He's still the boss.

[Shadrach]

It's a bit off topic...
I decided that I would sit and edit chapters of my book in August; it's too hot to do much outside. I was looking for some information on the web and after looking at the various chicken sites I decided I would join this one. Then I thought while I'm here I'll post a couple of stories that will be in the book. Next thing I know I'm posting badly edited bits of the book....I'm not getting a lot of editing done.

In my role as emergency and social services rolled into one as mentioned above my current case load looks like this:
One baby killer who sits on any pile of eggs she can find
One single mum with status problems
One potential rapist; so far the hens just whack him and his elder brother does as well.
One lovely hen with mobility problems; she has tendon strain from sitting
There's the usual morning punch up over the fallen grapes that needs policing.
Two lots of escort duties for laying hens with a lazy cock who can't be bothered to go and escort them back to the tribe some days.
Meals on wheels for a nine year old Maran hen who finds the walk from the sheep field to my house tiring.
Nursery care for a hen with a week old chick.
Daytime security patrols.
The list goes on......

 

[llombardo]

I let mine do his thing and I have his back. We work together. I love what he does and respect it. At the same time he respects me enough to know that I'm not a threat. He moves out of my way, but will eat treats out of my hand(sometimes that is the only way he will get treats with the girls around). He alerts me to predators lurking about, then I make sure they are all safe. We are a team and so far work well together. I love having him, I really do. He knows his name and he knows leave it. He is a thinker and a quick learner.

My boy(he is in the middle of the two sets of girls watching all of them)

 

[Chickassan]

I'm a very lazy rooster/cockerel keeper. I kind of expect them to go do their job and leave me out of it. I don't want to show him who's boss because he should not give a flying fig i'm even around unless iv'e got food. I will pick up a youngster a few times just to jiggle his brains out of an unproductive state but if he still focuses on me then he has to go. My best bosses are the ones that teach themselves, and I just can't trust a boy iv'e had to put serious efforts into having peace with since he shouldn't care in the first place.

 

[Shadrach]

I let mine do his thing and I have his back. We work together. I love what he does and respect it. At the same time he respects me enough to know that I'm not a threat. He moves out of my way, but will eat treats out of my hand(sometimes that is the only way he will get treats with the girls around). He alerts me to predators lurking about, then I make sure they are all safe. We are a team and so far work well together. I love having him, I really do. He knows his name and he knows leave it. He is a thinker and a quick learner.

My boy(he is in the middle of the two sets of girls watching all of them)

View attachment 1508679

Imaginative coop layout.

 

[Mrs. K]

My grandfather, a cattle man of some repute, said what one needed in keeping bulls was a sharp knife... I have found it excellent advice in keeping roosters. Not all roosters are going to work in my flock. I am not into dangerous animals, and a lot of them do not stay. Having worked with large domesticated animals my whole life, I do know that not always will an animal work with either you, your herd or your flock.

 

[Shadrach]

My grandfather, a cattle man of some repute, said what one needed in keeping bulls was a sharp knife... I have found it excellent advice in keeping roosters. Not all roosters are going to work in my flock. I am not into dangerous animals, and a lot of them do not stay. Having worked with large domesticated animals my whole life, I do know that not always will an animal work with either you, your herd or your flock.

I think I'll be taking your grandfathers advice with the wanna be rapist.
I hate this part of chicken keeping

 

[Ocdbrownie]

Got a young rooster in my flock myself. Trying a new (temp) setup with the coop and went in last night to help the little silkie get up where she wanted and Red decided to take a big peck at me when I come in the gate. My response was to grab him up and hold his beak till he calmed down and then scratched his neck and waggles till he was rolling his eyes and half asleep in my arms. And after helping the silkie, put his butt on a perch since he was the last one in. Lol I might still be new, but I try not to use violence or aggression. I have a four year old that likes to come to the coop at feeding time and I have no interest in having an aggressive bird towards humans. Everything else, fine.

 

[Shadrach]

The odd thing about this whole aggressive cock business is, if you've got free range chickens you want the cock to be aggressive. There isn't a lot of point in having a cock that says to a hawk 'hey man, lets sit down and have a talk about this'.
The problem seems to be when the cock is aggressive towards humans.
Well, we are predators too.
What needs to be done is, either keep away from the cock and let him get on with it, or convince the cock you're one of the good guys.
One way is if the hens think you're a good guy.
If you can override his bossing of the hens then that seems to make the cock think.
I've got two lovely cocks here. One runs from his own shadow and the other is currently being taught to fight by his daughter (it's absolutely true). He still isn't up to a predator attack, but at least now he doesn't get bullied by other cocks and the Muscoveys.
I think he'll learn but it takes time.
Regarding children (?) I don't let children near the chickens. I point out that they are not toys and not little pussy cats either.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Well I’m not oblivious.
Everyone keeps their chickens differently for different reasons. Some want Roo’s some need Roo’s.
And yes I’m a Roo-Momma.
I’m on guard with them when they are in MY yard. Yes I breakup fights! Yes I teach them where the hawk hideouts are. Yes I see hawks in the tree when I yell they move! So if I have damaged their social skills if I have disrupted the chicken universe if I have left mental scars. They’ll forgive me. Someone asked me once “do you talk to your chickens?”. I said “well yes it would be rude not to answer their questions” Rock On all the Roo-Momma’s !!!

 

[llombardo]

I was just watching a video with chickens, mostly roosters chasing kids. I don't find it funny, I find it dangerous. The adults are laughing at these kids. Do they not understand the damage that can be done? Numerous kids in the video were teasing the birds. Then when the bird hurts the kid, it's time to kill it. I have had kids in with my ducks and chickens/both roosters were present. They never even looked at the kids, they went about their business and any teasing of any animal is not allowed period.