Do Teenage Roos (14 weeks) Eventually Chill?

[Chicky Tocks]

Buddy was my baby. He was the friendliest of the chicks I hatched. He was my lap chicken, my sweetie bird. When the time came to rehome the excess cockerals that I'd hatched. I decided that Buddy was the one to stay because he was so friendly. Not the most handsome, but by far the sweetest of the cockerals.

Well not even a day passed that the other cockerals were gone when Buddy turned into a turd bird. When I reached down to scritch his chest, he bit me. I though, ok, he's just feeling his oats now that he's the man of the coop. I promptly picked him up and carried him around without any complaints.

Couple of days later and Buddy bit me again. And again....and again...but it was always on the hand or arm when I had tried to touch him. Each time I picked him up and carried him around. So I decided then that I would let him be what a roo should be and wouldn't bother to touch him again.

Then tonight, I walked into the run to clean the water and put more food in the feeder and Buddy bit me on the ankle. I picked him up and carried him while I filled the water and feeders. I am wearing black shoes today...little black fishnet mary janes. I used to have a budgie that would flip out and bite when I had dark/almost black polish on my fingernails that was otherwise an awesome pet. Are the black shoes a problem?

Will Buddy chill out? Is he a walking ball of feathered hormones? Will I have to make good of my threat to put him on craigslist like the others? I did miss a roo in that culling. He's gorgeous and hasn't tried to bite me.

Buddy's really starting to pizz me off.

 

[LittleChickenRacingTeam]

Get him a hen. If that doesn't calm him down , try the hot tub method.

Boiling water, herbs, spices & vegetables.....

 

[DonnaBelle]

Yes, I concur, get him a girlfriend, better yet, 3 or 4. However, do remember he is a teenager and will be very active for a while.

Taliban, my 5 yr. old roo, is active maybe 2 or 3 times a day,
while my new roo (4 mo. old) is constantly "romancing" a hen, he has 23 to pick from (his sisters, I might add)

However, his hormones are kicking in, can't be mad at him for being a little testy when there are no girls around.

DonnaBelle

 

[Uppity Peon]

Looks like he has girls to me.

Try chasing him around until he's terrified of you. Make him believe that if he gets within 10 feet of you he's gonna be stew. He doesn't need your loving. And of course be on guard for surprise attacks.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

LOL yes, Buddy has 6 pullets...or 5 pullets and another cockeral. I think he must see me as either another pullet or possibly a big cockeral that he has to whoop to be the ultimate alpha. Either way, he will be chicky dumplings if he keeps this up. I can't take the chance of getting flogged everytime I go into the run to clean the food and water..daily. I even kicked at him some today, pushing him back with my foot this afternoon and he just strutted around while dodging me, but steady coming back towards me.

I really hope this is temporary. A coming of age thing, cause I just rehomed my adult roo not because he was mean to me, but too rough on my laying girls and I will do it again! I love hatching and raising chicklets, but I cannot stand a rooster tude.

 

[gritsar]

Yes, they chill out and thankfully alot sooner than their human counterparts do.

 

[patandchickens]

rooster-red (here on BYC) has a good page on dealing with aggressive roosters, you might 'search' that up and take a look.

The sudden change may mean that he was not-top-cockerel when he had more competition, but suddenly IS, and is enjoying the power trip

If you can convince him that YOU are still Boss Roo he might calm back down.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[briana1975]

Yep, mine did the same thing. Good rooster, not lovey dovey to me but never changled me always kept his distance kinda nice to the hens. Than BAM we took the other roos in to be butchered and in less than 24 hours he was crazy. No longer backing down from me and attacked one of my turkey poults. He is in my basement in chicken 'time out' for almost a week now. Tonight as long as weather permits I will try introducing him to the flock again and sit out there to keep watch. More bad behavior and back to "time out" for another week.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Quote:
Oh oh oh! You dear are a chicken whisperer. Yes, Buddy was cow-towed to Duffy, a very, very mean little cockeral that went away on the craigslist culling. Buddy wouldn't even come out of the coop, he stopped crowing, and those times that he did come out, he would jump into my arms to avoid the Duff. He IS top cockeral now and definately he is enjoying his power trip. I've had my hands on his neck though. I never thought I could "do in" one of my own, but when he last bit me, I instinctually grabbed his neck and ya know, I think I could eat him.

Nah....I'll retrain this guy. I'll wear pants this weekend and go in and show him who's the biggest baddest rooster there ever was. Only this one won't beat him up at the mere sight of him and expects the same!

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Quote:
Chicken time out hmmm? Buddy just might find himself cooped in the sectioned side of the coop.