Getting a male Cochin chick, how do I raise it properly so he doesn’t get aggressive?

[Welsh Ducky]

I’ve order a batch of female chicks and 1 male from My Pet Chicken, who will be coming in May. Ive had a rooster before (who I got at 4 months) who turned out aggresive, which was sad as he was great with his girls, so I would love some advice on how to raise this Cochin baby to be a docile friendly rooster.
Thanks.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

You really can’t avoid roosters from being aggressive but that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do what I do with my Roos is handle them a lot as they grow make sure to show your boss

 

[Welsh Ducky]

You really can’t avoid roosters from being aggressive but that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do what I do with my Roos is handle them a lot as they grow make sure to show your boss

Ok. I had heard handling them was bad...are you saying all roosters will be aggressive?

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Ok. I had heard handling them was bad...are you saying all roosters will be aggressive?

I’m not necessarily saying they all are but mostly yes and it does depend on the rooster I think sometimes handling makes them more tame and sometimes it makes them more aggressive because they are so used to you that’s the way it was with my turkeys

 

[cmom]

I raise a lot of males because I hatch out a lot of chicks. I have had some aggressive males in the past but most aren't. I do handle them some but not a lot because I show my birds at poultry shows so I want them to get used to some handling. If they are aggressive I sell them but tell the people who buy them that they may be aggressive. Some people have told me that once the birds were relocated to their new home they stopped being aggressive. I think it might be due to a new environment they are in and they are then at the bottom of the pecking order until it gets reestablished. I have had people who have bought males from me who absolutely love them because they aren't aggressive. I think to some extent it's in the genes. There is really no way to know but from my experience the hatchery males seem to be more aggressive. I think the more you interact and treats will help.

 

[Welsh Ducky]

I raise a lot of males because I hatch out a lot of chicks. I have had some aggressive males in the past but most aren't. I do handle them some but not a lot because I show my birds at poultry shows so I want them to get used to some handling. If they are aggressive I sell them but tell the people who buy them that they may be aggressive. Some people have told me that once the birds were relocated to their new home they stopped being aggressive. I think it might be due to a new environment they are in and they are then at the bottom of the pecking order until it gets reestablished. I have had people who have bought males from me who absolutely love them because they aren't aggressive. I think to some extent it's in the genes. There is really no way to know but from my experience the hatchery males seem to be more aggressive. I think the more you interact and treats will help.

Ok. Do you do any kind of training with them to show you’re top of the flock?

 

[cmom]

Not really. Just being with them and handling them. They will do most anything for treats. If one does show any signs of beginning aggression, I hold it and if it struggles to be let down I hold it until it stops and hold it for a bit longer and then gently put it down and repeat the process. It seems to work for me. when I put it down I usually give it a little treat. Before you know it they don't mind being picked up because they know they will get a treat but then I slack off on the treats.

 

[cmom]

Here is a bachelor pen. They're all good boys.

 

[Welsh Ducky]

Thanks. What breed are they?

Here is a bachelor pen. They're all good boys.
View attachment 1686673

 

[cmom]

Rhode Island Red.