What breeds have protective roosters?

[dheltzel]

I recommend Welsummers and Welbars (basically a Crele colored Welsummer). They are tall (imposing) and fast (not overly heavy), and they are beautiful too. I've never had one attack me, though one of my customers returned a young roo that was acting too aggressive.

Overall, I think the exact breed matters less than how you raise them. If you live in a very cold area, I would avoid those with huge combs, like the Mediteranian breeds, because they suffer a lot from frostbitten combs.

 

[chicknmania]

Well, I wasn't really asking about the roosters being aggressive and protective of their girls towards me. Teaching him to play nice isn't something I'm concerned with than it is with finding a rooster that is willing to risk his life protecting his hens.

I also don't know how I could do that since I'll be ordering my chickens off a hatchery over the Internet, which is why I was looking into good breeds. Actually, what breeds are your five roosters? What is your favorite rooster breed?

I've had several favorites but as far as purebred roosters, probably our white leghorn roosters. We had a couple when i was little and we had one that was one of our first roosters here. He was gentle but very protective of our hens. But we've had several roosters sacrifice themselves for their girls, and we've had a few roosters that were very smart, protective of the hens, and hardy & healthy, but mixed breed..they have had strains of Golden Pencilled Hamburg, Australorp,Delaware, even Silkie. If you're going for purebred though, I like the Hamburgs too. Often hard to find but sweet natured and beautiful, as well as very smart.

 

[ejcrist]

How long would you wait for hormones to settle down? We are currently processing our leghorn cross roos (6 months and too wild to handle). We have a RIR/Dom cross Roo (8 months old) who is usually great with the girls, but has a variable disposition when it comes to people. The main reason we aren't culling him now is because he protects the girls and keeps the laying flock together (when we've shut him up because he was attacking a contractor the hens didn't group as well).

I'd estimate a year to 18 months. That's been my experience but it probably varies with the breed.

 

[Flock Master64]

I have a Chocolate Cuckoo Orpington cockerel about 6-8 months old. He's a very good flock protector. I hear him make warning calls every now and then. He's also very calm and tame.

 

[June2012]

I recommend Welsummers and Welbars (basically a Crele colored Welsummer). They are tall (imposing) and fast (not overly heavy), and they are beautiful too. I've never had one attack me, though one of my customers returned a young roo that was acting too aggressive.

Overall, I think the exact breed matters less than how you raise them. If you live in a very cold area, I would avoid those with huge combs, like the Mediteranian breeds, because they suffer a lot from frostbitten combs.

How does one raise a good rooster?

I've had several favorites but as far as purebred roosters, probably our white leghorn roosters. We had a couple when i was little and we had one that was one of our first roosters here. He was gentle but very protective of our hens. But we've had several roosters sacrifice themselves for their girls, and we've had a few roosters that were very smart, protective of the hens, and hardy & healthy, but mixed breed..they have had strains of Golden Pencilled Hamburg, Australorp,Delaware, even Silkie. If you're going for purebred though, I like the Hamburgs too. Often hard to find but sweet natured and beautiful, as well as very smart.

I find Silkie roosters to be so adorable, haha! I just find it a bit of a concern if the roosters are lightweight since I may or may not be processing the offspring.

Don't sweat it - it'll be fun. Once you discover one you like you can start a breeding program with him since some of his offspring will have his same temperament. I have a Barred Rock cock that is very good to his ladies (and me) so I hatched 16 eggs from him so I can keep any cockerels that have his same disposition. He lives with the layer flock so I'm not as worried about his breed characteristics since him and his kids won't be for exhibition. I definitely want to continue his temperament though so I plan on line-breeding his offspring.

I don't think I'll ever be able to start a good breeding program just from lack of space and how much work it would take, but thank you for the tip. I hope for a meaty, protective rooster!

 

[dekel18042]

If I ever choose to process his offspring, would his chicks have any meat worth processing?

How does one find this special cock though? Do I just buy a box of male chicks and find one I'm in love with, and then process the others? I have to admit, I really love Naked Necks... I just love'm to death, haha! Crossed fingers hoping for a good Turken Roo~

Getting young cockerels may be a tossup and you may have to keep several until their hormones kick in or settle until you figure out which really is the best. Another option might be to check in your area, at the feed store or even this list people living in your area who might have an extra rooster who is a good flock rooster. Many of us who raise our own will keep several extras, either as a backup rooster or if anyone else needs a rooster or sometimes after a year or two someone might get rid of an older but still young rooster if they have something young coming up.
That way you know what the temperament is like without having to go through several young ones.
I've had people get adult roosters from me and my main flock rooster now is one I got elsewhere as an adult. (And yes, I have also raised my own. Just depends on what I want.)

 

[chicknmania]

We had a Silkie rooster named Tweety. He was the sweetest thing, and I loved his gorgeous gold feathers and dark purple comb!. Always at the bottom of the pecking order, but it didn't matter, he figured it out, and was easily able to stay out of harm's way and mingle with the flock. The only thing about him was that he was horribly prone to scaly leg mites. He was so good with the hens and any hen with chicks, he was right there to offer them protection if they wanted it. He lived to be around 7 or 8 years old. I was heart broken when he died. (as I am with pretty much all of them).

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

My current flock rooster is a New Hampshire Red/Brown Leghorn mix. His father was a Brown Leghorn (former head rooster) who was culled for becoming aggressive at about a year old. I picked this rooster out of several other dual-purpose mixed cockerels for his demeanor: he wasn't a bully, he wasn't overly interested in the hens, and he seemed to get along with others. He has turned out to be a great rooster, far better than his father. He's an active breeder (like his father was), but he's also very vigilant and curious, is constantly showing the girls tidbits (and will even let them take food from his beak), he does a really good job of keeping them together, and he doesn't lead them into trouble like his father did. He does have a large comb that's prone to frostbite, but it's manageable.

In short, he's a keeper!

 

[June2012]

My current flock rooster is a New Hampshire Red/Brown Leghorn mix. His father was a Brown Leghorn (former head rooster) who was culled for becoming aggressive at about a year old. I picked this rooster out of several other dual-purpose mixed cockerels for his demeanor: he wasn't a bully, he wasn't overly interested in the hens, and he seemed to get along with others. He has turned out to be a great rooster, far better than his father. He's an active breeder (like his father was), but he's also very vigilant and curious, is constantly showing the girls tidbits (and will even let them take food from his beak), he does a really good job of keeping them together, and he doesn't lead them into trouble like his father did. He does have a large comb that's prone to frostbite, but it's manageable.

In short, he's a keeper!

Does petroleum jelly prevent frost bite? I am thinking about a Leghorn rooster, but their combs worry me.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Does petroleum jelly prevent frost bite? I am thinking about a Leghorn rooster, but their combs worry me.

I haven't treated preventively, myself, but this guide indicates it (or coconut oil) can be applied to protect tissue: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/frostbite.