Brutus, my roo, hates tennis shoes! *UPDATE PG. 2*

[jjthink]

Has Brutus previously lived somewhere else where maybe he had a bad experience with someone wearing similar shoes? If he's fine when you wear other shoes, I'd just wear other shoes.

A cat I adopted had an issue with shoes for a long time - I think she had been kicked and hurt by others before I got her. It took years but she finally came to trust again and now hugs my shoes!

JJ

 

[the1much]

how are ya gonna work with him?,, dont try being nice!!!! it will get worse.
open the run door ( or whatever door to get to him) and RUN at him,, hard and fast, and dont stop till you catch him!! look for Rooster Reds page,,, i had it but cant find right now,, he has great info on roo behavior.

 

[redoak]

I'd get some chicken slippers. He'd probably love those, well then you might have other problems.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
I plan to do exactly what you said! I will use rooster-red's tactics, that for sure. Once school work is done here for the kids (I homeschool) I am planning on putting on jeans, a long sleeve, a sweatshirt, and my crocs (NOT my tennis shoes

) and heading outdoors to grab him. I grabbed him yesterday when he was coming at me, but didn't have time to hang onto him. Today will be a whole different story though. He's going to learn that he doesn't behave that way or he will have to go. I'm not scared of him, I just worry about my kids with him. He cornered one of my kids in the coop this morning when they went to let all the chickens out. SO, if Brutus wants to play big, bad and nasty I will be happy to jump right on that band wagon. I suspect that by the end of today, he will know that his rooster-ish type behavior just won't fly here. I hope so anyways. I really would hate to loose him.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
Yeah! Well, we won't go there.

 

[Attack Chicken]

Chickens hate water,so a spray bottle or squirt gun might help as well

goodluck with him

 

[the1much]

Quote:
I plan to do exactly what you said! I will use rooster-red's tactics, that for sure. Once school work is done here for the kids (I homeschool) I am planning on putting on jeans, a long sleeve, a sweatshirt, and my crocs (NOT my tennis shoes

) and heading outdoors to grab him. I grabbed him yesterday when he was coming at me, but didn't have time to hang onto him. Today will be a whole different story though. He's going to learn that he doesn't behave that way or he will have to go. I'm not scared of him, I just worry about my kids with him. He cornered one of my kids in the coop this morning when they went to let all the chickens out. SO, if Brutus wants to play big, bad and nasty I will be happy to jump right on that band wagon. I suspect that by the end of today, he will know that his rooster-ish type behavior just won't fly here. I hope so anyways. I really would hate to loose him.

THATS GREAT!!

 

[the1much]

Quote:
i wish that worked with me,,, my birds LOVE the water hose

 

[speckledhen]

Good luck with him, Stacey. You need one of my gentle boys, I swear! I hope he turns around for you, I really do. He's a beauty. But temperament trumps beauty in my book every time.

 

[jjthink]

I just reread the initial post and am glad to see Brutus has only been with you for a week, so any bad experiences he may have had before being in your care are probably still very fresh and raw and he may be feeling the need to protect himself this early in his new setting, one he has no way of knowing he can trust. If he was notably better before the shoe trigger, then something bad may have happened to him via someone wearing similar shoes in the recent past that he is just not able to shake just yet. In my mind, that's enough punishment (his past experiences) and now is the time for building trust. I know this is contrary to other opinions expressed, but if he is treated with aggression he may not make the distinction between you and his previous keeper and I am concerned he will feel the need to continue to act threatening. I would simply wear other shoes for awhile. Crocs comfort and easy cleaning cannot be beat so it's good Brutus doesn't seem to mind those!

When feathered or furry critters have come into my care with past issues (and they almost always have past issues or they would still happily be living in that other place..) it takes time to get them to finally relax, no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop. I provide treats and/or praise for good behavior and essentially ignore undesirable behavior and in time everybody gets the message. That said, I realize that not all situations are workable - some beings are just too damaged - but it takes time to know whether this is the case or not.

I know this is a frustrating situation and I wish you all the best.

JJ