I got my first egg!!!! Question about roo's

[equine chick]

My first three chickens i bought are about 18 weeks now. I really wasn't expecting eggs for a few more weeks, but was hopeful. The oldest americauna "ladybird" has really been squawking a lot to whoever will listen for the last 2 weeks so i thought it would be soon. In the corner of the coop today i found it! a small blueish/green egg, i probally won't eat it yet, but it was so exciting getting the first one. My husband was almost in shock because i 've been talking about them having eggs since i bought them last april and he is plain sick of hearing about them, but he was grinning ear to ear. I just had to share my joy.
Now i have a question on roosters. I have a rir who has always been very friendly til this week. He has become very dominant with the hens, they come right up to us but he flaps his wings at us to leave his hens alone. I'm thinking of separating him because i don't want him to become too aggressive or is this just a stage since he is the only roo?

 

[rooster-red]

You have to let him know 2 things:
(1) you aren't out to hurt the girls, and you will handle them any time you wish to.

(2) You are the alpha species and are capable of catching and holding him anytime you wish.

Basically just pick your chickens up often, and if he gets "cocky" pick him up and hold him upside down until he submits. sometime they just need a reminder.

I've done this with my roo's, and now I can approach them and pick any of them up without any fuss, even if they're standing in the middle of the hens.

 

[Southern28Chick]

rooster-red,
I'm planning on putting my roo in the general population soon and I know he will try to fight when when I pick up the girls, he's separated now but yells at me from his pen when I hold a pullet and she hollers. I want to try to do the holding him upside down thing if he gets outta hand. His there a proper way to grab him? He's really fast and I'm sure he'll stick me with a spur before I can snatch him up.

 

[rooster-red]

You can grab 1 leg and pull him of his feet, then grab the other leg quickly.
You can also grab him by each side, either with your hands over his wings if they are folded, or if he is flapping you can grab him by the sides under where his wing would be if folded.

I ought to make a vid sometime.

 

[2mnypets]

I've never had to turn Poopybutt upside down but he knows better than to run from me. He got so mad at me one day cause I wouldn't let up trying to catch him. He gave me that evil eye, so I just got down on the ground (still taller than him), and looked down on him making sure eye contact was locked. He looked away first. That was all she wrote. He automatically just lays down like the hens when I come near and stroke the back of his neck or back.

 

[Do I look like a chicken]

I remember when I was young and we had chickens, the way my Mom would take care of a cocky roo. She would just chase them down and pick them up by their legs and walk around the coop with the roo swinging in the breeze. He would always settle right down in a few seconds and was tame as a kitten when put back on his feet. I may have to apply this practice soon on one of my cocky roos that is starting to get a little to tough for his tail feathers. He pecked my 12 year old son pretty hard today, and then squacked at him for a bit as he worked with some of the pullets.

Give that a try if you think you can do it. If you have trouble catching him, you can use a small rope with a loop in the end to snag him by the leg rather than trying to catch him with your hands. They can be a little scary sometimes when they get upset, most of the time this is just for show. In reality, humans are the big scary mosters, when you're a chicken.

Mike

 

[justusnak]

There is not a day that goes by, that I dont hold my roos. This takes time...I have 9 Roos. There are a few I dont hold.....but they ALL know I am Alpha. My Buff orp roos are getting to where when I come in the coop.....they just walk up to me as if to say...." lets get this over with" LOL No aggresions as of yet!

 

[equine chick]

Okay, i went out into the coop and he was acting okay, except flapping his wings at me until i picked him up. HE wasn't pecking me, but flapping the wings, desperately trying to get away and having a mean look on his face. so.. i did it i grabbed his legs and turned him upside down. I was really nervous to do it, but i wanted to try. He squirmed and flapped around for about 3 seconds, and then sudden stillness. I almost thought he was dead, but i waited another 30 sec or there about and turned him upright and stroked him for another minute and gently set him down. Right now he is just staying away from me and sulking in the corner of their pen. I don't want him to be afraid of me but i don't want to be in fear going into the coop either to see my hens.

 

[Do I look like a chicken]

Nice going Equine Chick. Don't worry, you aren't alienating your roo, just showing him who is boss. You handled it perfectly. He may sulk for a short time, but he'll be fine. Handle him often to remind him you are the master, but that you appreciate him and all he does.

Best of purpose,
Mike

 

[equine chick]

Thank you. I handled him again this evening. HE does seem a little afraid of me to pick him up, i think he just needs to get used to me handling him up again, but i think he knows now i am the dominant hen or chicken.