Dominique Thread!

[Faraday40]

Head down & hackles flared = he's about to attack. We could never take our eyes off him

Standing tall, crowing, flapping between you & the hens = I'm the big boss roo (Not necessarily going to attack, but keep eyes on him)

At 8 mo: Our mean roo would run ahead of me and stand his ground directly in my path. I continued to walk & just before he would get kicked, he'd run & pick a new line in the sand - again in my path! A few times he didn't move & would get a little push. Other times, I'd feel a gentle bump on the back of my leg after I passed him. (barely noticeable -especially for a 10 lb bird) However, it made me think that he was testing me. He hated to be picked up & would run away if I tried. Yet, if I did feel a bump in the leg, I'd chase him & pick him up.

8-10 month: The behaviors were sporadic. I never really knew or could predict if our roo would be a Dr Jakyll or Mr. Hyde. By his 11th month, the kids were afraid of him & refused to clean the coop. Since an animal can sense fear, it only made the situation worse. I didn't have the time to work with him. My mother suddenly passed away & the kids had to help around the house. Decision was made & roo was gone.

Our current roos are fantastic. The mean roo was the only one we had issues with. Perhaps he would have settled down after he fully matured, but other things were more important. There are so many excellent roos, why bother keeping one with poor behavior?

 

[islandgirl82]

I agree with not keeping a poorly behaved one.

Do you think I should be concerned with the current behavior of mine, the coming up for attention thing? I get the sense that he puts himself between the dog and me for my benefit but I could be wrong. So far, he doesn't fluff himself up or anything. The other morning he did stretch himself out, half on my feet while he was sun-bathing. That seems like the most passive type of behavior to me. He doesn't run away when he's picked up and may look down at my arm when I rub his chest but he doesn't peck or anything.

 

[Alaskan]

I agree with not keeping a poorly behaved one. 

Do you think I should be concerned with the current behavior of mine, the coming up for attention thing?  I get the sense that he puts himself between the dog and me for my benefit but I could be wrong.  So far, he doesn't fluff himself up or anything.  The other morning he did stretch himself out, half on my feet while he was sun-bathing. That seems like the most passive type of behavior to me.  He doesn't run away when he's picked up and may look down at my arm when I rub his chest but he doesn't peck or anything. 

He sounds excellent.

I don't think that you have anything to worry about.

Good roos are just..... Good.

 

[Faraday40]

Our roos come running to greet us (usually for the treats). They know we bring good things & do not fear us. They take treats from our hands just like the hens. They don't even mind visitors feeding or picking up the hens - as long as the hens are not being chased around or squawking. It sounds like yours is similar. We don't pet or cuddle our roos, but we do carry them. They tolerate & are used to frequent handling. They don't seek out being picked up, but don't fight it either.

I don't think a roo happily greeting you is a bad thing. You don't want him to fear you. You just want him to know that you have the control. When a toddler gets into trouble, you simply pick him/her up to stop the behavior. If a roo is chasing a hen, step into his path & pick him up. Not in a rough way. Just stop the chasing behavior. When he settles, carry him a min longer & then when you decide, put him down. That's the most I ever had to do with our current roos. Most of the time they police each other.

 

[islandgirl82]

This is all comforting. Thank you!!

I've had a really good gut feeling about him since I went to pick him up from his previous keeper. I guess my experience with the last cockerel has me questioning all behavior. He will rush up to me and stops a few feet away until I squat down and then he'll finish his way over for some affection. He doesn't try to keep the girls away from me, nor does he put himself between them and me unless he's looking for treats or attention. He may not be up to the SOP but I'll take his friendly demeanor any day over a perfect appearance.

 

[Alaskan]

I like his small head gear (both wattles and comb), of course they might still grow a bit. His comb isn't horrid, but it does have a deep hollow, a bit unsymmetrical and a bit coarse. I am overly critical of combs, but I see no reason not to use him for breeding.

His body shape looks pretty good, you can't tell for sure yet, since he clearly isn't done growing, but he looks quite promising in regard to size, general shape, leg color and tail carriage.

Point being I think he might actually end up being above average and you could probably get some pretty good progeny off of him.

You have every reason to be highly pleased with him as a breeder.

 

[islandgirl82]

I too like smaller headgear. Maine winters have nothing on Alaska's but none of my rose or pea comb girls have ever experienced frostbite (the singles have) and I want to try to keep it that way with all my birds. Plus I just really love the rose.

I had a choice between two cockerels. I chose Ichabod because he's a little calmer than the other but also because both my hens have very small combs (smaller than I see on other girls). I wanted to get something in between. A friend of mine took the other cockerel who has a very small comb but with a very prominent point. We have agreed that I can use her boy as well. I would have kept them both if I were equipped to keep 2 roosters. The one with my friend stands much more erect. I can't tell if thats his natural stance or if he's just always on alert. Her girls aren't as warm to him as mine are to Ichabod.

Ichabod's comb does have a hollow but it's not quite as deep as it looks in that second photo. The shadow accentuates it a a bit and I have noticed it is still developing. Hopefully some of that hollow will fill out. His wattles are a little lopsided but I'm noticing they too are evening out a bit.

 

[Alaskan]

It always amazes me how much the comb changes with maturity.

 

[islandgirl82]

Not just with maturity either but when hens are laying vs. not laying. I notice the greatest difference in my Golden Spangled Hamburg. When she's laying, it's gorgeous. Nice and lush and full looking but when she's not, it's all shriveled, pale and sad...like a pullet just before POL.

 

[Alaskan]

Oh how funny! I will have to pay better attention to my girls. I mostly only stare at their combs when I am deciding who gets to go into the breeding pen, and who does not. I don't pay any attention to their combs when they are not laying.