what is a friendly rooster?

[ARose4Heaven]

I am preparing to order some chicks..They will be mostly in coop and run because of predators. I am getting mostly Polish and other gentle breeds that do well when confined. I would like a roo to warn the girls of danger. What breed of roo is the nicest to his girls, and his keeper? I am getting these for pets that will be loved on a lot. I do have an older pheonix and a RIR Roo that free range my woods. both uncatchable, so not gonna be with my new girls.

 

[Alexandra33]

Rather than a specific breed, it depends solely on the individual. Both bad apples and gems will be discovered within any variety suggested, which makes pinpointing something consistently "friendly" all the more difficult.

On that note, I've had the best experiences with Old English Game bantams. Overall, they're wonderfully affectionate birds who treat their hens like queens, and solicit hugs from human handlers.

I'm also absolutely in love with my Wheaten Ameraucana bantam, and Easter Egger bantam men. Quite personable. Considering I've only raised one each, however, it's up for debate whether the breeds themselves are responsible....or simply natural/genetic dispositions.

~Alex

 

[Silkies for life]

I have 3 silkie roos and all of them are pretty calm, 2 have bantam in them so that could explain why they are nice...

 

[Alexandra33]

Has anyone experience with Cochins or Brahmas?

Nearly all Cochins I've encountered have been the devil incarnate. Not just my own, either. Don't let those fluffy little chunks deceive you!

That said, I'm sure there are nice instances out there, just never met one.

My only Buff Brahma became highly human aggressive.

~Alex

 

[sylviethecochin]

My cochin (bantam) roos were not people aggressive. They were horny little hen-abusing buttheads, though.

Definitely agree on the OEGB rooster. Good game roosters are the best.

I also like my Leghorn roosters, but I've never had one that wasn't raised in an adult flock, which does make quite a difference in their behaviour.

What I would recommend for a person without an adult flock is to wait until your hens are mostly mature and then to find an older rooster from an established (healthy) flock. You'll get a rooster who knows how the behave himself (because if you get them as chicks, you will go through the teenage hormone stage) and you'll be able to ask how he behaves.

 

[Cyprus]

I've had:
Japanese bantam
Mille Fleur D'Uccle
Brahma
Easter Egger

I LOVE my D'Uccle and Brahma. Sweetest things to well the earth. Never laid a toenail on me.

 

[Conan]

Has anyone experience with Cochins or Brahmas?

I've had two Bantam Cochin roosters. The first was incredibly sweet, but didn't really do his job all that well.
The second is an excellent flock guardian and can be a punk, but is not overtly aggressive towards humans. He really tends to his ladies well. Guards them when they lay in weird places, follows and protects the girls that wander, and comes running when he hears a squawk. He gets the job done. Plus, it looks like they're wearing pants, which is hilarious.

 

[CannedMonster]

I am going through that right now! My rooster is 5 months old and loves to think that I am a personal attacking bag.

That’s not a good rooster.
Mine never tried to flog me.
As chicks they were both kind of scared of me and wanted nothing to do with me.
It’s the bold “friendly” male chicks that usually turn into aggressive roosters.

 

[ldrchickens]

I have heard and read a lot about lavender orpingtons being gentle giants. For me that is wrong. I have 4 roosters and my lav orp is the only one that tries to attack. The other three have never. He escaped his pen once and he spotted me from over 100 yards away and took off running towards me all flared up! I had a rake and I one the battle by shielding by legs from him until he was done.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

3 Serama roosters, tiny but such a fun to have around!