Catching and taming a Roo

[puddin2018]

Hello,
I am having trouble catching my rooster and I am looking for advice. I was gifted a rooster, a hen, and their two chicks when I first moved to my homestead a little over a month ago, the problem is they were not handled much where they were so they are a little wild. Don't get me wrong I love the rooster and he is great at protecting the girls and rearing the chicks he's just impossible to catch! I am not sure but I believe they are American Game Birds so they are already prone to aggression.

I got flogged this morning (never happened before) when I went into the coop this morning to catch him to trim his spurs which are incredibly long and beginning to curve up and back. I don't want him to hate me or develop aggressive behaviors towards me but I am at a loss! I spend hours everyday with my birds and they know me, these 4 that were gifted just aren't tame or handleable. What has worked for you? In all honesty I am a little afraid of him not because of his temperament but because of the spurs (I really don't want to get spurred.)

I'm not sure if he was anxious about my fiancé who is an imposing guy and NEVER goes to the coop so he freaked out or what but now I am more scared than I was before!

Any help will be appreciated!

 

[Jman45]

Ok so if your wanting them to like you, first catch the rooster with a net or a bucket and trim the Spurs! And how old are the chicks? But try and handle the chicks and feed them all from your hand and they will slowly learn to like you, it’s the same with my flock too don’t worry. But if those chicks are only a few weeks old, then maybe you could tame them. But the best option is to start putting the hens eggs in the nest and get her to hatch some chicks. Then start handling those day old chicks

 

[Kessel23]

The best way to tame a bird is to feed it and not touch it unless it wants to be touched. First, you should net him and trim the spurs like Jman45 said. After that, feed the birds and sit near them when they eat. Once they get comfortable with you by them while they eat then move closer. Eventually, start to feed them by hand and give them treats by hand. The whole time you should not touch them or attempt to handle them. You can let them hop on you and stuff but with birds this wild you should not attempt to handle them until they are tame. Handling of chicks is recommended with a nice broody or in the brooder but if the parents are so wild you may stress them out and anger them by attempting to handle the chicks, so although you might make some progress with the chicks you will make none with the adults by doing this.

 

[centrarchid]

Hello,
I am having trouble catching my rooster and I am looking for advice. I was gifted a rooster, a hen, and their two chicks when I first moved to my homestead a little over a month ago, the problem is they were not handled much where they were so they are a little wild. Don't get me wrong I love the rooster and he is great at protecting the girls and rearing the chicks he's just impossible to catch! I am not sure but I believe they are American Game Birds so they are already prone to aggression.

I got flogged this morning (never happened before) when I went into the coop this morning to catch him to trim his spurs which are incredibly long and beginning to curve up and back. I don't want him to hate me or develop aggressive behaviors towards me but I am at a loss! I spend hours everyday with my birds and they know me, these 4 that were gifted just aren't tame or handleable. What has worked for you? In all honesty I am a little afraid of him not because of his temperament but because of the spurs (I really don't want to get spurred.)

I'm not sure if he was anxious about my fiancé who is an imposing guy and NEVER goes to the coop so he freaked out or what but now I am more scared than I was before!

Any help will be appreciated!

First off, bull crap on what is high lighted.

Show a picture of all birds in question and we can get down to business on fixing the problem. Immediately stop trying to manhandle a rooster or members of of his harem.

 

[Kessel23]

First off, bull crap on what is high lighted.

Show a picture of all birds in question and we can get down to business on fixing the problem. Immediately stop trying to manhandle a rooster or members of of his harem.

Lol. This reminded me, I was gonna ask for pictures so we can see what breed they are.

 

[centrarchid]

If game chickens, then process will be fairly straight forward and easy.

 

[puddin2018]

t

Ok so if your wanting them to like you, first catch the rooster with a net or a bucket and trim the Spurs! And how old are the chicks? But try and handle the chicks and feed them all from your hand and they will slowly learn to like you, it’s the same with my flock too don’t worry. But if those chicks are only a few weeks old, then maybe you could tame them. But the best option is to start putting the hens eggs in the nest and get her to hatch some chicks. Then start handling those day old chicks

the chicks are roughly 2 months old but the hen is SUPER Protective so she freaks then he freaks and everyone is screaming and its just chaos! I was planning to wait until she "weans" them so that I can begin really handling them and maybe have a chance with them. I was also contemplating separating them so I can work with them without getting attacked

 

[puddin2018]

Here are the pictures of the birds in question.

 

[puddin2018]

First off, bull crap on what is high lighted.

Show a picture of all birds in question and we can get down to business on fixing the problem. Immediately stop trying to manhandle a rooster or members of of his harem.

I don't try to manhandle them, In fact I hardly handle them at all and if you saw what I said I don't want to stress any of them out. They don't like being handled and I respect that. The are ok with me being around and being near me but now that I need to help them I cant grab him. I am just looking for a way to catch him without getting the whole flock up in arms.

Like I said I am new and I am only quoting what I have researched so forgive me for being misinformed. I can only go off of what I've read and what I've experienced thus far and in comparison with my easter eggers and ISA browns these ones are wild and I don't know what to do. I just want to keep Chanticleer from self injury and tripping over his feet. Apart from this experience today everything has been fine.

 

[centrarchid]

Taming them can be easier than you think. Relax a little and take your time to do process with minimal stress on all parties. Male is in poor feather. He also appears broody which can explain his reaction to your advances on the chicks. Yes, game roosters have potential for going broody and you can use that in your favor.

For now I would leave the spurs alone. Work on taming the group first.

I will suggest first you manipulate your feeding regimen. What are you currently feeding them and how it is applied (i.e. free-choice, restricted ration, when you feel like it)?

Do you have access to live meal worms?