How To Raise A Rooster

[JennyRed]

I wrote my roo, Buster did a dance and pecked my hand while feeding him and his mom. This was a over a week ago. I pushed him back, he squealed and ran behind mom. He is now 12 weeks and flocked my arm last night and I bleed. I slung him off my arm 7 feet and he came back and I did it again before he landed on my arm.
Today I watched him as I feed them again. I took out a few meal worms and noticed that is when he would go wild. Today he ate them out of my hand, then I put some in the dish. All of them go nuts when I feed them meal worms. That is too what I gave them before when he was dancing at me.

My hens go nuts to and peck me over the worms.

Want to try yogurt but do I serve out of the frig or let it get room temp.

I sure hope Buster calms down
This pic is when he was 11 weeks.

 

[newbie32]

Mine go nuts over meal worms and string cheese. They accidently peck me a little hard in their frenzy to get it out of my hand. But never have any of them drawn blood or ran at me aggressively for it. Basically he flogged you. And he is obviously not too scared of you or he wouldn't have gone back again.

I understand that they LOVE treats and can go a little nuts, but he has gone overboard and he is still small. Think about what he could do when he is 20 weeks.

I wouldn't tolerate it, just my opinion. I am glad you chucked him but I don't think this is going to be the worst of it.

Good luck to you

 

[JennyRed]

I see I have work to do. Lol don't bite the hand that feeds you. He is scared of me except for food, other than that he stays far away from me.

We are building a larger run and I think that will help. The one now is aframe and I can only stand in the center. Too old for bending too much. The new one will be tall so I can work in it and with him. When I go in the one now he runs to the small run that I can't go in or up in the coup. Maybe the new one will help me deal with him.

Today he went up the coup and would not get out so I chased him. He flared up, feathers on his neck rose. I got him and he was mad. I held him tight till those feathers came down then I tossed him in the run. He made all kinds of noises as I held him and glared I glared back. He made no sound when I tossed him he went to a corner. He has grown so fast!!!!

 

[chynasparks]

I've added some new pics of my flock taken just this week. There's a fine shot of my roo. He's quite handsome. I'm not sure how to correct any behaviors with him as it all occurs when I'm at work. Last Thursday I was home late. They were already in the roost so it wasn't until Friday that I discovered scabs on the girls. They werent there Wednesday. We've started supervised free ranging which they like. I'm hoping it will relieve any stress they may have but I don't think it will stop him from doing what ever it is he's doing. I hate seeing scabs on the girls, but I haven't seen anything more serious (yet). I guess it's a day by day thing. Wait and see. Maybe giving him his own coop, would that help?

 

[newbie32]

I would really like it if someone could pitch in here! I just don't think roosters are worth the headache of catering to them. Raise them the best way you think is appropriate and hope they are good boys. If they are getting out of hand then cook them or rehome them. Roosters are CHEAP or even FREE.

 

[JennyRed]

I would really like it if someone could pitch in here! I just don't think roosters are worth the headache of catering to them. Raise them the best way you think is appropriate and hope they are good boys. If they are getting out of hand then cook them or rehome them. Roosters are CHEAP or even FREE.

So true, my husband and I have discussed this since this happened, but we will give him a little more time. Another larger run I am sure will help, if not for him, it will for the other hens I have planned to get. I am not going to let any of his stuff get by me. The first time he gets my husband well he will have no mercy. At this point still too young for me to get rid of him, I promised my grandson I would take care if him . So I will give a little more time and pay more attention.

Love this thread by the way.

 

[newbie32]

Thanks! I started it because I want a good rooster that protects the hens, breeds well and is not mean to me or the hens. I wanted advice on raising them and after all the advice given, I decided to go with the ignore and walk through method. It seems to be working for the most part. Sometimes a hen will cry when being picked up and he perks up and eyeballs me but other than that he has been a good boy

.

Momma polish on the hand acts like she will kill anything that is close to the 4 week old silkies if they cry to her. My poor hens get in trouble for being in the vicinity even if they did nothing wrong LOL. They are not even truly hers-just quarantined with her when they were babies waiting to be introduced and she just assumed role of momma. Silly chickens!

 

[Jakoda]

Here's a pic of my Roo Snowy I took today, and Coco, a young EE, that I'm pretty sure is a roo,,time will tell , Snowy will be 6 mths old on the 20th of Nov, Coco will be 5mths old on Nov 21..So far, hasn't been to disruptive, Coco especially just stays outta the way.



He's so purty, I was hoping a girl, but not thinking so

 

[newbie32]

Here's a pic of my Roo Snowy I took today, and Coco, a young EE, that I'm pretty sure is a roo,,time will tell , Snowy will be 6 mths old on the 20th of Nov, Coco will be 5mths old on Nov 21..So far, hasn't been to disruptive, Coco especially just stays outta the way.



He's so purty, I was hoping a girl, but not thinking so

Gorgeous boys! I am glad you haven't had any trouble with them! Can you tell everyone your method for raising them?

 

[chynasparks]

He's a handsome fello. I recently added pics of my flock. They're 6 months looking all grown up. Bill is quite handsome now but he's starting to hurt the girls. Don't know what I should do. He's not aggressive toward me. The supervised free range idea is doing good. I just have to stay very close due to dogs and hawks. And I have to keep them from going across the street to the police dept. I guess I should have been doing this all along. But I had a nest of hawks in my pine tree, the momma did all her kills in my yard! I am taking it all day by day. Sure dont want to rehome him or eat him.