Best Way To Raise A Rooster?

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Exactly. Stop it before it gets to full flogging. If you had a mean rooster before, then you should be able to easily spot the warning signs.

Also, in the meantime, this is what I have done with my roosters:

Walk through them, not around them. They ALWAYS yield to me, I NEVER yield to them.
Don't pet, cuddle, or otherwise make pets of them. A little fear of the big human is a good thing.
I don't let my rooster mate in front of me. A head rooster would never allow a subordinate rooster mate in front of him. He would be chased followed by a beat down for being so bold. It only took twice for my rooster to be nudged off a hen with my foot and he got the picture. If my back is turned, he can sneak it.
Don't show any fear - just like a horse can sense you are afraid of them, so can a rooster. And they will take advantage of it.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
Exactly. Stop it before it gets to full flogging. If you had a mean rooster before, then you should be able to easily spot the warning signs.

Also, in the meantime, this is what I have done with my roosters:

Walk through them, not around them. They ALWAYS yield to me, I NEVER yield to them.
Don't pet, cuddle, or otherwise make pets of them. A little fear of the big human is a good thing.
I don't let my rooster mate in front of me. A head rooster would never allow a subordinate rooster mate in front of him. He would be chased followed by a beat down for being so bold. It only took twice for my rooster to be nudged off a hen with my foot and he got the picture. If my back is turned, he can sneak it.
Don't show any fear - just like a horse can sense you are afraid of them, so can a rooster. And they will take advantage of it.

Well said........... and to be honest the only way to truely be confident in your ability to raise a good flock.

 

[theoldchick]

I won't keep a mean rooster. I have a Crock Pot just for them (somebody else has to process them, though). I socialize all my chicks by getting down on their level and let them be do their chickeny things. I let them peck at my toes, shoes, fingers, buttons, hair, and so forth. However, as soon as I can identify the cockerals, they start attending The Old Chick's School of Rooster Etiquette. They learn to respect my space and to never approach me unless I invite them. They learn two hand signals: The exposed palm means 'yes you may approach', the raised index finger means 'watch it bud, any closer and I'll snatch you by the feet or head'. If I'm challenged I immediately back up my promise and pin the bird on the ground. I don't let him up until he submits. I've been known to pinch a comb, too, while the bird is down.

While I don't feed my roosters from my hand, they do learn if they stand a short distance from me, I will toss food to him. After the first toss I throw food in several different locations so the hens can eat without squabbling over who gets what. This way the rooster will attend to each group and pretend he made food fall from my hand.

Roosters who consistently challenge me will be culled. Roosters who are aggressive toward hens will be culled.

The thing is, roosters work their way up to attacking. When they are teenagers they express body language that lets the flock know he's coming of age. The dominant rooster will immediately start applying pressure to the younger guy and make him behave, maim him, or kill him. Submissive cockerels will learn to stay out of the way of the dominant rooster. If you watch your flock closely you will see this happening before your eyes. Either a fight will break out or the cockerel will scamper away. The need to be number one is stronger is some individuals than others. As their guardians we must look out for the troublemakers and take care of the problem before injuries occur.

And I never consider a rooster safe around small children. Older children can learn how to act around a flock and not activate the rooster's protective instinct. Toddlers, on the other hand, are unable to respect flock dynamics and may get in trouble. And since they are so short, they are prone to head and eye injuries by an aggressive rooster.

Remember, chickens are livestock. Some individuals are so friendly we consider them pets, but some will always revert to instinct when they feel threatened. Roosters are roosters and we must never forget nature designed them to be protectors of the flock.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Thanks for all the great advice all of you experts. I think many of us...probably women although I shouldn't assume...have a belief in our hearts that if we treat something with kindness and gentleness it will treat us with kindness and gentleness in return and that if something (or someone) is being aggressive, we need to be patient and "tame" them. We sometimes need to remember that the other beings (especially the males) in our lives, whether they be roosters, dogs, horses or even our sons also need strong leadership. I love the TV show "Dog Whisperer" because Cesar Milan can demonstrate so effectively that "calm, assertive" behavior can solve all sorts of problems that sweet, loving behavior may actually exacerbate.

