Roosters, or male chickens, display diverse traits across various breeds. Types of roosters cover a range of poultry with unique features, temperaments, and uses. The Leghorn rooster, prized for egg-laying, stands out with white plumage. The Rhode Island Red excels in both egg and meat production, known for its red feathers. Silkie roosters, admired for ornamental purposes, have fluffy fur-like plumage. Polish roosters, featuring crests, add charm to flocks. Bantam roosters, smaller versions, like Sebright, Serama, and Dutch Bantam, suit limited spaces. In poultry keeping, each type contributes distinct qualities to the overall diversity.
This is a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision if you’re looking to buy a rooster. Find out more about the 22 types of roosters by reading on to make sure your poultry endeavor is a huge success.
Different types of Roosters
Australorp Rooster
Australorp hens are native to Australia and are renowned for their extraordinary egg-laying skills and endearing dispositions. Australorp roosters are black and usually weigh six to ten pounds when they are sold in the United States. Their big, brilliant red combs and wattles contrast nicely with their dark feathers, which have an amazing iridescent look with undertones of dark forest green. Although australorp roosters are calm and amiable birds of prey, they have a tendency to become combative when defending their group.
Leghorn Rooster
These are Italian-style roosters, with sleek feathers and long, flowing tails that come in a variety of beautiful hues. Leghorn roosters weigh between 5.5 and 7.5 pounds and have a neat, compact appearance. The all-white roosters with gorgeous red combs and wattles are the most popular variety. Black, brown, buff, red, silver, and black-tailed red are among the numerous different colors. The roosters guard their flock with great awareness. They are independent, usually not very fluffy, and like to have lots of space to roam free.
Sussex Rooster
The Sussex chicken, which is the oldest breed in Britain, has a lengthy history and originated in the English county of Sussex. Friendly, self-assured, and inquisitive, hens and roosters are well-known for their endearing and cheerful dispositions. The roosters are so docile that you can feed them right out of your fingers if you hand raise them! However, despite their kind nature, Sussex roosters are also vigilant guardians with excellent senses that will sound the alarm at the first sign of danger. A few cocks will even fearlessly defend themselves and take on any assailants head-on.
Faverolles Rooster
Originally kept for their eggs and meat, these magnificent roosters came from France. With their full plumage and feathered feet, faverolles roosters are large, weighing approximately 11 pounds. Small house flocks or children’s pets are common, and they are fairly gentle. Also, in contrast to other breeds, Faverolles roosters are remarkably calm. Mixed flocks are more likely to see bullying of Faverolles because of their submissive disposition. Being housed with other gentle breeds or other Faverolles, these friendly and gregarious birds flourish.
Barbu d’Uccle Rooster
As real bantams, these Belgian chickens do not have a larger equivalent to match their diminutive stature. Barbu d’Uccle roosters have richly feathered bodies and are small, weighing just approximately one pound. They are available in at least twenty-eight exquisite colors, such as white, mottled, cuckoo, blue, blue quail, lavender, silver coil, and cuckoo.
Barbu d’Uccle roosters take great pride in their responsibility to care for their flocks. They carefully safeguard the safety and well-being of their chickens and are excellent caretakers. Barbu d’Uccle roosters are little in stature, but they’re incredibly brave and have lively personalities.
Welsummer Rooster
The Welsummer chicken, named for the small Dutch municipality of Welsum, is an eye-catching bird with a majestic appearance. Its feathers are colored in light and dark brown tones, and they have partridge-like white feather shafts. Welsummer roosters have a glossy beetle-green breast and a warm, golden-brown mantle. They have a magnificent beauty, but they also have a peaceful, agreeable nature that makes them get along well with people and other birds.
Delaware Rooster
The Delaware chicken, which originated in Delaware, is currently a severely endangered breed in the United States. Bright red wattles and combs adorn Delaware roosters, which weigh approximately 8.5 pounds. Their tails and necks are adorned with faint black sprinkles that contrast with their white bodies. Despite not usually being the nicest birds, they are quiet and submissive. Delaware roosters are alert to their group and vigilant about any threats.
Java Rooster
One of the first chicken breeds in America is the Java. But the Java chicken is in grave danger these days. Java roosters have a sturdy, powerful body and reach a weight of approximately 9.5 pounds. Their feathers could be white, black, or speckled. Javas are multipurpose birds that are raised for both their meat and egg production. They are placid, hardy birds that thrive in small groups.
Langshan Rooster
Weighing about ten pounds, the Langshan rooster is a gentle giant. Its sleek black feathers and white skin make it one among the world’s oldest kinds of chickens. They are amiable creatures that make excellent pets and lap chickens, according to many. Even other animal species prefer to get along well with them. Although there are now white and blue varieties, the original fowl were black with a green sheen.
Orpington Rooster
Orpington hens are raised for their superb temperaments and beautiful appearance alone, even though they were initially developed for both eggs and meat. Large, curvaceous bodies with vivid red combs and wattles characterize Orpington roosters, which weigh between eight and ten pounds. They have an utter commitment to safeguarding their flock despite their extreme docility—they might even eat right out of your fingers. With their keen senses, they can detect even the smallest sign of danger and, on occasion, even give their lives to protect their hens.
