Its actually almost never to late to tame them down.. it just takes patience and work. Your rooster turned aggressive because you got too friendly with him as a youngster and when his hormones kicked in, he only saw you as a rival rooster. Its better to stay aloof with the rooster until they're mature and can recognize/respect that you're a human.
To tame your little reject chicks (and I mean that endearingly.. its not their fault the hen's racist), treats go a LONG way in taming them. Take to spending time sitting near by, toss tasty treats like BOSS or mealworms in their direction. Pick a 'calling' sound that you'll use consistently for them to associate with you. I use "Chick chick chick chick chicka!". Gradually work the treats closer to you until they're eating out of your hand. Talk to them about random things, the weather, how cute they are, what was on Survivor/The Bachelor yesterday.. etc.. anything that will let them get used to the sound of your voice. Keep all movements slow and obvious. No quick jerks or jumping up or lunging for them.
Once you've got them eating from your hand.. start reaching (SLOWLY) to stroke them on the side, on the wings.. do not reach from above, come in from the side, and keep talking soothingly, "Who's a pretty chicken.. pretty girl.. are those meal worms yummy?" If they'll let you, give them a gentle scratch under the wing and belly, even the chin if they'll tolerate it. As they grow used to that, you can move on to start touching them on the back and head. Once they're tolerant of that, get them used to your hand under their belly.. then start gently lifting them, just a few inches off the ground and immediately back down. Eventually, you'll be able to pick them up without any fuss.
It took us about a week, 1-2 hours a day to fully tame down the millie fleur when we bought her at PoL. She had NEVER been handled as a chick and came from a free ranging flock. On day 2, she flew over the fence in a panic when we were trying to herd her back into the coop at sunset. By day 7, I was picking her up with one hand to feed her BOSS and mealworms from my hand and holding her upsidedown.
To tame your little reject chicks (and I mean that endearingly.. its not their fault the hen's racist), treats go a LONG way in taming them. Take to spending time sitting near by, toss tasty treats like BOSS or mealworms in their direction. Pick a 'calling' sound that you'll use consistently for them to associate with you. I use "Chick chick chick chick chicka!". Gradually work the treats closer to you until they're eating out of your hand. Talk to them about random things, the weather, how cute they are, what was on Survivor/The Bachelor yesterday.. etc.. anything that will let them get used to the sound of your voice. Keep all movements slow and obvious. No quick jerks or jumping up or lunging for them.
Once you've got them eating from your hand.. start reaching (SLOWLY) to stroke them on the side, on the wings.. do not reach from above, come in from the side, and keep talking soothingly, "Who's a pretty chicken.. pretty girl.. are those meal worms yummy?" If they'll let you, give them a gentle scratch under the wing and belly, even the chin if they'll tolerate it. As they grow used to that, you can move on to start touching them on the back and head. Once they're tolerant of that, get them used to your hand under their belly.. then start gently lifting them, just a few inches off the ground and immediately back down. Eventually, you'll be able to pick them up without any fuss.
It took us about a week, 1-2 hours a day to fully tame down the millie fleur when we bought her at PoL. She had NEVER been handled as a chick and came from a free ranging flock. On day 2, she flew over the fence in a panic when we were trying to herd her back into the coop at sunset. By day 7, I was picking her up with one hand to feed her BOSS and mealworms from my hand and holding her upsidedown.