Help i need to know about roosters

[SkyWarrior]

Aggressive, overly noisy roos become dinner at my place. I refuse to have a bird who will hurt me. When people are begging you to take their roos it makes sense to keep only nice ones.

So far (knock wood) the roos I have respect me. One hen who I thought was a tad aggressive (but not mean to me) did an egg squat when I walked in. Okay, that means she respects me. She'll attack the rooster in the same pen if he even gets near her. Talk about hen pecked!

My husband says she is confused.

 

[tcates]

My RIR roo is in the process of learning that I am the Alpha. Hopefully it will get into his birdbrain soon or he will be culled out. I just think of him as a 14 yr old son.... too many hormones, hens to young to mate, and very confused. This AM he got feed in his face and feathers for trying to attack, and then I laughed at him and he went into the hen house. About every 3 days we have to establish who is boss again

, but it used to do be daily, so its getting better. He is a beautiful roo.... and fantastic at protecting the hens. I just hope he learns soon not to be so bold faced about attacking the hand that feeds his hens!

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Treat them like a male animal that can inflict harm. Never assume that , since you have fed him and held him since he was a chick, that he will not harm you. It is best to treat roosters with a level of respect and keep him knowing you are boss roo or a potential predator.

Don't let him eat while you are there, don't let him breed while you are there, don't let him get too comfortable around you. Some roos don't need too much of this type of training, some do.

If you want a pet, get a dog or cat. If you want a flock master who is every vigilant, treat him like one.

Some folks can get by with petting and coddling a roo and never have a moment of trouble...but most of the posts on here complaining about aggressive roos start out "he was so sweet when he was little and would let me hold him and pet him" or " I have always fed him treats out of my hand, but now...."

These are roos that see you as a subordinate in the flock, or view you as no physical threat but something that is around his hens and must be banished.

Try to be neither and you should have a good roo experience. I've never had to cull a roo for excessive aggressiveness towards humans after schooling one to know that I rule the roost and not he.

A good roo calls out a warning when threats appear around the flock. A good roo attempts to protect his hens...even from you. A good roo knows that you are bigger, stronger, more aggressive and must be avoided for safety reasons. A good roo is not overly aggressive with hens and does not bully youngsters.

They crow...this cannot be changed. You do not need one in order for the hens to lay eggs.

That's about it....

Well put, should be tacked up on every brooder/coop where there is a rooster as well as made required reading for all newbies!!

 

[Arcane Araucana]

Quote:
Treat them like a male animal that can inflict harm. Never assume that , since you have fed him and held him since he was a chick, that he will not harm you. It is best to treat roosters with a level of respect and keep him knowing you are boss roo or a potential predator.

Don't let him eat while you are there, don't let him breed while you are there, don't let him get too comfortable around you. Some roos don't need too much of this type of training, some do.

If you want a pet, get a dog or cat. If you want a flock master who is every vigilant, treat him like one.

Some folks can get by with petting and coddling a roo and never have a moment of trouble...but most of the posts on here complaining about aggressive roos start out "he was so sweet when he was little and would let me hold him and pet him" or " I have always fed him treats out of my hand, but now...."

These are roos that see you as a subordinate in the flock, or view you as no physical threat but something that is around his hens and must be banished.

Try to be neither and you should have a good roo experience. I've never had to cull a roo for excessive aggressiveness towards humans after schooling one to know that I rule the roost and not he.

A good roo calls out a warning when threats appear around the flock. A good roo attempts to protect his hens...even from you. A good roo knows that you are bigger, stronger, more aggressive and must be avoided for safety reasons. A good roo is not overly aggressive with hens and does not bully youngsters.

They crow...this cannot be changed. You do not need one in order for the hens to lay eggs.

That's about it....

Well put, should be tacked up on every brooder/coop where there is a rooster as well as made required reading for all newbies!!

I don't want to highjack this thread, but you make a lot of sense and I'm just curious if I'm going about it right with my roo. He's 4 months old today. About a week ago he pecked at me and I forced him down into a squat on the ground. The day after, while one of the pullets was in my lap, he jumped up and nipped me on the nose. I pushed him off my lap and he stumbled and fell over. When he crows in the morning, I go in and pick him up and walk around. Then I sit down with him and pet him until he's "calm." Before they go in the coop at night, all three sit in my lap (like they have since they were born). He doesn't mind that the girls are up with him, but during the day he doesn't like the girls to come up. When they do, he jumps us and does this funny side step stretching/glaring thing. If he gets too close, I push him off. I'm keeping a close eye on him because I really like him, but I don't want to be afraid of him or worry about him around others. Anything else I should be doing?

 

[lisa lisk]

Beekissed

I like what you said about letting the roo know who is boss. My hubby taught our litttle roos to eat out of his hand. I did not realize that this could be a problem. until I read your advice.


But one day one of the roos atacked me. He was not scared of me at all, until I turned around and kicked him so hard I nearly broke my foot. Sounds kinda mean but he never hurt any person again.

Your advice is very good!!! Lisa

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:
Interesting, I'll have to see how this progresses with mine... I have 2 that are just over 3 months and I can pick them right up with not too many troubles. I want ALL my birds to be at least somewhat tame, but moreso the roos.

 

[Beekissed]

Then I sit down with him and pet him until he's "calm." Before they go in the coop at night, all three sit in my lap (like they have since they were born). He doesn't mind that the girls are up with him, but during the day he doesn't like the girls to come up. When they do, he jumps us and does this funny side step stretching/glaring thing.
If he gets too close, I push him off. I'm keeping a close eye on him because I really like him, but I don't want to be afraid of him or worry about him around others. Anything else I should be doing?

I know many on here would disagree...but the highlighted areas in the above paragraph are the things you should NOT be doing. Your roo is getting to the age of sexual maturity in roos....that little sideways dance? That is mating/fighting behaviour.

Any roo that is bold enough to jump up on your lap and bite you on the nose already knows who the boss is in the yard...and its not you. Pretty soon he will let you know, with no uncertain terms, exactly what this means.

Your roo is a bull, a ram, a billy buck, a stallion...only in a smaller package and with smaller horns(spurs). He can do an amazing amount of damage with those spurs if given the chance...particularly with children.

Pet your hens but keep your roo at a distance and never let him approach you boldly and directly. I know there are exceptions to every rule but you only have to read the inordinate amount of posts regarding aggressive roo behaviour to realize that these are not cats, bunnies, dogs or any other pet animals.

You may be petting his pwetty widdle head at 3 months and be fighting him off with a bucket at 5 mo. Respect the roo!!!

 

[Wolfwoman]

LOL Good post!

How about this... I have 2 Polish roos that don't COME to me, but they don't screech across the coop and they don't dance...lol They often don't see me coming and I grab them without ceremony and tuck them under my arm. Normally not too much protest and they allow me to pet them....

Too early to tell? One is making the attempt at being the hen's roo.

 

[Beekissed]

Grabbing the roo unexpectedly is definite dominant roo behaviour....not a bad thing. Teaches him that you are the aggressor and he must submit.

Walking up to them, squatting and coaxing them to you and attempting to pick them up by feeding treats and petting....recipe for disaster any given day.

 

[Wolfwoman]

I don't have the time or patience for coaxing...lol Roos OR hens.... I just grab em up and pet them. Some tolerate it more than others.