree, just depends on each individual bird. Our buff orpington rooster was very nice. He only went after anyone once and honestly it was due to him being chased so I couldn't really blame him much. I had a red production hen that was MEAN.
I have had quite the variety of roosters, and my silkie rooster has been by far, the friendliest and most protective at the same time. First off, my barred rock was very protective but only friendly about 90% of the time. My Easter egger rooster was kind of protective and not very friendly My silver duckwing bantam rooster was extremely friendly, but a big scaredy cat. My silkie rooster was a pleasant mix of both. He didn't mind being petted or picked up. He never raised a hackle or challenged me. However, he did not like when any flock members were in distress. If I picked up a hen for one reason or another and she protested, he was the first to come running to see what the deal was. Most of the others wanted to get away or didn't care all that much. He found treats for his girls and watched the skies constantly. One morning, I found my young cockerel dead in the run. A raccoon had reached through the fence and pulled his head through and killed him. My silkie rooster had evidence of fighting on him, but not fighting the cockerel. He tried to fight off the raccoon and save his flockmate. The raccoon never came back and no one else was hurt. He was a very good boy. (I say was because he lives in a new home now)
The Jersey Giant Rooster I deal with at my friends is rather friendly. But I think it all hinges on the individual birds themselves + how they are raised. The rooster prior to this rooster was a brat, you had to take a stick to him to just go feed the chickens. He wasn't raised on my friends farm but else where. She got him as a replacement. The rooster before the brat rooster was just fine, I never tired to pet him or anything but he never came after me for just feeding or collecting eggs The current one is a cute show off struts around and then begs for food from me when he sees me. I'm pretty sure he'd let me cuddle him if I really wanted to but I have Tofu for that.
My rooster is a Black Ameraucana and he is very friendly and protective. He's my first and only rooster, so I can't speak for any other breed.
