I have a precocious 7-week old roo who is so cute because he's very bold. A few days ago I started picking him up and feeding him by hand and petting him a lot because he kind of follows me around. (All my birds free-range). He's following me around even more now, and now I'm wondering if taming him and carrying him around is the kind of interaction that could make him into an aggressive roo later. Any thoughts on this? My other 2 free-range roos are non-aggressive and I never interacted with them at all. My hunch is that if you build a relationship with them when they're little they get all confused about who's who once they mature.
I tink it may just depend on the rooster. I had a ram I played with and he was like a puppy dog. Sweat as could be. My best friend did the same thing and her ram got super mean and had to be put in a pen where feed was dumped over to him as he would break your leg with his head butts. I know this is a sheepy example but it's probably the same with all critters?
Hmmm... so if he's extra bold as a baby roo, maybe his personality will be extra aggressive as an adult, regardless of what I do.
Never is it bad to tame a roo, as long as you understand they are hard wired and nature rules. I had a roo, he never was permitted to get after the girls in front of me as I was the ALPHA in the flock. Never once would I back down and he tested. It is normal, survival of the fittest etc. When you make friends with them, they will eat out of your hand, not all roos are vicious, treat them with respect and they will respect you. I never turned my back on him, 2 times in a year he would want to fight, but after looking at me, he would back down. That was a Ameraucana, they are easier going birds then other breeds. Some other breeds only have fight on their minds. Good luck and hope this helps. Someplace on the forum you will find a article by one of the members about Roos being hard wired and its the way they are.
chickenannie, I'm very much in the same boat as you are. I have spoiled one of my baby roos since they arrived. Now he's a brat, big time; whereas my other roo, that hasn't been handled, is not overly friendly but he's not aggressive either. I've started ignoring my brat, only holding him when necessary to allow the others to have treats. He was gobbling up all the treats and not letting the others have any. The looks he gives me while he's being held and they get to eat goodies is priceless! He's calming down some since I've started ignoring him. I think he's realizing that he's a chicken, just like the other 17 chickens.
I think it's a good idea to tame them, but not a good idea to spol them. They do their own good job of promoting their importance. Here's my 10 week Andalusian roo - I am in love with him.
"I think it's a good idea to tame them, but not a good idea to spol them. They do their own good job of promoting their importance." How do you tame them without spoiling them. Tonight, my little roo was following me around looking for treats. When I picked him up I didn't feed him but I carried him to his roost since it was getting dark and everyone else was already roosting. I went to put him down on the roost, and he kept hopping back on my hand, like, hey no way, I want to stay with you. It's so adorable, it's hard to stop!
I don't think you are hurting him at all.I think the more you handle him the better.He may still change as he matures,but what you are doing will not affect his protector instincts. Will
my salmon fav was getting a tad big for his britches at about 3 weeks, posturing and pecking, he got some extra attention and straightened out. my cochin doesn't understand he's a chicken let alone a roo. and both my phoenix fall asleep in my hands. my cuckoo maran has been indifferent from the start and gives freckles an awful hard peck. they're just over 7 weeks, cochin is 9 weeks.
I had two Lakenvelder boys. One (Galaxy) was pretty sweet and laid back and the other (George) was just nasty when they were little. He wasn't attacking me or anything, but had a really bad personality. So, I started holding George all the time.....I mean constantly!!! Well, I had to choose a roo to keep and guess who it was...my little George. He is now mating age and still just as sweet as pie. He loves for me to carry and hold him and I can't even imagine being without the little guy. I know with him, being spoiled didn't ruin him at all.