How to RAISE a good rooster.

[LikeTurkeys]

I am not in a "small" backyard set up. We have 2 acres of land that I let the chickens roam on sometimes. Their coop is a large walk in one. I only have 8 birds total though.

 

[centrarchid]

So I've seen a lot of threads where people are asking for help with already adult, aggressive roosters. I have an approximately 7 1/2 week cockerel, and I really want him to turn out well-behaved. So, rather than wait till he's aggressive, is there a way to keep him from being aggressive ever in the first place? Thanks.

Genetics can effect the degree of aggression and the odds it is directed towards you the keeper. That said, there is a lot you can do to prevent or promote aggression. Since you are working with a 7 1/2 week old cockerel, the bird in question is very much a juvenile and not yet motivated by issues associated with reproduction.

For now I would always move around him and other birds in slow and deliberate manner. If you need to touch him during the day time, then touch him approximately at the mid-line of the body and avoid approaching from above. Avoid chasing him in any manner. If he needs to be captured during the day, gently coral him into a corner and gently press him against a wall until you can get a better grip that can involve restraining his legs. With cockerels I do not handle a lot, my preference is to delay handling until after dark. Cockerels handled much more frequently are conditioned to eat from my hands without pecking me. I have a procedure that is followed when a chicken pecks me to get more food. The frequently handled birds are scooped up from side while they are focused on eating from my hand. Avoid startling other birds around those you want kept calm and friendly long-term. Avoid rewarding rooster with food when he does something that might appear to be aggression like pecking or rushing you as he can associate that behavior with fresh appearance of eats.

As the bird matures, adjustments may need to be made to prevent riling a rooster protecting is reproductive effort. Get through the juvenile stage first.

 

[TashaFrancois]

My main concern is raising a rooster who isn't aggressive toward humans. All I wanted to know is if I can do this while they're still young. It looks like the general opinion is that the less you handle you rooster while he's young, the better. (I spend a lot of time with my chickens, so much so that my dad has taken to saying "Playing/talking with your chickens again?" every time I come back from the coop.) Note: he has three pullets his age and is being integrated with 4 fully adult hens right now, so maybe that will change some of the dynamics? Teach him who's boss?

If a friendly rooster means one that is not afraid of me, one that I can pick up without him running and is not aggressive, then I would prefer that to a rooster who is cowering in fear and respect.

I, unlike some, am no expert at all. However, I have been surrounded by animals, especially birds, my entire life. All of them pets. So when my husband and I started our little flock last year, I was determined they would be pets who payed rent. I handled them with love and care everyday like a new puppy. We have only had 6 roosters, a FBCM, 2 Ayam Cemani, a polish, and a Silkie. Obviously the Silkie is a teddy bear. But all the other boys have been perfect gentlemen, and 2 gave their lives protecting the flock. So I say, trust your gut. Pay attention to their signals, and go from there.

 

[Kris5902]

It is true that I am a kid. I also have a younger sibling. I didn't want this rooster, he was supposed to be a hen. Now that I have one though, I want to raise him properly so that I can avoid any possible harm to myself or my family. I will follow your advice and not cuddle him anymore, teach him to respect me. If he doesn't, into the stew pot he goes.

Sounds like you’re considering things very well in advance, and are ready for the consequences if there is a problem that arises... you’ve gotten very good advice so far, and now you know what behaviors to look out for, including the innocent seeming ones. (“Oh, look... he’s tidbitting to me how cute” NOT good! I wish I’d known that starting out.) I would like to add, depending on how much younger your sibling is, to be very, very mindful of the behaviors around him/her.

My “good boy” has only made one aggressive move and it was on a very small boy. He managed to sneak past me and got a bite in, and I was watching for problems and still unable to predict or prevent it. He has been fine with 7 & 8 year olds in the past, is fine with adults, but something about this 4 year old set him off... probably his small size and that he was holding an egg and excited. I think my boy was confused by the size and behavior of the particular child and didn’t know what to think of it. No real harm was done. And he has never bit before or after that one time. And it was a bite, not an exploratory peck or looking for food.

Edit to add: as soon as I scooped the cockerel up he was calm and quiet and well behaved he was just reacting to the perceived “threat” of the strange small thing in the pen.

Every situation is different, males of any species are all different in demeanor, and their behavior can also be drastically changed by the presence of females, time of year, and #1 IMO... your behaviors around them. That said if it does turn out poorly, don’t blame yourself too much. And good on you for trying. Younger people and roosters are not automatically a horrible combination. Just use caution, common sense, and do your best.

Best wishes!

