Cockerel Behavior Aggression or Something Else?

[TabITSWD]

I agree with the folks who say that once a rooster/cockerel is acting and giving the signs he'll be aggressive, its just how he's going to be. I've had roosters be so bad you can't even handle them except by snatching them from the roost at night. I also have a rooster who was so sick he couldn't hold his head up and while usually giving me plenty of room, he was excellent about letting me do whatever to him to care for him and after he was healed, returned to respectfulness and giving space. He is the head roo so I wouldn't go through all that for a lesser rooster but he is valuable because he is well behaved and rules his pen with a minimal amount of physical aggression.

Which is why I think if you have friends who have a well behaved rooster then you should nab some fertilized eggs from them. The pattern I've seen in my chickens has been: roosters who are well behaved often have sons who are also well behaved.

 

[Folly's place]

Good thread! Mary

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The feed thing started because it was the only time they willingly came running towards me.  Growing up with horses and then later working at breeding farms gave me a very healthy respect for not getting cuddly with hormone driven animals, males of all ages in particular.  I didn't like how the boys would come barreling in to the food-- setting a precedent for approaching me without fear/respect when they otherwise practice avoidance.  The Super Blue unfortunately has had his back picked clean by the Welsummer cockerel- just stands there and lets it happen-  so there has been handling to address that problem, but even in doctoring I try to take the "just cleaning my shoe" mindset- treated and returned. 

Thank you for including information about what to do once they're starting to do their rooster thing.  These will be our first roosters- I'm hoping the presence of full-grown ladies will help mitigate issues.  Thanks again!

Glad you are familiar with other male species, it should help you keep your roosters in line. Most animals communicate by body language, you will quickly learn to see behavior in your roosters that is inappropriate and disrespectful to you. Use what you know from horses, respecting your space goes a long way in establishing dominance. Standing square, moving in a confident manner and never giving your back until you are sure there are no issues.

I don't judge my roosters personality until they mature a bit. I will often pull roosters between 4-6 months who are acting too full of themselves as far as treatment of the hens, and pen them separately to allow them to mature and gain some sense and respect. Some have been in jail for 6 months. They emerge calmer and more respectful.

I haven't had an aggressive rooster for years, if one did start showing it I would cull it because it would be too stupid to have some simple understanding of correct behaviors. It does help that I have established roosters and older hens who also teach respectful behavior.

As far as behavior when getting scratch, I don't usually correct any behaviors that are feeding behaviors. A young rooster will be pushy for scratch, but as he matures he should start trying to feed the hens. So unless a rooster is running up too close to me I really don't interact, I toss and watch or just walk away. I usually expect about a 5-10 foot distance from me from roosters because that's the distance I've observed between mine before the top rooster will chase a lower one away.

 

[poodlechicks]

I had a squirt bottle and a snow shovel ( to hit the ground and make noise) handy before I gave my crazy rooster a one-way ticket to "Dinnerland".

 

[Shezadandy]

He is the head roo so I wouldn't go through all that for a lesser rooster but he is valuable because he is well behaved and rules his pen with a minimal amount of physical aggression.

Which is why I think if you have friends who have a well behaved rooster then you should nab some fertilized eggs from them. The pattern I've seen in my chickens has been: roosters who are well behaved often have sons who are also well behaved.

Yes!! Next time I see them I'm going to float the idea. For now we've got the last order of chicks (coming up on 7 weeks) and one of our Barred Rocks went broody this week and I didn't think of the idea before I picked up some fertilized eggs for her-- DH will stroke out if I add any additional chicks!

I'm willing to bet they'd be glad to split the chicks to get some sons and daughters of their fabulous rooster and favorite chickens- none of theirs has ever gone broody and they're not the type to deal with an incubator.

 

[Shezadandy]

Glad you are familiar with other male species, it should help you keep your roosters in line. Most animals communicate by body language, you will quickly learn to see behavior in your roosters that is inappropriate and disrespectful to you. Use what you know from horses, respecting your space goes a long way in establishing dominance. Standing square, moving in a confident manner and never giving your back until you are sure there are no issues.

I don't judge my roosters personality until they mature a bit. I will often pull roosters between 4-6 months who are acting too full of themselves as far as treatment of the hens, and pen them separately to allow them to mature and gain some sense and respect. Some have been in jail for 6 months. They emerge calmer and more respectful.

I haven't had an aggressive rooster for years, if one did start showing it I would cull it because it would be too stupid to have some simple understanding of correct behaviors. It does help that I have established roosters and older hens who also teach respectful behavior.

