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Yes, I guess we will. I don't think that hand nurturing is needed to "socialize" a roo, as his social structure doesn't really include humans, nor their affection. His social peers are his flockmates. Humans are merely the food source to a chicken.
wherein all modes of kindness must be dismissed as "coddling"!
One can be kind without cuddling and hand feeding treats to a roo. I'm kind to all my animals and they are kind in return. I'm kind enough to not force my idea of affection onto their life and into their space....one doesn't often see one bird cuddling with another unless they are mother and chicks, or they are beside one another on the roost and I still don't see them offering physical affection there either.
What you call socializing, I call inflicting one's idea of love onto an animal that neither wants it nor requires it. I chicken is quite content to be left alone to just be a chicken...all the other things like jumping up into human's laps or on their shoulders is learned behavior from receiving treats for the action. Even that reward system will not keep a roo from deciding to act like a roo one fine day.
It has NOTHING to do with "enforcing ideas of love" on the animal, and everything to do with being able to walk into the run and pick up that animal anytime I choose to without having to run him down or suffer a flog! You may choose to interpret any method of socialization other than yours as "coddling" and attaching an emotional quotient to the relationship, but the proof is in the pudding, as they say. I have roosters that I can handle without fear of serious injury, that I can pick up and place in a breeding cage without running a marathon, and that I can medicate, treat for mites, etc., with little stress for me or the roo, and I achieve this with consistency from chickhood on. I get them used to handling regularly, whether it's to have me clip their nails, trim their wings, feed them the occasional treat, or just turn them upside down and "tickle" them (less stressful for them when the face "the cone" eventually). And if this is such a bad thing, all the people I know who show their birds are obviously delusional, since they spend a great deal of time getting their birds, hens and roos alike, used to handling for the show circuit. And as for "cuddling" a roo, it is just one more way to accustom that bird to the idea that I am not a threat to him or his hens when I need to handle them. If the feel of soft feathers and a mushy bird body brings me a moment of pleasure, so what? It is quite apparent from the condition and behavior of my roos that it does them no harm, and it makes me smile. I'm selfish enough to not give one flip whether anyone else thinks it's "appropriate" or not, as long as my birds are good with it.
Would you mind telling us what breed of chickens you raise, so we can get a better idea of what your dealing with.
