Learning from my rooster

[A.T. Hagan]

You ought to teach your rooster that YOU are the boss and he is only the lieutenant. A good rooster watches out for his flock, but he should NOT be jumping you when you are gathering eggs even if there is a hen on the nest. Don't put up with that because it will lead to further trouble down the road.

 

[easttxchick]

A.T. Hagan :

You ought to teach your rooster that YOU are the boss and he is only the lieutenant. A good rooster watches out for his flock, but he should NOT be jumping you when you are gathering eggs even if there is a hen on the nest. Don't put up with that because it will lead to further trouble down the road.

This. I can get in and out of my coop even if there are several girls in the nestboxes with no problem at all-my boys know better at this point.​

 

[Naughty]

I have 2 roos - one that is a lb (lil bast**) and one that still is cocky but knows his place. My lb doesnt mess with me - but he goes after my 4 year old with a vengenance - Of course she is never left alone with him - but even if she is behind me as I walk into the coop - he will make a wide circle and try to come up behind and get her. I won't have an animal that can't recognize that the kid is above him in the pecking order. He is clearly not the alpha roo. He will take the treats from the girls. He is probably going to be a feral rooster soon - going to let him go out on some property my brother owns - can't find anyone who wants him.

My other roo still gets a bit cocky - but he usually makes a half hearted attempt when I get into the yard - and then goes on about his business. Its funny to watch him herd his girls in a corner when he thinks there is a threat. He will also make sure they eat. If they go to lay eggs, he will go in with them and just chatter at them. Luckily he's a banty and I have high boots - so if he does try to get me - I don't even feel it... usually I just reach down - grab him by his feet and then tuck him under my arm and pet him... I also let the kid pet him - so he knows his place also. I make a point of talking sweet to him and using his name - (naughty) - although he thinks his name is NAUGHTY NO!

I've gotten so much useful info here - I really didn't want roosters to start but I think I'm going to have at least one really good one after following some of the many ideas from all of the smart chicks and roos on this board!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

If a rooster jumps ME and I like him I'll take the trouble to try to teach him manners.

If he jumps one of my daughters he's done then and there. Roosters are dangerous to small children so one that has proven himself aggressive should be eliminated. Cock birds are too easy to come by to put up with one that endangers your children.

I think the hens tells all the boys what happened to the last rooster that jumped one of my kids. Haven't had an aggressive one for some years now.

 

[bburn]

I certainly did not let my rooster get the best of me. But I do think that the hen being on the nest was the reason he even came after me. He has never been aggressive with me before.

When we were building his coop he was in the run with us. The pen had been built several weeks before and he had temp housing to get him through until my DH came home from working out of state. We did end up turning him into the garden at the end as we were leaving the big gate open too long. So we let him out the other gate that leads to the garden. He was never aggressive during that time. BUT at the time his girls were still in quarantine and were not his yet. He was just the Lone Rooster.

I have been out there since and he stays with the girls over at the other side of the run. It is just now I cannot trust him and before I was cautious always. Thus the reason for the broom that I carry in. I do like him and I will continue to work with him. I will not let him get the best of me and I will be top roo. It is all just a real experience that from reading and learning on here makes it easier to understand and deal with. Should the aggressive behavior continue my DH will take care of him and we won't have to worry about it. I will get another BR roo for the girls at some point if that happens.

I too believe there are good roosters out there. I still believe that he and I will work this out....if not it is freezer camp and Rooster and Dumplings.

(am also taking the broom out with me from the house now......it has all its bristles and a wider span at the bottom. And I am considering another gate to block off the run from the opening to the coop so this NEVER becomes an issue again....just eliminate the possibility.)

 

[greenSearcher]

Quote:
Hopefully you have something else as a back up. My Delaware roosters are 8 wks now, no crowing yet, but they attempt to bite me and sometimes succeed since they were a week old. I am so far not terribly thrilled with their personality. Hopefully I can get some NN/Del crosses for a good tempered meat bird.

 

[Lotsapaints]

My Dels from McMurray got nasty but the ones I hatched from a breeder are very nice and much bigger anyways and they do cross nice with NN's

 

[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.

 

[bailey'smama]

This whole conversation is making me feel better! I'm a new chicken owner with 1 Ameracauna rooster and 3 hens. I've had the rooster since he was just a few weeks old, and never had any problems with him until the hens started laying. Now, I don't leave the porch without a broom.

He never bothers my husband who never feeds the chickens or gives them treats, but he'll come after me - his primary caregiver!

He's never really hurt me as he has no spurs yet, but it is startling to see a rooster suddenly flying at your shins.

He's quite tame in other ways though. My chickens are free-rangers and if they aren't in the yard when I go out with treats, I only need to call the rooster. He'll come running from wherever they are, and call his hens to follow. However, if I'm empty-handed, he follows me, and usually ends up attacking. He's like a rooster/stalker.

Is he just trying to intimidate me into giving treats ALL the time?

I don't really like his behavior and am considering replacing him when I do hatching in the spring.

I find I'm much less productive at yard chores when carrying a broom!

 

[emarble]

Use the behavior they use toward each other and establish yourself as head of the pecking order! When my Roo was younger we established the pecking order and the rules! He knows that i am the boss and faster them him! You have to be firm and say the words NO! Now all I have to do is point my finger at his charge and say STOP and he does I will also turn my back on him cause he knows I mean business

Ernie