What breeds have protective roosters?

[bobbi-j]

OK, let me see if I'm understanding this right. You are looking for a rooster that will give his life protecting the flock, correct? Is that all that you're looking for? You want a rooster that is going to fight off predators. Here is the thing - unless you have an endless supply of roosters, you're going to need another line or two of defense. After all, once your rooster gives his life, what's going to protect your hens? If you have a heavy predator load, you could have a lot of dead roosters to replace. Do you free range? What is your environment like - woods, fields, city, suburban, rural? Do you have any cover for your chickens if they're out free ranging? What is your coop/run setup like? I like having a rooster around, but I don't depend on them for all my flock's protection. If you have a lot of predators around and your chickens are in a run (preferably covered), electric fence around that run is your friend. If you want to move them around the yard, electric netting is a good thing.

We free range, so we know that there is always a chance a chicken will die. A few years ago, we had a coyote take about half my flock in a very short time. We were gone, but I can only guess that the rooster got taken first, then the rest of the birds. This fall I had a cockerel give his life protecting one of the flock. I had three, but I also have enough hens that they weren't overbred by the number of cockerels. Had the one that was killed been the only one, I'd be out of luck right now. After that loss, my chickens were cooped for a couple of weeks to hopefully discourage whatever killed him.

If you're looking for a rooster to call an alarm, find tidbits for hens, and put them to bed at night, you really don't need one. A dominant hen will watch and alert for predators. Hens are perfectly capable of finding their own food and going into the coop on their own at night.

 

[justkimmy]

We have went thru three roos in a course of four summers. The first was a silkie and was handled often, but would attack if you turned your back. He jumped my hubby one too many times and is no longer alive. The second was a Barred Rock, and he gave his life at a year old to a hawk protecting his ladies. Very good bird to the hens! Our newest roo is a 9 month old Jersey Giant. He is, so far, an excellent protector of our 12 hens. When free ranging he looks as if he is constantly doing a head count of the girls as they all stay in his self made group. He is always last to go in to roost, and if a lady is being a slow poke and not in when he wants to be he lets out a screech and she'll come running. Our lab is friendly but the roo will casually put himself between the dog and the girls just to make sure anyhow. That is why I feel he will be a good protector. Good luck!

 

[SandraL]

I have a Rhode Island Red rooster. He loves his hens and is a great protector and provider. But, if you've never had a rooster before, you must understand a rooster comes with responsibility.
My rooster, as sweet as he is, accidentally killed his favorite girlfriend. I was not aware at the time that his spurs have to be removed. I'm still heartbroken over my own ignorance. There are several how to videos on YouTube showing you how to humanely de-spur your rooster.
Check Craig's list for local poultry swaps in your area. Usually you can find a nice selection of roosters, a long with some very knowledgeable folks on chickens, etc.

 

[CHICKEN BUFF]

I know that Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds are said to be good roosters, but what other breeds are there, known for caring for their girls? I also want a larger sized rooster, such as a Jersey Giant or a Turken (I love how Turkens look, to be honest haha), but I haven't heard anything about the bigger boys being as good as their lighter counterparts. I always hear good things about flightier birds, such as Leghorns. Is there a particular reason for this?

I also ask this because I don't know how I'd be going around looking for good roosters. People say to just keep looking for roosters, but how? Do I order a bunch of different roos and see which one works? That means I'd have to eat or rehome the extras... :/

I'm not an expert - I only have my own experience to go on. But over the past few years, I've found it really depends on the individual a little more than the breed. Last year was a prime example when we received an overabundance of roosters in our January chick order - Easter Eggers, Large Cochin, Silver Laced Wyandotte, a Buttercup, and a couple "surprise" breeds we never did manage to identify. We had a really large flock of hens at the time thankfully, and a big yard for everyone to free-range in, so it was a good setting in which to watch the roos mature.

I did want to raise chicks and wanted to keep one or two roos, so this is how it shook out after they reached maturity:

We found one of the large Cochins to be extremely mellow and we've kept him for no good reason except we really like him. He has little in the way of self-preservation instincts, however, nevermind any inclination to protect the girls. The hens let him pal around with them (LOL - he's so big, he looks like a big fluffy turkey in the midst of the gals!). A second Cochin roo shocked us by being a cranky bully (not typical for the breed). He was determined to have all the food for himself, and would aggressively knock the hens away from anything they found! We rehomed him!

The three Easter Egger roos turned out to be remarkably belligerent towards the hens -- I didn't expect that because I adore the temperament of our EE girls. I considered at first if they were in competition with each other, but they were acting alone. They didn't treat the hens well at all, bullying and yanking out their feathers, and generally being jerks. They didn't bother people, interestingly, and didn't even fight with each other, but after seeing the condition of a couple of our hens, we moved them on to the stew pot.

The Buttercup was a little gentleman, unbelievably solicitous and sweet towards the two buttercup hens, cooing and calling them for food, and so forth. But he ignored all the other hens completely -- it may have been his size. The buttercups were much smaller birds than expected. I rehomed them all to someone who fancied the breed.