As far as behavior when getting scratch, I don't usually correct any behaviors that are feeding behaviors. A young rooster will be pushy for scratch, but as he matures he should start trying to feed the hens. So unless a rooster is running up too close to me I really don't interact, I toss and watch or just walk away. I usually expect about a 5-10 foot distance from me from roosters because that's the distance I've observed between mine before the top rooster will chase a lower one away.

All that also helped in raising our two male bottle baby goats too- we avoided what could be terrible mistakes as our 15lb baby goats came out to be 200+lbs and the other 160lbs. We were told not to castrate until 5-6 months because as non-meat goats (we keep them for brush and pasture consumption) they need their hormones to allow the urethra to develop fully- otherwise they get stones they can't pass which can be deadly, not an issue in meat goats because they're not intended for 10-15yrs of companionship. That made for an interesting few months- never happier than castrating day!

The cockerels started jumping for the feeder (too close to the face), clawing over my hand to get it etc. Not a big deal in a little 1lb babies. When the first group, all-pullet group, started getting obnoxious about treats- first biting my hand, later jumping clear up to waist level and grabbing fingers- intentionally, no hand feeding and no mobbing the person setting down the feeder became important. They seem smart enough to understand I'm asking them for space- they're not missing out on a grand treat, just more of the same thing that's there all day every day. Excitement over Cherrios or grapes or scratch- things that get tossed and swarmed over are fine- half the fun, we call it chicken football. =) I AM looking forward to the day they start feeding the girls!

 

[TabITSWD]

... DH will stroke out if I add any additional chicks! ...

LOL. Me too. Mine says "We are NOT building any more stuff for chickens"

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

All that also helped in raising our two male bottle baby goats too- we avoided what could be terrible mistakes as our 15lb baby goats came out to be 200+lbs and the other 160lbs.  We were told not to castrate until 5-6 months because as non-meat goats (we keep them for brush and pasture consumption) they need their hormones to allow the urethra to develop fully- otherwise they get stones they can't pass which can be deadly, not an issue in meat goats because they're not intended for 10-15yrs of companionship.  That made for an interesting few months- never happier than castrating day!

The cockerels started jumping for the feeder (too close to the face), clawing over my hand to get it etc.  Not a big deal in a little 1lb babies.  When the first group, all-pullet group, started getting obnoxious about treats- first biting my hand, later jumping clear up to waist level and grabbing fingers- intentionally, no hand feeding and no mobbing the person setting down the feeder became important.  They seem smart enough to understand I'm asking them for space- they're not missing out on a grand treat, just more of the same thing that's there all day every day.  Excitement over Cherrios or grapes or scratch- things that get tossed and swarmed over are fine- half the fun, we call it chicken football. =)  I AM looking forward to the day they start feeding the girls!

I've never heard of that before. I've kept goats for about 25 years, always banded them at 8 weeks, though I never kept meat breeds. Can't imagine how they are any different. I find diet is key. I've never had stones in my boys, I never feed alfalfa and I limit or never feed grain. Just pasture and grass hay. Them boys must have been starting to stink at 6 months. Goats are fun and an adventure.

 

[Shezadandy]

I've never heard of that before. I've kept goats for about 25 years, always banded them at 8 weeks, though I never kept meat breeds. Can't imagine how they are any different. I find diet is key. I've never had stones in my boys, I never feed alfalfa and I limit or never feed grain. Just pasture and grass hay. Them boys must have been starting to stink at 6 months. Goats are fun and an adventure.

We went by what the breeder (over run by Nubian goats) told us and also their regular care vet. Maybe her particular lines have an issue? I was ready to remove the unnecessary accessories just about immediately (and am all for gelding horses while still at mom's side) but was talked out of it. Yes, the smell was ... something else ... so was the DH getting mounted in front of company. Course, he didn't even have a dog growing up and wasn't in tune with their intentions. They definitely inspired us to put a lot of time into our fencing- no escapes.

First pic is when we brought them home, 2nd/3rd pics are the day they got the ole'snip snip... right before... and the last is last year early fall. They're now 3yrs old. The Saanen cross gestated for a long long time and was a giant at birth and his tail is permanently stuck to the left- part of the charm- in the first pic the Nubian was 6 weeks and he was just 3 weeks and already bigger. His mom was about the same size as the Nubian does. Actually he's off the dairy goat weight tape at this point. Beyond those first few weeks of alfalfa, we've also just done grass hay, blackberry maintenance and pasture. They love it when we prune our trees- big treats for them!

What kind of goats do you keep?

 

[Shezadandy]

LOL. Me too. Mine says "We are NOT building any more stuff for chickens"

... "Yes Dear" (under breath, 'until the grow-out coop')

So glad to hear I'm not alone!!!