I LIKE my Rooster

[centrarchid]

You folks need to start posting videos showing how you and your roosters are interacting. Once I find my camera I will do the same. I have lots of roosters that can show a range of behaviors.

 

[Steve J]

Of course he should be able to do that.

So, if I'm catching a hen and she's hollering like I'm killing her, you think my rooster should know I'm not? As long as he doesn't attack me for no reason , I'm giving him a pass on attacking me when I handle a hen. He isn't bluffing, he dead serious will fight over his girls and I'm glad he will.

 

[centrarchid]

So, if I'm catching a hen and she's hollering like I'm killing her, you think my rooster should know I'm not? As long as he doesn't attack me for no reason , I'm giving him a pass on attacking me when I handle a hen. He isn't bluffing, he dead serious will fight over his girls and I'm glad he will.

That is a good call. A squalling or otherwise riled hen I expect to elicit unpleasantness from a rooster. That is one of the reasons my handling is not so stressful on the hens and immature birds. It pays not to be rough on them, otherwise they will see you as a threat to attack or flee from. It will not be about dominance.

 

[Tlmcq]

posting a pic and following. This is one of my roos, well actually still a Cockerel since he's only lil over 6 months, but very well behaved and watchful of his flock. Just recently aquired 2 young cockerels and one is the sweetest lil guy. He will be staying with my Silkies since the big guy is way too much for them. They are very timid lil Silkies. I will post more on the new ones later. Love hearing everyone's experience with good guys and the info everyone shares. I've had good and bad roos but most of bad ones I've gotten have come from someone else and they weren't handled right causing bad behavior.

 

[aart]

So, if I'm catching a hen and she's hollering like I'm killing her, you think my rooster should know I'm not?

Yep, absolutely.
He can learn that you are not going to hurt him or his hens when handling.
Well, mine learned. First couple times after his 'onset of hormones' he ran up to see what was the matter when I picked up a squawking pullet, I just 'talked him down'. He knew my 'soothing voice' from handling him when he was younger, and he was also used to me handling the girls....my technique is that they all learn from a very young age that 'no one will die' when the human touches them. I believe it's all in my attitude/behavior: cool, calm, confident, and cooing.

 

[DesertBird]

Will definitely be following this thread! I accidentally ended up with 3 roo's... hoping to figure out what I'm doing wrong before they get too old. They're a little less than 4 months old, and are starting to fight with each other. Both of them in these pictures have little battle marks. lol The 2nd picture/the 2nd rooster is on the bottom totem of the 3, and I don't have a picture of the other one. I can't quite tell which one is the main dominant rooster as of yet, as the rooster in the 1st image is pretty aggressive to the other chickens and the other rooster I don't have a picture of is very well liked by the hens and seems to be on top. Not sure.

 

[Tlmcq]

I have found me and my roo make a great team...lol. He sometimes has trouble corralling all the girls when free ranging ( I have a stubborn RIR and BSL). He will look up with a panic on his face realizing they have wondered off and call for them. Like I said 2 are stubborn and they just look up like yeah, whatever. So I will go round them back towards the others so he can see them and all is well. Same thing at night when they go to bed. There's always a straggler or 2, including a crazy guinea..lol. He will keep running in and out of coop as if he's counting them all and when he goes out the ornery RIR thinks she's still got time to play and will run out too..lol. So I corral em all back towards the coop and you hear him talking as if to say, I told you it's bedtime now get to roosting...lol. Once they are all in he coos them to sleep and all is well.

 

[DesertBird]

I did have a question, though; the majority of my chickens are socialized pretty well, and one of my roosters especially doesn't tend to run when I pick him up. Am I causing issues in the future by picking him up and cuddling with him? I don't want to make him aggressive or anything, and he's the only one that lets me do it out of the 3. He does like to strut around constantly, and tends to be kind of aggressive to the other chickens. If I am causing issues by doing this, is it too late to fix it? He's almost 4 months old.

 

[Steve J]

I didn't raise my rooster he was given to me. He's a red jungle fowl and they're pretty close to a game cock, as the chicken fighters do use them as they like the high fighting they tend to use in combat. Maybe he's a bit more rowdy than average. I know I'm never going to teach him to not come after me, if I have to catch a hen.

 

[centrarchid]

I didn't raise my rooster he was given to me. He's a red jungle fowl and they're pretty close to a game cock, as the chicken fighters do use them as they like the high fighting they tend to use in combat. Maybe he's a bit more rowdy than average. I know I'm never going to teach him to not come after me, if I have to catch a hen.

Show a picture of him. Game chickens are the ones I keep as pets.