Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[Florida Bullfrog]

Seems like some of you have knowledge in this area. I had my first experience with something like this recently and would like your takes on it.

I have a 2y.o. american game cock who joined my flock 7 weeks ago. He is the only full grown rooster I have..

The other day, this new guy flew at my legs and slightly wounded my bare knee (above my boots) when I went out to feed them in the morning. I shouted and swore angrily at him and he backed off. I have noticed that since then he will often walk towards me with purpose when I go out, especially in the morning, but he stops and backs off when I stand my ground and speak firmly to him. It's not every time, however; most of the time he is respectful.

Where does this kind of behavior fall in the spectrum for gamecocks? I don't have enough experience to know whether I should be worried, or whether he is just testing boundaries. Or something else.

He does seem very irritable in the mornings, which is when this happened. There are three teenage half-game roosters who seem to be getting on his nerves. Also, the rest of the flock often runs to me, or follows me when they see me headed out. It seems like this new guy joins them in running toward me, and then that kind of triggers his "invader must be chased off" instinct. Is that possible?

How should I categorize his behavior right now? Is it likely to escalate and become dangerous? What is the best way to handle this?

Its not really a “game” rooster thing as much as it is any human-aggressive rooster. If he’s trying to flog you like a rival rooster, it will never end. It will only get worse.

Game roosters aren’t any more human aggressive than any other kind of rooster. If anything, they’re often less so. People who historical kept game roosters for fighting couldn’t afford to have a human-aggressive one. Put blades on its legs as was done when sporting them and a human-aggressive rooster would be deadly to handle.

If you don’t have any kids around, maybe give him a chance to get to know you. He may more be regarding you as an unknown threat than a rival rooster. If he doesn’t get used to you or if its clear he’s treating you like a rival, he’ll have to go. If the previous owner is says its never been a problem and he’s being honest with you, and if risk of serious injury to children is low, you might bet on it being more the former, at least for a couple of weeks. Human aggression usually doesn’t start out of the blue.

 

[Wild Iris]

Its not really a “game” rooster thing as much as it is any human-aggressive rooster. ...

This is really good to know, actually. I have a male and female american game and I like them both, but my experience is so lacking. I will work on helping him get accustomed to me.

 

[LaurenRitz]

The BA cross among the chicks (likely a pullet) put herself to bed with the adults last night. I have no objection.

I'm keeping an eye on one of the game chicks (I assume) and one of the Dorking-Sussex crosses. They don't want to get down in the morning and spend an inordinate amount of time pacing before they take the plunge. They could take it in a couple smaller steps, but they haven't figured that out yet.

They don't need the tall ladder to get up anymore so just the a-frame ladder now. They're still hanging around the brooder at night and I have to hand carry them to their roost.

 

[The_1898_Homestead]

Hopefully getting rid of three cockerels today. I found out there's a sort of informal animal auction in town and I'm going to check it out.

I still have six of their brothers and their dad, not to mention the chicks.

I noticed that the game boys are rather precocious compared to the domestics. One keeps trying to jump his sisters, and he's only 4 weeks old.

I have 3 1+ yr olds that I have in grow out to see if they were going to be used for breeding. 2 American Bresse and one BCM. I also have a 2 1/2 yr old Americauna who can’t play nice and the 5 from this recent brood. The percentage tipped in the favor for the boys.
8 out of 12, 7 week Am Bresse are cockerels. At least two are strong contenders for next year. But they are really young. One started crowing just before 5 weeks and he is gorgeous!
Out of 9 quality blood line BCM 6/9 are cockerels. Like I said the boys have won this year.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I begin to think that some of the chicks I thought dead might have gone feral.

I mostly have the girls out in this group, along with two cockerels. The rest are in their bachelor pad. But a couple of times in the past week I've seen another cockerel, the same size as the 11 week chicks. He shows up early morning when everyone is foraging, then disappears.

I thought at first that one of the boys must have gotten out. I'm still not absolutely sure that it's not one of the cockerels I left with the chick flock, but I don't think so.

If it is one of those lost chicks it's been surviving on its own since it was a week or two old.

 

[Molpet]

If it is one of those lost chicks it's been surviving on its own since it was a week or two old.

Any pheasants, quail,turkey or some kind of ground gamebirds around that could have took him under wing? Chilly for one that young on its own at night.