Jersey Giant Rooster
The Jersey giant is one of the biggest and heaviest roosters available. These large lads, who were first developed in New Jersey, have powerful bodies and weigh between 13 and 15 pounds! Still, it does take a long period and a lot of food to grow to adulthood in a Jersey Giant rooster. Although they are available in several colors, black is the most popular color for these enormous fowl. Jersey Giant roosters are the ideal of gentle giants; they have no harsh or annoying characteristics, even with their enormous size. In addition to deliberately seeking to avoid confrontations, their formidable stature inherently discourages confrontations from other breeds.
New Hampshire Red Rooster
The New Hampshire red rooster originated in New Hampshire in the early 20th century, just like its name suggests. Their gorgeous reddish-brown feathers contain shades ranging from warm chestnut to golden bay. Red roosters from New Hampshire are about 8.5 pounds in weight, and they have fairly prominent red combs and wattles. Their graceful tail feathers are also black with a gorgeous beetle-green shine. In addition to producing meat, New Hampshire Reds are dual-purpose chickens that lay roughly 200 brown eggs annually.
Rhode Island Red Rooster
The Rhode Island red chicken, a domestic breed created in the US, is the official state bird of Rhode Island. Adaptable birds, Rhode Island reds lay 200–300 brown eggs a year in addition to producing meat. These gorgeous hens, according to their name, with rich red feathers that vary in color from rusty red brown to almost black. Large black tail feathers distinguish Rhode Island red roosters from hens in terms of color. Their wattles, earlobes, and combs have a vibrant crimson color, and they weigh roughly 8.6 pounds.
Silkie Rooster
Adorably fluffy, silkie chickens live up to their name thanks to their silky smooth feathers. Silkie roosters weigh only two to three pounds and have round, complex bodies. They are highly unusual in having five toes, while most breeds only have four. They also have black bones, flesh, and skin. Silkies are frequently raised for their meat as well as their eggs; hens can lay anywhere from 100 to 120 eggs a year. These amusing roosters are frequently kept as pets and “lap chickens” because of their exceptionally kind and loving dispositions.
Plymouth Rock Rooster
Popular because of their striking look and calm, trustworthy temperament, Plymouth Rock roosters are highly sought-after. Their lovely black and white feathers give them a wonderful speckled appearance, and they weigh about 7.5 pounds. They feature an amazing long tail, as well as vivid red wattles and combs. Plymouth Rock roosters take great pride in their duty as flock protectors and keep a close eye on the hens entrusted to their care. They are especially favored in the farming community since they are composed and normally behave nicely around people.
Polish Rooster
Polish roosters have amazing spiky feathers covering their heads, which can equal the most extravagant hairstyles, making them the rock stars of the chicken world. Regretfully, they are also less able to see thanks to these amazing head feathers, which increases their susceptibility to predators. Despite their lack of aggression, these six-pound birds are nonetheless industrious and will promptly sound a prolonged and loud alert when threats approach. Some hens may even be more dominant than the roosters themselves because Polish roosters can be so timid and cautious.
Cochin Rooster
Raised mostly for exhibitions and shows, the gorgeous cochin chicken is rarely raised for its eggs or meat. Cochin roosters are a big breed of chicken that range in weight from eight to thirteen pounds and have a vibrant array of colors. Their entire body is covered in fluffy feathers, even down the length of their legs, which resembles bushy bell-bottom pants! Since cochin roosters are usually mild and peaceful, they don’t make the most assertive guardians. Some are even gentle enough to sit on your lap and even take pleasure in spending time with kids.
Sebright Rooster
One of the most enduring British bantam breeds, this exquisite little chicken continues to be a favorite choice even in modern times. They are challenging to breed, though, as the hens only lay little white eggs. With an average weight of only 1.3 pounds, Sebright roosters are a small breed of chicken. Usually brilliant red, but occasionally purple or mulberry, they have finely pointed rose combs. Sebright hens are colored gold, silver, and lemon, and the edges of their feathers are uniformly decorated with a black lace design.
Brahma Rooster
These stunning birds take a little longer to grow into adulthood, but when they do, they are enormous! Until the Jersey giant appeared, Brahma roosters—also referred to as the “King of Chickens”—were the largest breed of chicken. Their massive size—2 feet tall and 12 pounds heavy—is sufficient to frighten off a lot of smaller would-be predators. But they’re also incredibly gentle and submissive. Actually, Brahma roosters thrive in non-mixed flocks because they are frequently harassed by other breeds.
Wyandotte Rooster
The Wyandotte chicken, which was first popularized in the United States in the 1870s, is named for the native Wyandot people of North America. Wyandotte chickens are raised for their big brown eggs as well as their meat. These stunning birds are available in a wide variety of hues, such as Colombian, golden laced, blue, black, buff, partridge, white, silver laced, and silver penciled.
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