Some people want to lump all roosters in the same boat, and say they will get mean if you coddle them. I have not had a problem with raising roosters this way, or even taking in someone else's "mean" rooster. There are steps to go about raising a rooster so it will not be mean.
One way of raising them, is if you have a young rooster- or even roosters it is best if you have older hens. When the young rooster, or roosters start getting too big for his britches and beating up hens his own age, (8 weeks old?) I put him in by himself-or with other roosters to the adult hen pen. They teach them to behave. (Yes, the older hens will beat them up.) I have found when a young rooster gets put in it's place, they will look to you as a friend. When roosters come to me, I pick them up, and carry them about, they learn I am the boss in that manner, and either keep coming to be held, or stay away from me. I do not chase them to hold them. If a rooster comes up behind and pretends to eat, I know it is a trick, and never let them come up. I never push them off with a broom, because then they will want to come up to attack the broom, I also never push them off with a shoe, because then they think you want to fight with the shoe/boot.
Another thing about making a rooster mean is when you encourage mean behavior. If you have kids/ or grand kids that think it is funny to have roosters chase them, even if you didn't see it, you will hear the story of the rooster was mean to me. And the rooster gets blamed. Now when my kids were young they didn't tease any of my birds, but I do know this kind of thing can happen. Kids especially really small ones can make a good target for a rooster though. But once again not the rooster's fault.
One other way to make roosters mean is by being a timid person. If you are skiddish the roosters can pick up on that. I always walk with purpose, and never cringe from my birds.
Also know not a roosters represent all roosters. I hope everyone finds a rooster they can love and will be best for their family. Find yourself a keeper.
One way of raising them, is if you have a young rooster- or even roosters it is best if you have older hens. When the young rooster, or roosters start getting too big for his britches and beating up hens his own age, (8 weeks old?) I put him in by himself-or with other roosters to the adult hen pen. They teach them to behave. (Yes, the older hens will beat them up.) I have found when a young rooster gets put in it's place, they will look to you as a friend. When roosters come to me, I pick them up, and carry them about, they learn I am the boss in that manner, and either keep coming to be held, or stay away from me. I do not chase them to hold them. If a rooster comes up behind and pretends to eat, I know it is a trick, and never let them come up. I never push them off with a broom, because then they will want to come up to attack the broom, I also never push them off with a shoe, because then they think you want to fight with the shoe/boot.
Another thing about making a rooster mean is when you encourage mean behavior. If you have kids/ or grand kids that think it is funny to have roosters chase them, even if you didn't see it, you will hear the story of the rooster was mean to me. And the rooster gets blamed. Now when my kids were young they didn't tease any of my birds, but I do know this kind of thing can happen. Kids especially really small ones can make a good target for a rooster though. But once again not the rooster's fault.
One other way to make roosters mean is by being a timid person. If you are skiddish the roosters can pick up on that. I always walk with purpose, and never cringe from my birds.
Also know not a roosters represent all roosters. I hope everyone finds a rooster they can love and will be best for their family. Find yourself a keeper.
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