How to RAISE a good rooster.

[Ms Clucky]

My uncle said not to pet them, cause they will become aggressive. Personally I think he don't know what he is talking about.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Some roosters just don’t like to be handled like a pet rabbit. Simple as that.

 

[Ms Clucky]

Pepper don't like being picked up, but he don't mind you petting him after Rusty chases him. He cries.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Some roosters just don’t like to be handled like a pet rabbit. Simple as that.

Yep. I just don’t bother with them unless they are injured or sick. They have a healthy fear of me (natural prey instinct) so they stay away since I don’t go near them. The older ones have gotten used to me and just move outta my way.

 

[Ms Clucky]

I have a problem with them right under my feet. I guess that's what I get for babying them.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I think the hands off approach works well. I don't treat the chickens as cuddly pets. I treat them respectfully, speak nicely them and feed them well. I have been careful not to do anything to interfere with the way my rooster handles his girls. He is very good with them and actually he is nicer to me than some of the hens. I did have to separate him from the girls recently because his hormones are rampant right now and the girls have some feather damage. Still, I made sure he can see them and they all get fed the same way at the same time. I close the pop door on the main coop before I tuck Randy into his little penthouse condo. So as not to compromise his "manliness" in front of the girls. I give him a pat and a kind word before closing him in for the night. He can still squawk orders at the girls but he has still not shown any aggression towards me.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Yep. I just don’t bother with them unless they are injured or sick. They have a healthy fear of me (natural prey instinct) so they stay away since I don’t go near them. The older ones have gotten used to me and just move outta my way.

Having a rooster afraid of you is a guaranteed way to get bit up and kicked every time you touch them. Most people are very unsure of themselves when around roosters. I believe this is what causes most conflicts. Jerky movements because you’re afraid just get the rooster fired up.

 

[Chickassan]

I just let mine be a rooster. I don't mess with him or avoid him either, he's just out there doing his thing.
It works great, at least with him but they're all different.
I have handled him, and still do if necessary. He's too lazy to net or hook, to get him just pick him up.
Yours is still just a baby though, honestly until his brains come in I wouldn't worry much about it.
He won't behave for months, he won't be capable he'll be a ball of testosterone that will be doing good not to drown in the rain.
Best advice I can give you personally, just treat him like a chicken, he'll appreciate it.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Having a rooster afraid of you is a guaranteed way to get bit up and kicked every time you touch them. Most people are very unsure of themselves when around roosters. I believe this is what causes most conflicts. Jerky movements because you’re afraid just get the rooster fired up.

I’ve had roosters all my life and just crook them up. I hold them by their feet and take them to where they need to go. A rooster being afraid is not a guarantee to getting bit if you handle them correctly.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Thank you for the replies! Unfortunately, I thought the more you handle them as chicks the better they behave themselves when they grow up. So I've been holding him and petting him a lot, carrying him around and stuff like that. I guess that's got to stop now. I've heard that if they peck your arm as chicks, you need to train them not to do it right away. (Never happened to me, but he did it to my mom once). How would you do so, or does it really not matter that much?