Chickenkeeping, year 4: The Roostering

[Wildgrass]

I'd love to hear your method and what behaviors you look for, Mrs. K! When I was planning this out, my initial intention was to be hands-off in raising them so that they grew up to be a little wary and stay out of my way. But enough people also had experiences with socialized chicks that grew up to be safe roosters, and even safe, affectionate roosters, that I ended up deciding to try this. If I get to the point of breeding my chickens, I would like to be able to select for human friendliness that doesn't become human aggression in roosters. We'll see how it goes!

Right now I'm wishing I took notes on when behaviors started with my previous cockerels. I'm thinking I need to know more about what the "terrible teens" months are, and when and how they begin to settle as they grow up, if that makes sense?

 

[Mrs. K]

I would be very leery of anything pecking me, and I would not want one flying up to my shoulder - way too close to my face and eyes. In my viewpoint, actions that are often interpreted as being friendly, are often being misread. Those bold birds that want to sit on you, have little or no respect for your space.

The proof will be in the pudding, at about 4 months, you will be seeing the terrible behaviors become evident. There will be a lot of competition between that many cockerels, and they may begin to think of you as competition too.

Beware, often times it will seem like the darlings become a nightmare in an instant...where I think you might have been last night. Inexperienced people often times vastly underestimate the violence of a rooster attack, or roosters fighting. While you were able to stop it last night, as the hormones surge, I would expect this to get much worse.

Perhaps you will prove me wrong, I do hope so, and that you report back. Currently I have 7 cockerels with flock mates, under older hens and a flock master. I had originally thought about replacing my flock master with one of these cockerels, but 6 have lost out and culled from the flock. The last one is a real piece of eye candy...but I am quite picky about behavior, and am still deciding.

Mrs K

 

[Wildgrass]

That definitely makes sense to me. Pocket Sand is being culled in a week or so because he's already prone to hard-pecking humans, and I have no reason to hope for better from him. I'm really interested to see what becomes of Lizard Boy, because he is extremely solicitous toward people, but he is, of course, not mature yet. We had a moment a few days ago where he crowed at me, but I have been crowed at by angry roosters before, and the energy with him was different. I hope he stays sweet, but we will see.

Even if I did spoil all the Orpingtons with too much handling, the Sussexes are much more human shy, so they've still got a good shot. Lots to think about!

 

[McChooky]

Let a rooster get close enough to flog you and you'll increase the odds of him trying.My roosters only allowed to get close to me when I'm feeding them or giving them treats.

 

[Mrs. K]

Good! It sounds like you are aware. Do know that when you remove one or more of the cockerels, there often is a big shift in the behaviors of the ones left behind.

Mrs K

 

[Folly's place]

This will be interesting!
I too want cockerels to stay out of my space, and pay attention to the flock, not me. Having adult hens, and if possible adult roosters, does help civilize the boys. However, hormones hit, and what's 'cute' in a chick becomes zero respect and aggression in maturing birds, very often. At least that's been true here. 'Friendly' is 'bold' and then fearless. I'm not a flock member, I'm the giant who brings food, and that's what roosters who get to live here need to keep in mind.
An aside: here we wanted to raise SS, loving the hens. From three different hatcheries, half the cockerels turned into human aggressive jerks, and half (the smaller ones, naturally) were fine. We gave up on having a breeding group, and will always have some SS hens only.
Mary

 

[Wildgrass]

I'm getting ready to cull Pocket Sand today, the little bugger, but I have some pictures and stories to share after I get that done. As always, insight and anecdotes are always appreciated <3.

Pocket Sand has been avoiding me since his bad behavior a couple weeks ago, but I see him pulling feathers out of the other cockerels and jumping on the hens to mate. He might just be a bit precocious, but I really don't need seven roosters . A different Orpington, Cherry Garcia, has been hard-pecking us this week, which isn't gonna work out well for him. It's been interesting to watch them, but I think my real work is coming when they hit that 4 month mark and I have their full hormonal might to deal with.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well do both of those today!

When picking roosters, get rid of the trouble - 1st cut

Wait - get rid of anything you don't like, whatever reason - 2nd cut

Wait - cull to two, if you are not there yet.

Wait - make final choice

If you have less than 15-20 hens, one is enough.

I pulled 6 roosters, left one with the flock. We will see. I have a friend buying chickens from me, and she wants a rooster, I will recommend 2-3. If he does not work out, she has grandchildren live with her, I will take him back and give her Bye.

Currently I want to keep Bye, hoping he keeps the young one I kept in line. We will see.

Mrs K

 

[Wildgrass]

July really got the best of me, but I wanted to toss up an update on the Roostering:

First off, that story I meant to share at the end of June! In one day, I had a hawk land outside the run and a bull snake come into the run. As a group, I’m told, the cockerels all herded the hens into the coop and away from the hawk - and then a few hours later, when the snake showed up, Lizard Boy flew at it ready to brawl. I was so proud of them! No predator incidents since.

I culled an Orpington for budding human aggression (I would call it human disrespect) and a Sussex for two slipped tendons a couple of weeks ago. Since then, the boys have gotten older and are really producing too much wear and tear on my lowest ranking hens. I expected them to be fighting at this stage, but instead they are getting along pretty well, and ganging up on the ladies. I’m making my final pick tonight, but my initial plan is to keep Lizard Boy for head rooster, and the smallest Sussex as backup rooster. If both of them are too much for the girls, though, I will cull down to one.

I still love Lizard Boy. I know I’ve been treading thin ice with him this whole time, but I have been able to work with him so far. My impression is that he’s kind of a smart rooster, and if he sees you are being gentle and respectful with him (and the flock), he is gentle and respectful with you. But I know!! I’m just waiting for it to go wrong.

If anyone can compare this to group behavior they’ve seen, in regards to fighting and mating, I’m curious if this is standard for the course.

 

[Wildgrass]

Oh and for the record, they will hit four months at the end of August!