Handling Chickens Around Protective Cockerel

[Aunt Angus]

Hi, again. My little 5 month old cockerel is shaping up to be a good roo so far (knock on wood). He's protective and hasn't shown any human aggression other than a few times first thing in the morning, but that behavior has ended.

Well, a new problem has arisen. If I need to handle any of my hens, he gets awfully upset. He doesn't attack or anything, but he crows and calls to them frantically, running around the yard. I've got a girl who needs her nails trimmed, otherwise I'd just wait until he's asleep, but I need daylight to see what I'm doing.

Any advice?

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Take her into a porch or mud room and turn on strong lights?

(I have no expertise in roosters, so...)

 

[sourland]

I think that I would wait until evening and take her inside to trim her nails. Minimizing his protective instinct at this point where his hormones are a bit nuts is a good idea.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I think that I would wait until evening and take her inside to trim her nails. Minimizing his protective instinct at this point where his hormones are a bit nuts is a good idea.

Yes. They are a bit nuts.

 

[Aunt Angus]

@sourland Will he ever calm down enough for me to handle the flock? I know he's bonkers now, but is there a way I can get him to trust me a bit more?

 

[Folly's place]

Try sourland's approach, and see if he does settle down a bit. If he decides that it's time to go into attack mode, you can either plan to work around him, or move on to a cockerel who shows more sense.
I prefer to handle my birds at night when they are roosting, because I don't try to make any of them into hand held pets. If I do have to handle birds during the day, that's life, and no rooster here challenges me.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

One of my boys may wander over to see what's going on, but that's it. No challenge towards me, ever.
Mary

 

[Pigpye]

Why does the hen require a nail trim?

 

[sourland]

@sourland Will he ever calm down enough for me to handle the flock? I know he's bonkers now, but is there a way I can get him to trust me a bit more?

Sometimes as they mature they stop the teen aged shenanigans so there is hope for him.

 

[Pigpye]

They should wear down naturally