Handling a rooster

[ClineFamily]

I am wanting to give my rooster a good look over. He has a white dry patch on his comb close to his head. Should I wait til he is sleeping? How do I need to handle him? He is friendly enough but doesn't like to be picked up and doesn't like his hens to be picked up! I dont want to turn my roo mean or make him mad at me. Also- i want to note that one of my hens has been packing at his comb to clean it up. So i am not sure if i should just let it go and let her do her thing.

 

[DobieLover]

I am wanting to give my rooster a good look over. He has a white dry patch on his comb close to his head. Should I wait til he is sleeping? How do I need to handle him? He is friendly enough but doesn't like to be picked up and doesn't like his hens to be picked up! I dont want to turn my roo mean or make him mad at me. Also- i want to note that one of my hens has been packing at his comb to clean it up. So i am not sure if i should just let it go and let her do her thing.

Take him off the roost at night. That is the easiest way to handle any of them. Wear a head lamp to keep your hands free so you can see what you are doing and talk softly to them when you approach and handle them.

 

[Folly's place]

x2. It's best to do this at night off their roosts. Either have an assistant with a flashlight, or that headlamp if you are working alone. Small bright light sources are less traumatic to them than having the overhead lighting turned on.
Mary