PhenixJiRa
Songster
Best way to integrate a young rooster? Thank you in advance... I've received some awesome suggestions in this group and truly appreciate all of you!
I have an accidental rooster named is Gizmo and he has started grabbing the back of my hand. The first time was around 8 weeks and didn't hurt but now he is almost 12 weeks and grabbing when I put my hand down to do anything around him or the others.
Perhaps he considers me a threat or it's just instinctual. I've read that I should stand up when he comes near me and not make any sudden movements or run around (no problem there) but I enjoy interacting a lot with my chickens and I feed them by hand or search for worms with them, etc. It's a cute and fun hobby and I'm wondering how to 'train him' not to be a jerk.
Questions:
Note: I do not have the ability to put the chicks in a pen within the hen's run due to configuration & size but they do spend time out in the yard together so have seen each other a bit. Hopefully this will help?
Thank you!
I have an accidental rooster named is Gizmo and he has started grabbing the back of my hand. The first time was around 8 weeks and didn't hurt but now he is almost 12 weeks and grabbing when I put my hand down to do anything around him or the others.
Perhaps he considers me a threat or it's just instinctual. I've read that I should stand up when he comes near me and not make any sudden movements or run around (no problem there) but I enjoy interacting a lot with my chickens and I feed them by hand or search for worms with them, etc. It's a cute and fun hobby and I'm wondering how to 'train him' not to be a jerk.
Questions:
- Does anyone have suggestions on stopping this behavior while still maintaining a friendly atmosphere with him and the hens.
- I also saw a suggestion to put him in with the adult hens (4 of them) at 12 weeks (this coming Tuesday) and let them 'train him' for me. Does anyone think this is a good or bad idea?
- If I do the above, what about the remaining 5 pullets (same age as Gizmo). Do I leave them in their own coop/run for a week while the hens deal with the rooster or will that cause it's own set of issues when I finally put them all together?
- Is there a certain amount of time or point in his life where I'll know it's not going to work (4 months, etc)? Better question, when is the best time for him to be re-homed if I can't deal with it?
Note: I do not have the ability to put the chicks in a pen within the hen's run due to configuration & size but they do spend time out in the yard together so have seen each other a bit. Hopefully this will help?
Thank you!