Handling a young cockerel tips?

[MageofMist]

I have noticed he has started doing something rather unusual yet also kinda cute. When I lightly tap him on the back to him to get him to move during his more stubborn moments, he crouches down and shuffles away making little whines.

I BELIEVE this is a submissive gesture, and he hasn't tried mounting my feet since I posted or shown any signs of aggression barring the occasional peck when my hands get too close to his food for his liking (such as when stopping the silly bird from choking himself,) in which he gets a light 'peck' on the back of his head in response and he shuffles away like I mentioned earlier whining. I still cave-in when he hops onto my lap for pettings and give him a good snuggle and fuss, where he even stretches his neck over my shoulder or arm and snuggles into my hair, but it appears it has no effect on the pecking order I set myself in thankfully.

 

[Folly's place]

Mary

 

[The Phantom]

How old is he?

 

[MageofMist]

How old is he?

He hatched 29th of March, being the first to hatch of his siblings, so he is around 4-5 months old. The pic of the chick with the quail chick on it's back is Peep-Peep. He was always the most docile of the 5 silkie chicks.

 

[MageofMist]

Hehey, y'all mind if I hop onto this thread?
I've got a welsummer cockerel who I have a bad feeling about... He's about 3 months old, started crowing at 8 weeks, and since then has become quite the bossy little brat.

We ordered 5 wellies, four pullets and a cockerel, from our feed store, and they ordered an extra - turns out we got TWO boys and four girls. The cockerel that had the red dye on his head was always (and still is) SUPER chill. Not pushy, not super friendly, none of that. He's just cool with people. He also matured WAY slower than Hawk... It looks like Rooster is a week younger then him! :/ And then Hawk..... Hawk was always the problem child. He was the eye-pecker. Most aggressive chick I've ever seen, and although he hasn't attacked me (yet), any tips on keeping him from becoming overly agressive? He's turned at me and fluffed his hackles, but I smacked his tail and pushed him away. Im not going to kick him until he kicks me - i figure if ikickhim now, he'll realize that my leg is a target. Since he crowed I've only held him if I had to, to let him grow up and figure out rooster thongs on his own - also not to "embarrass" him in front of his girls (who are too young to even care ). I pet him on the roost and he does that "purr" at me, like "skedaddle lady,I'm to manly to be pet"

Advice? Tia

When Peep-Peep has his moments, I lightly poke or pat him on the back or nudge him, and he does a "but muuuum" like whine and crawls away. If he is in your way, don't walk around him, he has to move out of your way and if he refuses, pat his tail or poke him on the head or neck and he should move. I also hand-feed my chickoos, and when Peep-Peep (or the hens) pecks too hard when taking the treat, I give him a little 'peck' back and he becomes much more gentle.

If he does jump you, don't kick him as he'll then see you as a threat and become even more aggressive, instead pin him and tap him on the head or back and hold him until he stops struggling and let him go once he has calmed down properly. Cockerels/Roosters are quite complex as you have to balance dominance with trust, ya don't want to be too soft or too harsh.

As for the eye-pecking thing, all my chickens tend to ignore my eyes whenever they are snuggling into my hair so I have no experience with that, but I still keep a hold of them just in case, as you never know with animals.

The worst is one chick who the hen is raising who is fascinated by my teeth, COMPLETELY ignores my eyes, but the moment I start speaking it fixates on my mouth and tries to eat my teeth. I give it a little poke, which makes it do a little squeak, but it continues to try and eat my teeth. It is still a little chirper and I hope I can break the habit.

 

[Abriana]

I agree. I will add that not kicking is good but if he mounts your foot I'd give it a little shake and shove him off. Then walk towards him and show him your in charge.
I have heard silkies to be rather docile lap chickens. He will learn from your other rooster and hens that put him in his place.

Oh yes, definitely shake him off if he mounts your foot, forgot to add that. Thanks!

 

[MageofMist]

Just was watching Peep-Peep and Rooroo interact as I boiled the kettle, and Rooroo started doing little "dukdukduk" sounds and then crawled under Peep-Peep, much to Peep-Peep's confusion... And he just sorta laid there ontop of the rooster acting as a blanket and occasionally pecking at the rooster's long tail feathers in curiosity.

Has anyone elses cockerels/roosters that do this? Or are my silkies just quirky cuddlebugs?

 

[centrarchid]

Good detail and provides much insight into your situation.

I have a lot of chickens as well where almost all are bred and raised by me. The number of roosters is also comparably high and all are expected to be easy to work around. I am not keen on being flogged or pecked and have small kids that still do not know how to behave around chickens that might be in a sour mood.

The approach I use typical of that used by keepers of fighting chickens. Fighting chickens that attack you the handler can be literally dangerous when armed. An even bigger problem is that others also into the breed would not hold you in high regard if one of your birds is what can be called a man-fighter. It can be an indication of poor husbandry skills.

The emphasis I provide is that you do what it takes to prevent the aggression in the first place. If you are not well versed in rooster management, then get rid of a rooster that goes after people.

The keeper being dominant is like pumping up a BB gun so it can shoot. You insert yourself into the pecking order. The roosters will often want to challenge that with you or someone like you that might appear to be another challenger. There are other ways to "pump up the gun" but do not seem applicable in your situation.

My suggestion is you quit thinking about yourself being the dominant bird. Do not handle the birds just to prove who is boss. Try to behave as if they are not even there. Do not doing something that a hen or immature bird wants to get away from be certain your manner of contacting birds does not come across as a subtle threat.. Touch from the side with back of the hands and do not pursue with the grabs.

 

[Cluck-a-lot]

I agree entirely, and thank you so much for your insight.
I noted how one young rooster behaved and it cured him of his habit. He was rehomed and I did tell the owner of his past behaviour.
Certainly I do not tolerate roosters who are vicious. I have only had one such bird who saw a number of his hens killed by dogs. The man who wanted him , took him as a breeding bird and had no other purpose than to increase the size of bird in his flock. He was a Barred Rock.

So I'm all honesty I have only had one bird who was disruptive and his layout of territory some acres away from the main setup.
I don't see myself as anything but a keeper who respects his flock and handles them in a way which breeds happy, contented birds . If someone wishes to get close to their new acquisition I am only suggesting my way of making them trust you.
For example... those chicks suddenly abandoned by the mother have not been handled at all. When I check on them, to pick them up at night does make them accept you very readily as a newcomer to their world. It isn't a pecking order thing , just a way that works for me with nervous pullets.
I guess I am doing things my way and to date my birds are all extremely friendly and a pleasure to pass on to others who truly want hand reared chickens. It is the only way I know how to do this.

I hope that perhaps what works for me along the way might help another. It may not but then just as every hen and rooster different in temperament, so will our ways of dealing with them.
I must emphasise that I already have two roosters who indeed are at the top of the pecking order and they see me as someone they respect. Perhaps I have made too much of it, but in no way would I try to usurp their natural reign . They are both easy going and never ever have pecked me and certainly I would not tolerate a bird who did. Naturally they peck for attention , pull at clothes and so on, but I see that as a means of their communication for cuddles etc.

I guess it is all about trust and respect . Not trying to be no 1 chicken ... I am grinning.