Which chicken breed has the quietest, tamest roosters?
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Unfortunately, there is no pat answer on this one. First, ALL roosters crow. We happen to love the sound (to us it's far preferable to yapping dogs or leaf blowers!). However, it is not possible to know which roosters will crow often and which will be quieter than others when they are baby chicks, just as it's not possible to know which dogs will be barkers when they are pups. With roosters, a lot will depend on their environment too, and how safe they feel "their" hens are. If your chickens are in an area where they are constantly molested by walkers-by or they are frequently confronted by dogs barking through the fence at them, they will probably crow a great deal!
If you want a rooster and you know that crowing is going to be an issue for you or your neighbors, all is not lost! The No-Crow Rooster Collar is a safe and effective way to reduce both the frequency and the volume of your rooster's crows!
When it comes to tameness, Faverolles roosters tend to be very nice, but again, there is no guarantee since they are individual creatures with individual personalities. For instance, Golden Retrievers have a reputation as a very friendly breed of dog, but there is no guarantee that any individual puppy you buy will be friendly. Not only will it depend on the personality of the dog, but also with how the dog is raised and treated. The same goes for roosters. As far as breed reputation goes, stay away from Rhode Island Red roosters. They tend to be aggressive. If you want to choose breeds with a reputation for calm or friendly roosters, Faverolles are my favorite, and Barred Rocks are also very nice. Orpingtons and Cochins and Brahmas also have a reputation as nice, calm birds. Many people love Silkie roosters, too.
As you make your choices, remember that it does depend on the individual bird. For instance, despite the friendly reputation of Silkie roosters, my own Silkie rooster Dr. Bellows was the meanest, loudest most aggressive thug of a rooster I've ever had the displeasure to encounter! He was mean to me, vicious to other roosters, aggressive with the girls, and even screamed at every bunny, songbird and butterfly he ever saw decorating the yard. His full brothers (Major Nelson and Major Healey) were sweet as pie and raised in exactly the same environment.
So, remember: there is no way to guarantee the behavior of any chicken, hen or rooster, because just like dogs or cats or kids, a lot simply depends on their individual personalities.
If you want a rooster and you know that crowing is going to be an issue for you or your neighbors, all is not lost! The No-Crow Rooster Collar is a safe and effective way to reduce both the frequency and the volume of your rooster's crows!
When it comes to tameness, Faverolles roosters tend to be very nice, but again, there is no guarantee since they are individual creatures with individual personalities. For instance, Golden Retrievers have a reputation as a very friendly breed of dog, but there is no guarantee that any individual puppy you buy will be friendly. Not only will it depend on the personality of the dog, but also with how the dog is raised and treated. The same goes for roosters. As far as breed reputation goes, stay away from Rhode Island Red roosters. They tend to be aggressive. If you want to choose breeds with a reputation for calm or friendly roosters, Faverolles are my favorite, and Barred Rocks are also very nice. Orpingtons and Cochins and Brahmas also have a reputation as nice, calm birds. Many people love Silkie roosters, too.
As you make your choices, remember that it does depend on the individual bird. For instance, despite the friendly reputation of Silkie roosters, my own Silkie rooster Dr. Bellows was the meanest, loudest most aggressive thug of a rooster I've ever had the displeasure to encounter! He was mean to me, vicious to other roosters, aggressive with the girls, and even screamed at every bunny, songbird and butterfly he ever saw decorating the yard. His full brothers (Major Nelson and Major Healey) were sweet as pie and raised in exactly the same environment.
So, remember: there is no way to guarantee the behavior of any chicken, hen or rooster, because just like dogs or cats or kids, a lot simply depends on their individual personalities.
