Can Roosters get embarrassed??

[geebs]

Let him come at you one more time while your holding the stew pot!!! That is a 100 percent cure for rottenness...

 

[2DogsFarm]

I am reading this with interest because I have a 4-1/2mo cockerel myself.

He is one handsome dude but his hormones are kicking in Bigtime.
He has tried mating his "sister" (I got the 2 chicks at the same time) who is not at all interested.
I knock him off her whenever I catch him at it.

He has also tried approaching my older hens with the same thing in mind.
Not only do they let him know it isn't gonna happen, they usually chase his butt around the coop for even trying!

So far he hasn't tried anything snarky with me.
I can pick him up & carry him w/o a fuss and do so every now & then just because I can.

This morning I swear I heard crowing from my coop.
It might have been one of the neighbor's roosters, but it sure sounded like it came from inside my coop.
Can a 4-1/2mo old rooster crow?

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

2Dogsfarm, the other day one of my assorted males (age 3 months) tried to crow. All the big roosters growled at him to knock it off. I read around BYC some place that cockerals less than a month old try sometimes. I think it's an individual thing. I think my little guy wanted in on the morning crow-a-thon.

I understand we are mostly talking about young roos feeling their oats, but...

After a childhood incident with a Black Sex Link rooster, I was quite nervous with all speckled roosters. My brother's bonus chick from his Murray McMurray order was a Dominique. I hatched some eggs from brother's flock. Of course I ended up with a speckled roo!

When Blackie was old enough to start "dancing for the ladies", I noticed he sometimes danced towards me. Glaring or yelling at him didn't seem to work. One day I hit upon an idea: with a sweet-talk voice I said "I love you, too!" Blackie stood there a moment but seemed satisfied and walked away. The only way he can say "I like Mommy" is to dance a couple of steps for me. We have the dominance order figured out and Mom is in charge. I am keeping watch for a change of attitude, so don't get me wrong! A boot to the rear is always ready for adjusting attitudes! Blackie's dance for me is different than his ladies' dance. He keeps his ladies well mated without pulling too many feathers. I have noticed he is reluctant to mate the ladies in front of me (another recognition of my authority).

So anyway, the hormones may be raging, but when he calms down a bit with age he may try a special dance for you. I'd keep a stick handy, just in case.

 

[elizabethbinary]

Good job!

For awhile our Elvis was a bit, erm, "excited" around the flock and we made it a habit every time he mounted something to 'mount him' (not really really) where we grabbed his back and forced him onto his legs so he thought we were dominating HIM when he did it.

Eventually he calmed down and since he had his ducklings he's REALLY mellowed out. Now only one chicken gets it.

 

[ladybug99]

Yes mine is a very beautiful boy.. fine example of a wellie roo.. he was good yesterday and last night before I closed up I went into the coop and pet him like I use to do.. I haven't been doing that since I injured my leg it is a bit difficult the manuever in the wood shavings...I use to do that every night ...I wonder if that chage has caused him to start getting aggressive... I don't cuddle or hold my birds but they are very friendly, but at night before I close up I use to touch and pet each one while they were roosting... I also use to feed them by hand special treats such as meal worms which was thier favorite, which I also haven't been doing since the snow.... you have to wonder they are so use to routine if small little changes could effect thier behaviors...

 

[bburn]

Feeling their oats and age does it. They are simply trying to do their job and protect their flock. I think they all will do it at some point. It is a roosters nature to protect. Sometimes I think because we are in there so much that they have to learn that we are in charge, we do feed and that no, we are not just another hen to breed.

I still have one of the three....three flocks....but one of the three roosters that has a problem....well the problem is mine. I stopped going in the pen because it was a confrontation every time. My DH can go in with no problems. When I am ready....mentally...I am going back in with a laundry basket. I am going to plop it over him if he comes at me and give him a day of timeout. I have displaced him across the pen with a broom....just lifting and chunking him a few feet. My DH booted him a couple of time and has had no problem.
My method may not work but I am going to try it. Come spring if I cannot establish dominance over him he will be replaced. He is beautiful and good to his girls but either I find a way or he goes away.

He only has five girls. He is good to them. But I think if I get him at least three more in the spring that might settle him down and keep him busy enough that I am a non issue. I really think he sees me as another one of his girls that he needs to line out. Roosters have a job. If I want to keep them I have to find a way to be top roo with him.

The other two are simply non aggressive so far. Same age. Different breeds.