Beginning A Rooster's Road to Recovery

[islandgirl82]

He's a wise boy and quick learner. I'm so proud of him. The two sets of girls mingle from time to time but are happy to remain two separate groups. Right now, he has them all together peacefully. I only worry about two of my girls...my oldest and top hen who's nearly 7yrs and has never taken to a rooster (I want him to leave her be to enjoy her retirement) and my Golden Spangled Hamburg who is about 1/3 his size but she's quick and feisty so I think she'll be able to evade him well. My last rooster abused them both and quite severely for refusing to submit to him but so far Russell has not shown any behavior even remotely close to that. As I continue to watch him, I'm noticing his methods are different between the bolder bossier girls and those who are on the shy and timid side. He tidbits to the timid girls and when they approach, he moves further away, leaving them in peace but still showing them where the goodies are. He also stops tidbitting whenever I get near and leaves it to me to offer the treats.

 

[Birdydeb]

I love following Russell's story. What an awesome boy! And handsome too!

 

[lazy gardener]

Loving your story. Interesting that the little Spanish gal is going from dominating biddy to little hussy!

 

[islandgirl82]

I just died laughing over you calling her a hussy. Funny thing, Hola. He's been out all day and her clan in particular has taken a shining to him but she won't let him mate with anyone else.

 

[islandgirl82]

By the end of his first full day out with all the ladies, Russell was starting to get a little cocky with me. Hola and her clan stuck by him throughout the day, though Java kept trying to come back to me. Russell would chase the four into the shrubs whenever he saw me and stand guard even when I was feeding out dinner. If the rest of my girls came around he'd chase them, trying to get them to join him and the girls he'd already collected. They wanted no part of it and stayed right with me.

I know this is what roosters do but I am one who enjoys the interactions I have with my flock and I can see he's already trying to prevent it. Not aggressively, just with determination. I do walk directly at him without hesitation to remind him that they're my girls and make a point to hand feed them right in front of him but shy of keeping him on his own and only letting him out to mingle when I say so, do others have suggestions on getting him to accept that the girls and I will interact whether he gets to be a part of it or not?

 

[aart]

What I did was continue to handle the girls regularly, and stopped handling him (except infrequently) at about 6-8 weeks (not applicable here maybe).
Pick them up regularly, but quickly up and back down - matter of factly, and tell him it's OK....hope he gets the hint and backs off.
I still hand fed them all, eventually he wouldn't really feed from my hand, he kept his distance.

He's getting comfortable, and feeling better....hoping the tide doesn't turn ugly for you.

 

[islandgirl82]

Thank you for the tips @aart . Not all the girls are comfortable being picked up but are happy to get on my lap on their own and he does see that but I will handle everyone in front of him as much as possible to reiterate. Today I let him stay in his run so he could see but not touch to remind him that they're all mine.

One of my neighbors did express their displeasure in the 4:30 am crowing (I guess I'm sleeping better than I thought I was). They're great people and I don't want to ruffle anyone's feathers so I need to get all the girls in the same coop sooner rather than later to get on with my renovations which will include insulation. Hopefully that will help buffer his early morning crows. He doesn't make a lot of noise once the girls are out for the day and he can see them.

 

[lazy gardener]

I suggest that you do some dominance training with him. My rule of thumb with roos is that they must stay arms width away from me. If they don't respect that rule, I carry a thin stick (fiberglass fence post or driveway reflector on a post works great.) I use this to gently tap him on the hind quarters to remind him to back off. I also use it to herd him around the yard a bit. Just a light tap on the heiney, on right or left side should get him moving in the direction you want him to go. Practice herding him around, and AWAY from his girls when they are out ranging together. Keep him away from the treats, and the food. Don't let him near either until YOU say he can have some! When roos are young, I will pick them up, pin their wings, and put them in a football hold. Then, use your opposite hand to push the bird's head down below his chest. You may need to grab his hackle feathers to get the head down. Hold it there until he submits and leaves it willingly. Then, lower him to the ground while still restraining him. He'll struggle the minute his feet hit the ground. Be ready for that! Continue holding him, and again, push his head down and hold it there till he submits. Continue with this until you can slowly release your grip on him, and he will keep his head down. Repeat daily, or as often as he gives you a dirty look, or doesn't respect your space. Be sure you dress appropriately when working with a rooster. Arms and legs covered. Good foot gear on. The last thing you should ever do is take on a roo when you're not dressed well enough to be able to look him in the eye, and be ready to kick his sorry little butt into the cove if he decides to challenge you.

 

[islandgirl82]

Lazy Gardener, I remember you advising me about herding my last rooster away from the girls and I've been doing that with this one and arming my babes with their child sized garden rakes to do the same (under supervision). He does move away but is getting increasingly reluctant in doing so. Last night he escaped his from his run was lurking around the big coop where all the girls who haven't accepted him go to roost (he had walked right by the open coop where Hola and her girls are staying). I herded him away and back into his own. This morning, I let all the girls out first, as usual and then my daughter and I gave them treats right in front of him (while he's still in his run). And they walked away from him when we did. He's good about keeping a healthy distance from us, it's him trying to hide the girls from me that bothers me. He sounds the predator alarm whenever he sees me now and they respond before the see who it really is and by the time they do, he won't let them come back. They've started ignoring his alarm when it's the dog; thankfully they've seen my original girls crowd around Willie very happily and have learned that he's not interested and will even give them a wide berth so as to not disturb their activities.

I'll have to psyche myself up for trying your football hold and head down method. I'm admittedly quite intimidated by those spurs.

 

[yellowherb]

Loving this story.

I also have an aggressive rooster and very tame hens. So this foot ball hold thing is something I will try. I normally pick up my roo (Bravo) and give him "love" when he's aggressive or approaches me. He hates the love time. Love is actually me just petting him and preening him and sometimes flipping him on his back for more cuddles. It really upsets him and he tries now to stay away from me haha. He's even learned when I say "gimme some love Bravo" to haul butt away as fast as he can.