Learning from my rooster

[bburn]

I too was new to chickens this year. I have read everything that I can about rooster....especially when I still had all those boys! I was ready for mine when he did this to me because I saw his behaviors changing in the previous days. The broom for me keeps him at a distance that is comfortable for me!

We are all learning daily....we just have to pay attention and be ready and still allow them to be the creatures they are.

 

[QuinnP]

the only thing Arlo watches out for is treats & when Mommy's going to cuddle him which is every chance I get

 

[QuinnP]

(and Spongebob Squarepants on the TV!)

 

[AlbionWood]

Quote:
I had 6 Del cockerels, and two of them (pure white) were mean to the pullets so they got pulled out first; then the other four when each started becoming a problem in the coop or yard. Eventually settled on one, who happened to be the best-marked of the bunch, and is now Top Roo and Boss of the whole flock. He's never attacked us, but he does keep his eye on us whenever we are around, and especially seems to get nervous when we mess around in the roosting shed. So far, his personality is almost perfect, except for the crowing at 3 AM... But we never mess around with the hens.

We also kept a Partidge Rock rooster who is very mellow, hardly acted like a rooster at all but is growing into the role. He's not good at the wooing though, tends to just grab hens by the neck without getting them in the mood first, and if they yell the Del roo will run up and smack him! Now he's learning to do the Rooster Dance of Love first.

We had two Sussex cockerels, and two Buff Orps and one NHR, and they all went to Freezer Camp along with the other 5 Dels. The Del and the PR were the best of the bunch.

 

[KKatknap]

I have followed Gritsar's advice...it has worked really well for me. Check it out:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4810

Good luck!

 

[Naughty]

So far, his personality is almost perfect, except for the crowing at 3 AM....

My rooster seems like he crows all night - it almost sounds like his version of snoring. I worry that he's putting a neon sign up for the predators "free chicken meal here"​

 

[bmasters]

I'm a new egg and just starting to learn things, but this sounds like great advice. When I complete my coop and acquire a flock, it's gonna be understood that I'm the head honcho... not the alpha roo.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

A.T. Hagan :

Quote:
This is where you can best train them - in the brooder.

When I get a cock bird chick that challenges me in the brooder I give him a good thump on the head with the side of my finger then chase him around the box a bit. Every time he challenges me I ring his chimes. Not so hard as to injure, but enough so that he knows when he jumps my hand he's going to get a headache from it. It's pretty rare for me to have to do this more than a couple of times with any given bird before he learns to keep his distance. I only do this with the ones that actually jump my hand while I'm working in the brooder.

There may be some individual birds that just won't learn, but so far of the ones that have challenged me like that while still in the brooder I've never had one that did not learn their lesson.

This is also what I do. People think I'm nuts when I tell them that roo conditioning starts in the brooder. I've never had an aggressive roo that I personally brooded.​