Anyone ever "re-tamed" a rooster before?

[akitafriendakita]

My rooster went through his first season earlier this year and suddenly grew slightly aggressive/avoidant of me. He used to be very easy to handle, didn't mind snuggling, etc. I assumed he would go back to normal when his hormones settled a little but he didn't. He's a silkie so he's mostly harmless and nothing really happens when he does attack, so there is really no need to get rid of him.

I would love to be able to handle him like I used to though. Does anyone know of any way to "re-tame" him to get him to settle down? I included some pics so you can see what I'm fighting for.

 

[centrarchid]

Spend more time in close proximity without actually handling him. Don’t do treats or offer feed during these bouts.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

My rooster went through his first season earlier this year and suddenly grew slightly aggressive/avoidant of me. He used to be very easy to handle, didn't mind snuggling, etc. I assumed he would go back to normal when his hormones settled a little but he didn't. He's a silkie so he's mostly harmless and nothing really happens when he does attack, so there is really no need to get rid of him.

I would love to be able to handle him like I used to though. Does anyone know of any way to "re-tame" him to get him to settle down? I included some pics so you can see what I'm fighting for.

How do you behave around your pullets/ hens, and does he consider them his “girls”? Can you describe more what is happening when he goes aggressive? (what he’s doing, what you’re doing, are other chickens around)

 

[akitafriendakita]

How do you behave around your pullets/ hens, and does he consider them his “girls”? Can you describe more what is happening when he goes aggressive? (what he’s doing, what you’re doing, are other chickens around)

Sometimes he chases me if I walk by, maybe pecks my shoe or pants. Usually he backs down though because he knows I could potentially pick him up, so it's mostly just bluff charges if I'm within a few feet. The hens might follow sometimes which probably does upset him.

He does it more often if he's in his enclosure/it's a tighter space and I'm doing something like setting down their feeder.

 

[chooki]

I have rehabilitated one cockerel using a solitary rooster jail.

This bird:

He has bitten me a couple of times, I locked him up for a few days using this rooster jail:

He was allowed to watch other roosters free ranging while reflecting on his own mistakes and has not attacked me for more than a year since (he's only 1 year and 5 months old).

For it to work, the rooster needs to know that he is punished for attacking people. Also rooster jail only works on some birds, so it's a bit hit and miss.

 

[McChooky]

I have rehabilitated one cockerel using a solitary rooster jail.

This bird:

View attachment 4233493

He has bitten me a couple of times, I locked him up for a few days using this rooster jail:

View attachment 4233496

He was allowed to watch other roosters free ranging while reflecting on his own mistakes and has not attacked me for more than a year since (he's only 1 year and 5 months old).

For it to work, the rooster needs to know that he is punished for attacking people. Also rooster jail only works on some birds, so it's a bit hit and miss.

I was hoping my roosters hormone levels would drop this fall but it hasn't helped.Whats the longest you've kept your rooster in a cage?
I don't think I kept mine in there long enough

 

[chooki]

I was hoping my roosters hormone levels would drop this fall but it hasn't helped.Whats the longest you've kept your rooster in a cage?
I don't think I kept mine in there long enough

It's on and off for a month or so, longest continuous duration maybe 2-3 day, the total jail time was somewhere between 5 - 8 days.

The defining moment, I think, was when I tried to put water inside the rooster jail, the red roo bit me, so I left water container outside for a few hours. When I tried to put it in again, the rooster did not try to bite, he was quite thirsty at the time.

He did not bite me since, not sure whether that was coincidence.