Dominance training is what I do with a young roo... one who thinks he's going to be aggressive with humans. (start it just as soon as the aggressive behavior starts.) It would work equally well with a little gal, or a hen of any age who doesn't mind her p's and q's. You pick up the bird who wants to peck and attack you, place it in a foot ball hold, and push the head down below their chest. Every time the bird picks up his head, you push it down, and continue doing so until he voluntarily keeps it down. If he bites, you can grab the feathers on the back of his head to keep him from turning to bite you while pushing his head down. You then set him down so his feet are on the ground while still restraining his body. He'll most likely pick his head back up, and struggle to get away. continue pushing his head down till he submits while you gently restrain him, and he keeps head down. Then you let him go. Continue this daily, or as long as his behavior is aggressive. The other part of dominance training involves teaching him that YOU own the space around the flock. Where ever he happens to be standing, that's where you need to be. You shoo him out of your path. If you give treats to the flock, you may take a thin stick, and gently tap his tail feathers to shoo him away from the treats while the rest of the flock eats. Never walk around him. Walk through him. Make him move out of your way. Some roos need it, some are fast learners and take their lessons from the rest of the flock, never offering any type of aggressive behavior. I thought Little Man was destined for the stew pot. But a week of training turned him into a perfect gentleman. He would have been raised up to be a replacement for Jack, if timing was such that Jack needed to go. But... Jack (my Avatar pic of him doesn't do him justice) is holding his own, and a proud Daddy of yet an other generation of youngsters.
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