Cockerel sometimes pecks hand when I pick him up. Thoughts?

[Birdsong 82]

My Easter Egger cockerel is 17 weeks old, and so far everything is going well. He moves out of the way for me, doesn't attack me or threaten me when I am around, and he looks absolutely stunning. His crow is lovely to listen to. So far he seems like a promising future rooster. The only thing I'm concerned about is that when I pick him up, it's not uncommon for him to peck my hand as I reach out to him. It doesn't really hurt and isn't hard enough to damage my skin, but I would still prefer he didn't do it.

To all of you who have raised respectful roosters: Would you consider this acceptable behaviour? I'm the one trying to pick him up after all. For the past couple of days I've been holding him down with his beak against the ground if he pecks me. But I'm wondering if it's better to just leave him alone since he isn't being aggressive and just seems to want some space. Maybe I just shouldn't pick him up. What do y'all think?

I don’t really see that is necessarily aggressive since he’s not trying to tag you in any other way just when you try to pick him up. Seems to me he’s just telling you he doesn’t really want to be picked up. Ha ha my roosters have never cared to be handled and I avoid it unless they need it for medical reasons or are injured. And so far we’ve always lived happily together that way

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

As someone with a new 17wk cockerel I appreciate all the information provided in this post.

 

[FattySmough]

I don’t really see that is necessarily aggressive since he’s not trying to tag you in any other way just when you try to pick him up. Seems to me he’s just telling you he doesn’t really want to be picked up. Ha ha my roosters have never cared to be handled and I avoid it unless they need it for medical reasons or are injured. And so far we’ve always lived happily together that way

Good point. At nearly 24 old weeks now he is still non-agressive to me or anyone else. I also had the neighbor and her grandkids over and he didn't make a single aggresive move despite his girls being handled a lot by the little kids. Now he even lets me pick him up occasionaly without pecking me lol. He's just so handsome I have to get a closer look sometimes I love my cockerel.

 

[FattySmough]

As someone with a new 17wk cockerel I appreciate all the information provided in this post.

So many helpful people here. BYC is awesome

 

[Birdsong 82]

Wow. He is one handsome rooster!!!
Sometimes I have to remember they also deal with teenage hormones I guess
I’m glad everything working out so far

Good point. At nearly 24 old weeks now he is still non-agressive to me or anyone else. I also had the neighbor and her grandkids over and he didn't make a single aggresive move despite his girls being handled a lot by the little kids. Now he even lets me pick him up occasionaly without pecking me lol. He's just so handsome I have to get a closer look sometimes I love my cockerel.

 

[Chick-n-lily]

I too, have read countless theories on roosters, now, I am rather a firm believer in luck. Luck of the draw... I kind of think that raising up a chick under an older established flock makes for better odds in getting a good rooster, but truthfully two things make for a good rooster, LUCK and a sharp knife.

Do not keep a mean rooster, plain and simple. Cull the rotten ones, makes room for a very good rooster. If this one gets more aggressive, do not blame yourself, blame him. Cull and move on.

Last summer I got Bye, the perfect rooster. It was just luck.

Mrs K

Yes, I hope my little 9 wk old Australorp cockerel stays well behaved. He roosts on my legs and let’s me pet him but he doesn’t seem to mind me walking around the coop cleaning etc. if he turns aggressive when hormones kick in, I’ll cry when I’m eating him at dinner