Help Me! Hen or Roo?

[KONeal22]

Can I ask why specifically? I'm going to give it a whirl, hoping for a positive experience but any suggestions or input helps.

 

[fluffycrow]

What are your goals with keeping males?

 

[FunClucks]

Wow, so much information! Thank you so much. Peck is EXTREMELY cuddly and has cost me an ER visit, pecked my eye ball last week resulting in corneal tear.. I'll have to do more rooster investigating before deciding my next move I suppose.

Always wear wrap around safety glasses when your head and eyes could be near your chickens. Do not let roosters perch on you or get higher than your head. These are signs of dominance and can lead to bad behavior later. Good advice I got when new.

 

[nuthatched]

Wow, so much information! Thank you so much. Peck is EXTREMELY cuddly and has cost me an ER visit, pecked my eye ball last week resulting in corneal tear.. I'll have to do more rooster investigating before deciding my next move I suppose.

He's not being cuddly, he's testing to see how much he can get away with with the 'top chicken' (you), nicey treatment will enforce that behavior.
Chickens have a stiff hierarchy, the nicer you're treated the higher on the ladder you are.

 

[fluffycrow]

He's not being cuddly, he's testing to see how much he can get away with with the 'top chicken' (you), nicey treatment will enforce that behavior.
Chickens have a stiff hierarchy, the nicer you're treated the higher on the ladder you are.

It's the exact opposite with gamefowl. But also most of my scaredy cat cockerels turned out aggressive. But that has just been my experience, so font take it for granted OP

 

[KONeal22]

What are your goals with keeping males?

Just one, to protect the flock. I live in a fairly wooded area and would hate for anything to happen to the girls. My neighbor has chicks and has had some issues with unwanted visitors.

 

[KONeal22]

He's not being cuddly, he's testing to see how much he can get away with with the 'top chicken' (you), nicey treatment will enforce that behavior.
Chickens have a stiff hierarchy, the nicer you're treated the higher on the ladder you are.

Oh dang. I would say he is definitely the head too. He is always the first one out the door, the biggest of them too. I had someone else telling me how lucky it is to have such a docile, friendly bird.

 

[KONeal22]

It's the exact opposite with gamefowl. But also most of my scaredy cat cockerels turned out aggressive. But that has just been my experience, so font take it for granted OP

I'd say I probably have 6 that are male, 2 super "nice" the rest scared of everything. I plan on keeping one of the "nice" ones so I'm trying to gather info. Appreciate it!

 

[nuthatched]

Oh dang. I would say he is definitely the head too. He is always the first one out the door, the biggest of them too. I had someone else telling me how lucky it is to have such a docile, friendly bird.

hopefully he'll keep that temperament but it's not likely.
Start ignoring him, smacking him away, making him wait. Walk through him, if he doesn't move, he gets a gentle boot.
I'd keep the scared ones, actually.

 

[KONeal22]

Always wear wrap around safety glasses when your head and eyes could be near your chickens. Do not let roosters perch on you or get higher than your head. These are signs of dominance and can lead to bad behavior later. Good advice I got when new.L