Broody Hatched feral chix

[Kris5902]

I hatched out 5 different breeds/crosses mid October, and I’ve noticed a huge difference in attitudes amongst the breeds. I have an olive egger cockerel that is super friendly and flaps out of the brooder to be petted, but my Maran cockerel flees and my two Maran pullets barely tolerate handling. I have 4 Isbars that are all extremely friendly as well, but 4 Barnvelders that act like wild birds, screaming when they are picked up (I had to change the litter in the brooder, which was HIGHLY traumatic for them) and they are even more skittish than my Maran boy. They are all brooder babies and I handle them daily, give treats and greens by hand daily, and feed and water at least twice a day.

Could breed disposition be a contributing factor in your case as well?

 

[andreanar]

I hatched out 5 different breeds/crosses mid October, and I’ve noticed a huge difference in attitudes amongst the breeds. I have an olive egger cockerel that is super friendly and flaps out of the brooder to be petted, but my Maran cockerel flees and my two Maran pullets barely tolerate handling. I have 4 Isbars that are all extremely friendly as well, but 4 Barnvelders that act like wild birds, screaming when they are picked up (I had to change the litter in the brooder, which was HIGHLY traumatic for them) and they are even more skittish than my Maran boy. They are all brooder babies and I handle them daily, give treats and greens by hand daily, and feed and water at least twice a day.

Could breed disposition be a contributing factor in your case as well?

No, especially with one being a cochin. Its pretty evident that my lack of handling, like I did with brooder babies, has made a big difference. Maybe the girls will calm a bit as they get close to lay. The little cockerel can keep his distance!

 

[Folly's place]

'Friendly ' cockerels often turn into human aggressive jerks, in my experience. The cockerel who avoids you may turn out better. Let us know in a few months, or in spring!
Mary

 

[Kris5902]

'Friendly ' cockerels often turn into human aggressive jerks, in my experience. The cockerel who avoids you may turn out better. Let us know in a few months, or in spring!
Mary

Maybe I get lucky and am completely wrong about it’s sex, I only managed to hatch out the one olive egger out of 3 eggs, (the other two were either infertile or didn’t travel well enough) and I’m basing my judgement on pictures from the breeder and behavior between it and the Maran. I guess I’ll find out come spring!

 

[chickens really]

Mother Hens teach Chicks to be Leary of all danger and that includes people.

 

[Compost King]

I had a Mother Hen that trained her brood to follow me around because as I work in my nursery I am always turning compost or lifting up pots with crickets and worms under them. I still have one of her cockerels (dog attack killed her and most her brood) and he was my only friendly chicken until a a Brooder cockerel caught on to what he was doing now I have 2 following me around. Currently I have a very skittish Japanese Hen with her brood living in fear of me. It all depends on the broody mom.

 

[andreanar]

'Friendly ' cockerels often turn into human aggressive jerks, in my experience. The cockerel who avoids you may turn out better. Let us know in a few months, or in spring!
Mary

Right on! Im in no way encouraging the cockerel to come close to me, I pretty much ignore him, lol. I actually have some hope for this cock, as he is growing up with some pretty feisty older hens that don't put up with his nonsense! We shall see.

 

[Compost King]

everytime I have a rooster attack me I pick them up and pet them, and if they fight it they get petted for a long time.. provided all my chores are either done or can wait. I will not let them down until they are calm and relaxed and they go back to the disposition they had before they became aggressive. I also pen all my roosters once they start crowing because I do not want to take a chance that they wander into a neighbors yard and attack the neighbors kids especially the quadriplegic girl in a wheelchair. I told the father that if he sees a rooster in his yard he is free to kick them. I do not want my roosters kicked so they stay penned up. However as cockerels they get to free range with the Pullets and hens I am not breeding. I found picking up a rooster and petting them seems to let them know you are dominant and I never get attacked by the same rooster more than once every 3 months. Some never attack again after a 30 minute petting. I used to just kick them after the attacked until I saw a video of an old man training roosters not to attack and this works so much better. So far 30 minutes is the longest I have had to hold a rooster but I am sure this could take longer with a rooster in the future since I have only had about 15.

 

[Kris5902]

everytime I have a rooster attack me I pick them up and pet them, and if they fight it they get petted for a long time.. provided all my chores are either done or can wait. I will not let them down until they are calm and relaxed and they go back to the disposition they had before they became aggressive. I also pen all my roosters once they start crowing because I do not want to take a chance that they wander into a neighbors yard and attack the neighbors kids especially the quadriplegic girl in a wheelchair. I told the father that if he sees a rooster in his yard he is free to kick them. I do not want my roosters kicked so they stay penned up. However as cockerels they get to free range with the Pullets and hens I am not breeding. I found picking up a rooster and petting them seems to let them know you are dominant and I never get attacked by the same rooster more than once every 3 months. Some never attack again after a 30 minute petting. I used to just kick them after the attacked until I saw a video of an old man training roosters not to attack and this works so much better. So far 30 minutes is the longest I have had to hold a rooster but I am sure this could take longer with a rooster in the future since I have only had about 15.

I will keep this in mind as they grow out! We only have one child (7years old) living at the far end of the farm (about 2miles away) from where my chickens will be living. roosters have been forbidden by my husbands family anywhere near the original farm house, as they once had an aggressive one. I’m hoping if these chickens get tamed down enough that they will pass the behavior on to any chicks they raise.

 

[andreanar]

Its just my opinion, from my own experiences, but roosters seem to do better if they learn to stay away from people. I never encourage a roo to come close. A roo sees me, and better be moving off in the other direction. I think my roo raising philosophy comes from seeing how bad a roo attack can actually can be. Roo's are not pets, they have a job within a flock that has nothing to do with cuddling, coddling from a human.