Okay, I have read the threads on here that say don't try to tame a cockerel - you'll be sorry when he grows up!
Well, here's the story of George of the Jungle.
This is the guy in my avatar. He is not the smartest rooster in the flock, not even close. I remember the day when he was a youngster and we had a bad rainstorm come up. Being the good chicken-mama I am, I ran out into the rain to round up all the young chickens and put them into the grow-out pen. After searching and calling, I found George, staring up at the sky. If he had tilted his head any further up and opened his mouth, he would have drowned!
Anyway, he loved to sit on my lap. He would stretch his neck out over my arm and go to sleep. I saved him the best treats, of course, since he was such a sweetheart!
Fast-forward ... hormones kicked in. George started nipping at me whenever I went outside. Pretty annoying! I would then pick him up and hold him like a baby for a while, then put him down and he would bwak bwak his displeasure and go his merry way, only to try again the next time. I'm thinking, I have created a monster! He never tried to flog me, though, just a nip here and there.
Now he's all man. He stopped the nipping a few weeks ago. He is always hanging out near the front door waiting for me to make an appearance. As soon as I come outside, he will call me over to show me some treat he has found just for me. Sometimes he will squat and do his man thing on the ground next to me ( I guess that's as close as he can figure out how to mount me). He is my constant companion outside, always within 5 feet of me. He pretends he does not want to be held (it just isn't manly), but if I pick him up and sit with him, he will again settle down on my lap for as long as I let him, talking to me as I pet him.
This guy has definitely won a place in my heart. We will see how he progresses into his newly found manhood. I will have to rehome him eventually - I have too many roosters already, but part of my heart will be going with him.
You are the man, George!
Well, here's the story of George of the Jungle.
This is the guy in my avatar. He is not the smartest rooster in the flock, not even close. I remember the day when he was a youngster and we had a bad rainstorm come up. Being the good chicken-mama I am, I ran out into the rain to round up all the young chickens and put them into the grow-out pen. After searching and calling, I found George, staring up at the sky. If he had tilted his head any further up and opened his mouth, he would have drowned!
Anyway, he loved to sit on my lap. He would stretch his neck out over my arm and go to sleep. I saved him the best treats, of course, since he was such a sweetheart!
Fast-forward ... hormones kicked in. George started nipping at me whenever I went outside. Pretty annoying! I would then pick him up and hold him like a baby for a while, then put him down and he would bwak bwak his displeasure and go his merry way, only to try again the next time. I'm thinking, I have created a monster! He never tried to flog me, though, just a nip here and there.
Now he's all man. He stopped the nipping a few weeks ago. He is always hanging out near the front door waiting for me to make an appearance. As soon as I come outside, he will call me over to show me some treat he has found just for me. Sometimes he will squat and do his man thing on the ground next to me ( I guess that's as close as he can figure out how to mount me). He is my constant companion outside, always within 5 feet of me. He pretends he does not want to be held (it just isn't manly), but if I pick him up and sit with him, he will again settle down on my lap for as long as I let him, talking to me as I pet him.
This guy has definitely won a place in my heart. We will see how he progresses into his newly found manhood. I will have to rehome him eventually - I have too many roosters already, but part of my heart will be going with him.
You are the man, George!
