Is it okay to tie my roosters???

[Tap Dancing Chickie]

This is NOT a good idea in any way shape or form.

 

[dirtdoctor]

I have seen roosters tied, with a short lead, I would guess it would be easier to catch. The lead was only about three feet long. hanging not connected to anything but the birds leg.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Mayeb clipping his wings would work

 

[jjthink]

NO, not okay.

 

[Keri78]

how about a simple bach. pad for him instead???

 

[DTchickens]

People will tell you various things until they have seen it themselves, that is fine. Everyone has their own opinion, I myself have a huge "YES" under the right conditions. Tie-cords or tethers as some call them have been used by gamefowl owners for a LONG time. We usually hatch so many, and the birds are so aggressive they cannot be thrown in 1000+ dollar coops or large runs or the fowl will kill each other. So we go the cheaper, convenient route.. I encourage people who wish to try this to put only cocks on them, hens are too busy-bodied usually to be on them without going crazy. Or has been my experience..

If you do it, make sure the bird has good shelter like the 55 gal drums you get free a lot off craigslist, cut a hole in the bottom big enough for the cock to crawl into when weather gets rough.. Tee-pees work too, and are easily made, but do not offer as much wind protection. It's also best to have them in a fenced in yard, with if you can a good dog running with them like a great pyrenees.. Also switch the cord on the birds leg once every few weeks at least or it can sometimes make them spraddle legged. Or you could just use them as a daytime area, some people who own gamefowl use them during the day for "Free ranging" but where the cocks cannot get to each other, then put them up in pens at night.

-Daniel.

ETA: And I just wanted to add, just because a cock is tied out does not mean he is a fighter. Just because they are a game doesn't mean they are being used for cockfighting, just because the man owns various cocks DOES NOT MEAN HE IS A COCKFIGHTER.. Those are some of the most ignorant, stereotypical comments that arise often on threads involving games. I don't mean to sound harsh, but it happens far too often on this forum because people never look fully into a subject.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Edit to remove inflammatory comment

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Teathering allows a cock more freedom than a pen. It also keeps him from overbreeding hens. It is a great way to keep multiple roosters of any breed. Just take the right precautions to keep them safe. DT gave some good advice on housing.

I have two mutts, three games, and a marans tied out right now with barrels for shelter.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
I was interested in learning about teathering because I intend to keep a couple of extra roosters for breeding, but I really don't need to have fifteen little coops around my 1/3 acre lot. Portable barrel-sized shelters I can deal with (I already have several).

Does the roo need to learn to be tied starting early? Right now my teenage (8weekers) are all loose together, but eventually I want to have 3 roos and only range one with the hens. Do I need to tie up the "special" ones now so they can get used to it?

Also, do they sell special "rooster leashes" or do I have to try to make something up from my own devices????
I was particularly curious about the part that goes on their leg (the part equivilent to a dog's collar I guess) since nothing for any other animals comes that small I'd need something either made for roosters or a good suggestion for making something up.

 

[Hennyhandler]

I would suggest you not do this. It isn't really safe. The rooster could get tangled in it and such. I think this would be considered quite inhumane. Please don't do this to your poor roosters.