BO Roo

[Kuntry Klucker]

Hi All,

I am currently raising my first flock of chickens.
I have all BO with one roo. (they are 5 wks old now).

My question may seem simple to some but if you don't
mind humoring me I need some advice.

I have noticed that when I go outside in the chicken
pen to spend time with the chicks my BO roo
does not really want much to do with the
petting and holding like the rest of them do.

The other chicks (all hens so far) cannot wait to be
the next one to be picked up. They all get so excited
when they see me coming. My roo just hangs out in
the back trying to blend in with the background.

Is this an indication that he will be an aggressive
roo or is this what most roos are like?

What do you all think?

Thanks

Here is a pic of my roo. He is 5 wks old.

 

[jtr]

alot of roos are scared of you and will always be unless the get mean. the do not like the attention MOST of them some do you wont know he he will be mean for a while yet my rir started trying to chase me and attack me when they were 7 weeks old. all three of them im afraid will be mean time to fight haha

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Still waiting for more of your opinions and or experiences.

Thanks

 

[carrlr]

IMO it's typical Roo behaviour and not indicative of a mean or agressive streak. If you have an opportunity to hold him it may help him from being so standoffish.

 

[MommaOrp]

ok i'm currently raising baby BO's too, in all my time hatching and raising i've noticed that the roo's always tend to be a little more timid of affection where as the hens tend to like attention quite a bit. At present i have a welsummer roo who is nearing 1yr, he IS mean, he attacks me and anyone else who walks onto the backyard including my 3yr old DS! At 8 weeks old he was the sweetest thing, we had cuddles everyday, he would sit on my knee and make a purring noise like a cat! what a difference! i think the chicks behavior is not necessarily a predictor for future characteristics.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Ok, thanks.

I do hold him every day. He does not like it and tries to stay out of my way
when I come into the pen. The hens fight over who will be held next,
whereas I have to go and get him and pick him up.

He does not fight me or anything, he puts up with it to say the best. Then
when I put him down he goes back and hides in his corner.

He will take treats from my hand but I have to physically go and get him then
feed him his treat. He has not made the connection that I = treats. Or maybe
he does and does not want them.

Anyway, I want to use these early stages to try to make a good roo out of him
if that is possible.

Any suggestions

 

[tiffanyg2]

Just to chime in~ My BO Roo's are absolutely the sweetest! It's funny because they are the first to come running up to me... finally Princess the female is starting to follow them. I held mine alot from the get go so I don't know if that makes a difference. But I would just try to handle them more and maybe give him a treat while he's in your lap or something. Food is the best incentive since you tried that already what about some cream cheese or yogurt! or maybe massage their necks to... mine love that!

I bet over time he will warm up~ it sounds like your doing all the right stuff!

 

[MommaOrp]

i think theres a lot of individuality involved but all my chicks have been friendly and tame because as tiffanyg2 says, the handling helps a lot. I've noticed that my roo's that are 8 months or so now tend to be more curious yet less likely to let you handle them.

 

[tball]

WOW ...I am new to chickens as well... I hope they arnt all mean. I had no intention of having a roo with this first years ,untill i know more. I was late getting any from feed store so i had them shiped from Ideal, they shiped 11- cockrels with 4 prodution reds (that i ordered) so i guess we will be having chicken not turkey for the holidays!!!!lol

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I have been holding Roy, our rooster a little more.
Today I took him out to the garden and let him peck
around the plants, then I took him to the blueberry
bushes and fed him some fresh ripe blueberries.

I am trying to hold him more and more. It seems like
I have to take him out of their pen and take him to
another part of the yard to keep him from shying way
from me.

When I took him to the garden he tended to stick a little
closer to me, maybe because it was new to him and he
felt a little insecure. Anyway hopefully it was good
bonding time. I will do that everyday till I get
a sense that he is warming up to me.