Hi Sheila!
I adopted an Ameraucana roo about two months ago (along with 4 Ameraucana hens) and he's the sweetest thing. I'm not sure of his age, maybe 2-3 years old. He keeps all of the girls in line and is very protective of them, but has never showed a human any aggression. I can actually pick him up and carry him around the yard and he won't fuss or complain. I think he secretly enjoys it! He is LOUD, however. I can count on him to wake us up every morning around 5:30. It's a good thing my nearest neighbors are a good distance away. The guy across the road from me said that he can hear him, but he's not so loud that they're bothered by him. By the way, did your hens with the naked bums ever grow their feathers back? I'm STILL waiting for the three of mine that were being pecked at to grow their's back in. I've tried everything. I recently switched their feed to one containing methionine and lysine...hopefully that will do the trick. They've been this way since December! Poor things.
Manda

Hi Manda!
Well I did find a good home for my 3 bully barred rocks but the picking habit must have spread to the others because it is still a problem. That is why I thought maybe a roo would help balance things out. My problem is I can't see who is doing the picking! of my 13 adult hens only 3 have all their rear feathers intact and like you this has been going on since December. This behavior all started when I kept them cooped up for a stretch during the really cold days. Now they are out in their pen, sunshine etc. but the bad habit still exists.

As far as the crowing goes, someone told me don't worry about the roo's, the sound of the ducks will drown them out! We have 4 ducklings and a gosling in our basement, just a week old! it's gonna be one interesting summer to say the least!

-Sheila

I saw your duckling pictures.......omigod, they are adorable! Sorry to hear that you're still having the same problems I am. The picking seems to have stopped, but the feathers are taking FOREVER to grow in. Chicken butts are really ugly when they're naked! LOL! I can only hope that they grow back in by next winter. Good luck with your new roo!

Of the three breeds you mentioned, I've only had experience with Americaunas--and mine is a Barred Rock/Americaunas mix named Phoenix. You can see pics of him on my site, he is the son of Jack (my sweet old Barred Rock roo) and Louise, my salmon-pink Americaunas hen. Phoenix is terrific, he is a good roo to his girls, attends to his mating duties without being rough or mean. He is gentle and I can walk right up to him and pick him up. I know I can trust him implicitely with my 6 year old daughter as well. He hasn't got a mean bone in his body and he is 2 years old now. His personality has not changed to date, and he crows like any other roo, but not overly loud or hideously often. *L* . My Americaunas hens are also sweet, calm and beautiful. :)

Velvet ~:>

Hi Sheila! Can't really advise you on what breed of rooster to keep, but I would imagine that by the time they get to culling time, you will have a fair idea of their temperments. Some young roos run in a gang and are interested in JUST ONE THING. But there may be one who is more interested in wooing the ladies with treats and sweet words before jumping them. That's your boy!

You might also do a Google search using the breed names and "temperment rooster" as keywords. Surprising what you can turn up that way.

Regarding your bare bottomed girls... If I had to guess, I'd say the three hens who are still fully feathered are likely the perps. I had a similar situation a couple of years ago when a spell of cold weather and deep snow kept the hens inside. It took a whole season of free-ranging and a bit of culling to cure the problem... although I again have one hen with bald spots on her breast and another with a bare rump. I guess someone has to be low hen in the pecking order.