Dominique Thread!

[duluthralphie]

Thanks! I'm glad too, even though he can be a pain sometimes.

Every time he acts like he's getting ready to peck me, I say "NO". If he actually pecks me, I hold him gently but firmly to the ground and also say "NO". He's learned what "NO" means, and often doesn't peck me if I tell him not to.

I have a way to stop roosters from ever attacking or pecking me. Works 100% of the time.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I have a way to stop roosters from ever attacking or pecking me. Works 100% of the time.

View attachment 1340393

Excuse my ignorance, but is that a nail clipper?...

 

[duluthralphie]

Excuse my ignorance, but is that a nail clipper?...

Nope, that is a PVC pipe cutters. You apply the blade to the back of the neck and squeeze....No more rooster problems and you have dinner in hand.

 

[centrarchid]

Thanks! I'm glad too, even though he can be a pain sometimes.

Every time he acts like he's getting ready to peck me, I say "NO". If he actually pecks me, I hold him gently but firmly to the ground and also say "NO". He's learned what "NO" means, and often doesn't peck me if I tell him not to.

I have tried that approach multiple times, even with a couple of doms. Results not sustained without continuous handling. Sustained means holds up for years.

 

[Alaskan]

I prefer breeding for excellent temperament and not having to ever worry about aggression.

 

[Sylvester017]

Another thing I am seeing with the older hens that temperature is much more important with respect to egg production. Temperature needs to be in the 50's F to at most middle 80's F. Outside that range older hens really drop off in egg production.

It's too bad temps have been so unpredictable! It's hard enough losing 20% egg count each year of a hen's life, so it stinks when weather interferes on top of that!

 

[Sylvester017]

Thanks! I'm glad too, even though he can be a pain sometimes.

Every time he acts like he's getting ready to peck me, I say "NO". If he actually pecks me, I hold him gently but firmly to the ground and also say "NO". He's learned what "NO" means, and often doesn't peck me if I tell him not to.

I love Doms so much but they are by far my most persistently mischievous breed ever -- I personally think they are far too intelligent for their own good -- they figure things out easily, takes patience to train them and really need the stimulation of your company (a very sociable and people-oriented breed) so they will take a lot of your attention if you have a small backyard flock. For people who are breeding for show it isn't too practical to give just one chicken a lot of personal attention but for us backyard small owners for pleasure the rewards are worth our time and patience to have a decent pet in the end. If you've read my past Dom posts, my 3 Dominique pullets were a handful to train to stay on their side of the fence and not jump into our "people" side of the yard. I can happily say now after a couple weeks of persistent but gentle training, the 3 Doms are staying on their side and there are a couple low places they could still jump if they really wanted to but they have been miraculously behaving now. New pullets/young chickens take a lot of kind patience but it is so worth it in the end to have a well-behaved group. As youngsters mature they get less adventurous. I won't cut wings ever as I like to give chickens flight ability from possible predators since my little group free-ranges.

 

[Sylvester017]

I have a way to stop roosters from ever attacking or pecking me. Works 100% of the time.

View attachment 1340393

@duluthralphie You seriously have a warped sense of humor LOL

 

[duluthralphie]

@duluthralphie You seriously have a warped sense of humor LOL

I understand that. However, having grown up with animals as a farm kid, I have found there are some male animals that you cannot ever trust.

I will not have a rooster or turkey Tom hurting one of my grandkids or anyone else. I have taken roosters and picked them up when they attack and held them bending their heads over and forcing them to submit to me for lengthy periods of time.

I have tried every technique in the book as @centrarchid said, nothing works for long. They seem to always revert. The best thing you can do is remove their heads, and eat them allowing another bird with a better temperament to rise to the top.

The sad thing is so much of the bad behavior is caused by well meaning uninformed people that think they can make a pet out of any animal. While you can, to a degree, they are animals. They are not pack animals like dogs that want to be subservient.

If you do not try to hold and cuddle the males they will not lose their fear of humans and will never attack. Now some have a stronger will to lead and be alpha than others. They will always be one to be wary of.

We hear of people being mauled by their "pet" lion, tiger, bear or whatever else on a fairly regular basis. These animals have lost their fear of people.

So many people also think you can just be nice or reason with an animal. You cannot not. Look at there own pecking order. It is determined by sheer will power and brute force. You need to imitate that to a center degree. I am not talking about being cruel to the animal. I am talking about showing them you are the alpha.

How do you teach a resistant dog you are alpha? The best way is the grab them and force them to the ground holding their neck then put your mouth near there ear so then smell your breath and growl at them. Hold them for a couple minutes and let their pea brains realize you could kill them and you are their better.

The same thing needs to be done with rooster or toms, kind of. Birds are harder than dogs to control. They are not the pack animal a dog is. They have not been bred for 100,000 years to be part of the human pack. When you allow a young bird to imprint on you, and you cuddle them you are telling them you are weaker than they are. How often do you see two roosters cuddling? How often do you see a rooster cuddling a hen before or after sex?

It is a society where the strong take what they want. Hens are naturally subservient. They make easy pets. The roosters are not. They are born with the instinct to be tough, strong and take what they want. If they were not born with these instincts do you think they would run towards a predatory when a hen screams? (they are also not very bright).

I was with my 4 month old chicks the other day. These are birds destined to be show birds. I will keep 2 maybe three roosters the rest will become freezer residents. I picked up a pullet, I was checking them all for defects. I sit in a chair with treats in a dish between my feet on the floor.

When I want a bird I simply reach down and grab it. This one pullet screamed when i grabbed her. I had a couple of these little roosters puff up and come running at me with their chests out. While this is admirable behavior, do they really think they can defeat me?

It is a fine line between handling them enough to make them a good show bird and them losing their fear of humans. Most people do not even realize there is a line.

So as black as that humor was, with the PVC cutter, there is a truth to it. The bad ones must be culled. I have many good roosters. They are not birds I hold a lot, or ever other than for medical or inspections. The 4 month old chicks have a babysiter. He is a 5 year old PC rooster. He is a great bird. he defends the hens, he protects chicks and has never hurt one in his life. I have seen him being "mother" to my meat chicks. He protects them from harm. He is low on the pecking order of roosters. He would never attack a person. He has the attitude I want to see continue in my flock.

He gets to breed, even though he is so non-aggressive he does not breed enough.

I have went on and on enough. Culling is an important tool of any flock owner. Whether the flock is hundreds of birds or 6.

 

[Faraday40]

I can see where you're coming from, and I strongly agree that a mean rooster makes a great dinner. There are so many well-tempered roosters out there, why waste time trying to train an aggressive one? I guess I feel that the flock has their pecking order but people are far above all that. The mature rooster keeps the young cockerels in line. While the roosters may challenge each other from time to time, they wouldn't even consider picking a fight with me. Humans are simply a bigger stronger species and chickens are just birds. They know we bring the feed and provide for their needs. A male may stand alert when I pick up another chicken, but all he can do is watch. I don't think they fear me. The roosters will run up to take a treat from my hands if I offer it. Then he will run off with it and call to some hens. Our roosters can easily be handled and don't freak out or squirm when we pick them up. (Of course, they would prefer not to be carried, but somewhere along the line they get used to it.) They don't challenge, dance or try to mate a hen near us. They just go about their business. They're the same way with the dogs. When a dog charges through yard, they clear his path. They're not going to attempt a challenge with a 100lb dog.

BTW- The PVC pipe cutter is genius. I have only done quail alone since they can be processed with a good pair of scissors. I do not have a lot of hand strength, so with the right tool I may be able to do a chicken. (I normally ask our friend to do the kill & then finish the rest myself.)