 

[suki'smom]

Wow thanks for all the great information everyone! I will definitely take all of it into consideration as I deal with these boys. I never pick them up unless I absolutely Have too and I'll stop petting the SS too. When the SS come up to me looking for treats out my hand should I just shoo him off and keep tossing them on the ground?

I am very thankful that everyone has taken the time to offer me advice. I have plenty of experience raising hens but not so much roosters. Hopefully I'll get it right this time

 

[Pebbles]

I too apreciate the advise. I have one rooster now with 12 hens, he is 15 months old and has not shown any agressive behavior, however, I had to get rid of two previous roos because at 18 months they both got agressive. He ocassionally mounts hens in my presence, I will stop that immediately. I have 15 chicks that are 4 weeks old, all are suppose to be hens but you know how that goes. I hand feed with treats and as soon as I can ID any roos, I suspect one already, I will follow the advise here. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

 

[jenni22776rn]

"The best way to raise a roo? Treat him like the male animal that he is. Don't handle him, don't hand feed him, don't pet him. Do remain vigilant for aggression, do stop it immediately by timely and consistent correction.


Wow...I am so glad I found this thread..thank you for sharing your wisdom! I have a 9 month BO roo that I held as a baby..hand fed him and thought it was a good sign that he ate out of our hands..but latley he has been coming at us and even drew blood on my son..I was going to cull him but after reading your post and that link.. I understand it is our fault and we will now know how to treat him..he does breed the hens while I am in the pen and he does that chicken dance to me all the time...and now that I understand how to correct this behavior...we will change our behavior! Thanks so much!! Great post!!!

 

[Kaceyx73]

Quote:
Its the difference between "alpha male behavior" and true dominance.

Too often our society as a whole looks up to the alpha males as the top of the food chain, whether in animals or in humans. It is actually a bad thing, a very bad thing. That strong, silent, but firm when necessary father figure some of us actually knew is the ideal. Dad's seldom chase us around the house yelling and screaming, at least the good ones don't. They'll play for awhile, but when things get out of hand, a simple word or two in a stern tone sends the appropriate signal. Stop. Do what your told, or the consequences will come painfully and swiftly.

With my roos, I have always allowed them to be roos, and even encouraged it. I let them settle disputes the way they know how, and like a good roo does with the hens, I only step in to prevent injuries. Unlike most on this thread, I don't keep them from mating in front of me. I am no threat in that regard and I leave it at that. When passing out treats, my roos always let the hens eat first. My late roo Vic, would actually stand at my knee and would occasionally take a treat and then allow the hens to take it from him, only eating when the crowd began to thin down. My Lt, would stay behind me keeping an eye out.

The important lesson for anyone with roos to take away from this discussion is simple. There is no panacea. There isn't some magical technique that will work on YOUR roo. As someone else mentioned, dogs and other animals will key into your fear of them, so to will roosters. If you fear them, you are not worthy to lead the flock. Its about time humans re-learn what our long dead ancestors knew: we are the top of the food chain, and virtually every animal on this planet has a fear of us. A grizzly bear can take a human one on one, no problem, but he knows the most dangerous aspect of humanity is our collective memories. A human killed by a bear can quickly turn into a slaughter of all bears in an area. We remember, although the last couple of generations seem to have forgotten everything in short order.

Respect all animals, they can be dangerous. Never fear them, or they will be dangerous. Be dominant as a human, and let your animals respect you as a human, not a contender.

 

[Happy Chooks]

My rooster almost never eats any treats. He spends all his time clucking to the hens that he found a good snack - and they come running to take it from him.

I once read someone on here say a rooster was a waste of money as they eat a bunch of feed and don't give you anything. My welsummer rooster is worth every scrap of food he eats, which isn't very much. He is a fantastic flock protector, is easy on the hens for mating, is respectful of me and integrating new birds with him around is a breeze as he doesn't allow them to fight with the new girls. I couldn't ask for more.

 

[allpeepedout]

Quote:
This. Worked for me, the moment pecking/aggression started with my BR teenager. Also picked him up and carried him around a little bit, pushed him off of pullets, and made him move out of my space. Also, I chose to not confront him all of the time; often, I just entered the coop or pen but stood in the entrance to observe for a time and then leave, so he learned my presence can be incidental and ignored. Agree with other poster that you need to remain vigilant, all animals are individuals, and there is no magic formula.