So new to chickens .....(Raised exotic birds years ago)....and my 8 babies (2 & 3 wks old) are SOOO friendly! I love it! They fight over who can jump in my hand or onto my arm. However, I am thinking I have a couple roos in there.....and after reading about some of the issues with aggresive Roos, and after feeding corn and having them attack my hand..Im getting nervous of when they are full size..int heir coop and I come out to feed/play/give treats??? Do you have to wear full body guard? LOL or at least jeans long sleeve shirts etc? Do they all jump on you when you come out? Do I need to work on any behaviors now?
From what I am reading, it seems that feeding roosters out of your hand is a bad idea. All the roosters I have now are a little timid of me and I think that is good. I have had aggressive roosters in the past that needed to be culled. My hens are all friendly. It is hard to walk into my runs without stepping on or tripping over a hen that wants to be as close to me as possible. If you do a search, you will find a million theories on raising nice roosters. Ulitmately it is just trial and error. For me I am finding it best to stop the hand feeding at a couple of weeks old. By that time, they peck hard anyway. I still pick them up and love on them, but drop the treats into a feeder. Seems like everyone gets a little less tame at first. Then around point of lay the girls become cuddle butts again and the roo's are a little stand-offish. But, like I said just trial and error. In a couple of months my roo's could get meaner and I may change my approach.
Every roo has its own particular characteristics. My BJ, whom I've known for 9 maybe going on 10 years now, loves more than anything to be hand fed and he is as gentle as can be. As were others roos I've known in the past. But not all are that calm. So each situation has to be handled with regard for the characteristics of each unique being... If a bird is sweet and gentle when you hand feed, then go for it. If one acts out and is not gentle, then don't hand feed that one till it calms down. JJ
They all seem to love to be cuddled. The thing is-since I dont know which are roos and which are my girls.,....not sure if I need to just leave them all alone/less cuddling until I figure out which are the boys? Everything I read gives conflicting reports as to how to determine if I have roos or girls...what if Im being stand off with the friendly ones (that I THINK are roos) and it turns out they are just loving lil gals? Should I continue cuddling and just not let them eat out of my hand for now?
Sigh...I have a roo d'uccle that I raised and loved (lesson learned). He attacks everyone but me. I watch him carefully and have observed him when anyone walks outside. He looks and then proceeds to either attack full-on, or depending on which person, will wait until their back is turned. When I walk out he looks very carefully, assesses it is me, and goes about his business. Now, will he eventually attack me too? Dunno. He was my baby...he would sleep on my lap and even cuddle up to my face. Now he doesn't want me to handle him, but still seems to "respect" me. We'll see how long that lasts.