Cockerel behavior

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

Does handling cockerels often make them aggressive? I have some 6 week old gamefowl chicks that are super friendly (especially a couple of the cockerels) am I risking making them mean by petting them and hand feeding them treats?

 

[Kiki]

Yes.

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

Yes. Essentially all entire (uncastrated) livestock (cattle, sheep, horses, goats) males will be aggressive if handled a lot while being raised. There are of course individual exceptions. But as a rule, handling cockerels will allow them to think they can be aggressive to people.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

If I stopped now is there still hope?

 

[Folly's place]

Maybe too much handling is a problem, and maybe not. Cockerels can be raised that way and be fine, although I don't do that here. i want cockerels to respect my space and pay attention to their flockmates.
It takes some experience to interpret what's going on in their little brains, and sometimes what looks like 'friendliness' is actually 'bold' and then obnoxious aggression.
Game fowl in general were bred to be polite towards humans, and want to fight each other. Depending on how far these cockerels are from their cock fighting ancestors, they might follow this pattern.
Mary