 

[yickenscarf23]

I didn't read all 12 pages but I bought my rooster at 1 year old (Cochin bantam) from a lady that said she handled him from a baby all the time. He's not friendly but he's a gentleman to the hens & myself. Doesn't bother me one bit but won't allow me to hold him. I've read the breed is gentle.

I feel like it's probably nature more than nurture.

 

[Kris5902]

I think there is a world of difference in roosters and the size of the set up. If you have 15 roosters, I am going to assume that you are not in a small back yard set up. I think the original poster might be.

Agree completely, and no I’m not in a small set up, but I do work in small pens and groups at the moment. I *had* 15, and I will have less in the near future most likely (not counting the 40 new meat birds I’m raising ) I was just giving an example of same breed/upbringing but very different behaviors and attitudes. I’m pretty new to chickens myself and don’t claim any expertise... I was just stating my personal observations.

If you were my child, I would not recommend you keep a rooster for a couple of years. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of people.
Mrs K

I will respectfully disagree here, if someone is willing to take on The challenges of a cockerel, aware of the potential consequences, and prepared to part with an unmanageable bird if it becomes necessary, then I don’t think age should be a limiting factor. We all have to learn somehow, but I would assume that the parents will also be overseeing the situation to some degree.

I’m not going to pry and ask the OP’s age, but it could be anywhere from 8-12. And I’ve met plenty of kids in that age group able to handle livestock well And responsibly. I was heavily supervised when I started working with our cattle two years ago, and I’m in my late 30’s !

 

[Mrs. K]

I too, have many kids that have worked livestock well. I raised 4 kids on a ranch. However, the adults around my kids had a great deal of experience with livestock, and little romantic notions about intact males. I am not sure the OP has this support.

For many of us, this is a life long hobby, with many aspects, no need to do it all the first year. For anyone strange to chickens and livestock, I think that starting with an all hen flock is a better way to go.

Many inexperienced people will write here that the darling went to a nightmare in an instant. Probably not, but without experience, they did not recognize the signs of aggression. Roosters tend to attack children first.

To the OP - I am a teacher, and I do love kids like you that have some get up and go, the willingness to try things, to figure things out. The fact that you are asking questions and making a plan, just makes me smile. I wish you the best of luck with your new flock.

Be aware, be very aware around the rooster, and when you have people visit, be extra aware. Centrichid, a very experienced poutier here, has given very good advice on how to move around the birds, and approach them.

Mrs K

 

[Guinea21]

All my roosters we're culled.. all were very aggressive to the point I had to walk around with my shotgun. I tried suggested behavior correction Technics but I found the best was given from my shotgun. I refuse to be chased around my yard and around my garden. Now a new behavior from my sole surviving male guinea he is lucky I need him to bolster my guinea flock as he has drawn blood on me 2x. Good news is he knows what the shotgun is and runs for his life when he sees it. Very smart bird. I will be very hands off with future male guineas. No more babying the males...

 

[Kris5902]

A positive thing is the OP is only dealing with one cockerel, so there’s more time for observation and if it does need to be addressed there’s just the one to deal with. Of course that also makes it a challenge because there’s no others to compare with and if you don’t have experience or understand the behavior then it’s easier to go wrong.

I had a good idea of what to expect going into hatching, and straight run chicks. I was mentally prepared to process my extra cockerels for meat before I even got the hatching eggs. Actually working with them, and around them is very different than reading about and researching it.

I still ran into lots of hiccups, and am still working things out. (I’m holding back for breeding, and don’t have enough experience to weed out non SOP traits before maturity, I also waited too long being greedy & wanting to fatten up my skinny layer hybrids before freezer camp). This is a great place to learn and I’ve gotten a lot of good info from this thread as well. Hopefully everything goes smoothly.

 

[centrarchid]

I too, have many kids that have worked livestock well. I raised 4 kids on a ranch. However, the adults around my kids had a great deal of experience with livestock, and little romantic notions about intact males. I am not sure the OP has this support.

For many of us, this is a life long hobby, with many aspects, no need to do it all the first year. For anyone strange to chickens and livestock, I think that starting with an all hen flock is a better way to go.

Many inexperienced people will write here that the darling went to a nightmare in an instant. Probably not, but without experience, they did not recognize the signs of aggression. Roosters tend to attack children first.

To the OP - I am a teacher, and I do love kids like you that have some get up and go, the willingness to try things, to figure things out. The fact that you are asking questions and making a plan, just makes me smile. I wish you the best of luck with your new flock.

Be aware, be very aware around the rooster, and when you have people visit, be extra aware. Centrichid, a very experienced poutier here, has given very good advice on how to move around the birds, and approach them.

Mrs K

Correct spelling is "centrarchid".