The winner by a long shot has been Earl, our Silver-Laced Wyandotte rooster. Definitely the tallest and most athletic of the bunch. He isn't mean to the girls in the least, accomplishes mating efficiently without damaging their feathers, and calls them when there's food to be had. He didn't fight with any of the other roosters --- a few wing-flappings only, and everyone accepted he was boss, and that was that. He tolerates the remaining two roosters quite well.

Earl surprised me one day by suddenly gathering the girls to the safety of the bushes -- he called and they ran! Just then, a hawk swooped in low for a few passes, and left empty-handed because Earl had obviously spotted the predator in the sky. I've seen Earl keeping the peace in the flock too, getting between hens who are having a disagreement. One squawk from anyone and he's on the spot to see what's going on! And I watched him hover protectively over our little Polish gal, Priscilla, when she had three chicks. He was seldom far from them, and inserted his body between them and a hen who wanted to peck at the chicks!

Like many roos, Earl had to be discouraged in the beginning from flapping at my legs, but we established who was boss early and he's never done it since -- although he doesn't take kindly to strangers. All in all, I couldn't ask for a better roo. Are all Silver-Laced Wyandotte roosters like Earl? I don't know. Like I said, it still depends on the individual, but if I was looking for a flock rooster again, I'd start with Wyandottes.

Hope that helps a little bit.

 

[thomasboyle]

I've got a barred rock rooster that is 3 years old. He is a big guy and very good with the girls. He can use bare spots on their backs, especially if he has a favorite girlfriend. He is constantly on the lookout for predators, and will call the hens back into the coop if he sees a threat. When he finds something interesting, he calls the hens over and lets them eat it before taking any himself. He lets me do my chores in the coop without too many issues, but he always keeps an eye on me in case I might become a threat!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I've got a barred rock rooster that is 3 years old. He is a big guy and very good with the girls. He can use bare spots on their backs, especially if he has a favorite girlfriend. He is constantly on the lookout for predators, and will call the hens back into the coop if he sees a threat. When he finds something interesting, he calls the hens over and lets them eat it before taking any himself. He lets me do my chores in the coop without too many issues, but he always keeps an eye on me in case I might become a threat!

He is a very good-looking rooster! I like the variety in your flock, too. My flock rooster tends to pull out feathers on the heads of his favorite girls, and a couple seem to end up with bald spots around their combs.

 

[microchick]

I currently have 13 extra roosters. Anybody want one? Yeah, that's what I figured, LOL.Say extra roosters to good home and people back up faster than a drill Sargent asking for volunteers for a suicide mission.

I started out with two Welsummer roosters and one Buff Orpington rooster. The Buff O died last summer but in his tenure he was a great flock protector as was the Welsummers. I saw more than once when a hawk flew over their run, the three of them call the girls to a corner of their run that was under the barn overhang and get between them and the 'outside'. I have no doubt that those males would have given up their lives for those hens.

During three brooding sessions my hens hatched out three BO cockerels and more BO/Welsummer crosses than I can count along with two Speckled Sussex/Welsummer crosses. I'm impressed with all these roosters, The Welsummer/BO crosses are BIG beautiful boys clad in shades of bronze yet very gentle to the hens and so far, non aggressive to me. The Buff O boys are just wonderful roosters to have around. Somewhat clownish but under that humorous exterior is a fierce warrior ready to protect his hens. Same for the Welly/Speckled Sussex boys. While smaller than the BO/Welsummer crosses, they are fierce fighters and yet gentlemen to have around.

I guess the point that I'm making is consider a barnyard cross when you get down to a short list. The best of several breeds can turn out to be a great flock leader.

On a funny note. I have two old English Game bantam cockerels that are maturing in the background and turning into quite the Lotharios. Hen size doesn't seem to matter to them. They dance, they coo, they tidbit, completely ignoring the two diminutive OEGB pullets that are the same age.

Point being......size doesn't matter. They are big roosters in a small package.

 

[Pearls58]

I have a Brahma rooster and an Americana Rooster. My Americana beats on the Brahma even though the Brahma is bigger. They are both very protective of their individual flock of hens, even against me. I've had no predator attacks because they are always in enclosed movable fences where I can keep an eye on them and let them in every evening. They are only 6 mo. old in these photos but are separated with their own hens to protect the from each other. The Brahma looks MUCH better now and will probably go to the fairs this year.

 

[Rckeagle]

I have a picture of a game rooster killing a hawk....... they are smart and protective..... while I have only had a couple of real crazy ones that we were actually manfighters.... most are real good.....

 

[chicknmania]

I have a picture of a game rooster killing a hawk....... they are smart and protective..... while I have only had a couple of real crazy ones that we were actually manfighters.... most are real good.....

That's hard to believe. WE've only had one rooster ever that dared to confront a hawk..he was a little mixed breed dude and incredibly smart. Startled the hawk more than anything, and it flew off. But most of our roosters, although they are good lookouts, won't tackle a hawk. Our peahens will confront a small predator like a skunk or cat.