Loving on your rooster

[featherhead007]

avatar says: yah i'm a roo, but daddy loves me too.

 

[ashlierami]

I could be completely wrong, but I think the whole idea behind refraining from coddling roosters is making sure they are respectful towards you and your personal space. It also seems as though friendly, affectionate roos are naturally expected to become aggressive once hitting maturity. But, personally, I've tried both methods of "roo raising," and neither produced the results I was hoping for. Sweet boys became monsters, but so did the ones I never played with, never held, never formed a relationship with. I stick by my theory: no matter how you treat them from chickhood up, they'll be exactly how they're going to be! Each rooster is hatched with his own set of tendencies.

I've decided I'm going to enjoy my little men while they're well-behaved, cuddle them as much as I want, and see what happens. It all boils down to personal preference. I think you should raise your roos exactly the way you want to.

~Alex

You are absolutely right! I currently have a 2 or 3 year old roo that wasn't hatched or raised with me. He came from a neighbor over summer of 17 and he's so sweet to me. In the beginning he was scared and timid but in the time I've had him he's become one of my absolute favorite. He was never used to affection or human interaction so I'm so surprised he is as friendly as he is now with me.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a pure SFH who I got as an adult. The man who gave him to me had 4/5 roosters and said he was not tame and skiddish. I took him home, strait from the box, he never attacked me and never ran from me. he was not skiddish at all. He was a very nice boy. I had a friend who was looking for a hen and a rooster. Since I knew this one could be picked up, and she had grandkids, I let her have him, I had other roosters. She got him and some pure SFH hens to go with.

 

[J&Kfeatheredfowl]

People say don't love on your roosters (hold and cuddle), I don't care, I love on them and will continue to love on them. I hatch my own chicks and love on and hold the roosters from the time they hatch. The roosters start out more curious then the hens any way. if you pay attention enough they will come when you call and want to be held. My roosters have never fought me, because they know if they get near me I will pick them up. I never shoo them off with my foot either.

Below is my rooster "Pip", he is 3 months old blue cochin bantam/LO, I didn't hold or cuddle him when he hatched, all the chicks went outside to a brooder pen with his pullets. Just 2 weeks ago I moved the pullets to a bigger pen. Since now is the time young roosters like to hop on the young pullets, I pulled him out of the pullet pen and put him in with the older hens. He stopped hoping on hens, since the older ones put him in his place and he has no friends, but me. So even though I didn't hand raise him I have been picking him up and holding him as if he was hand raised. He loves it. He come if I call, and follows me about the coop as I do my chores.
View attachment 1340173 I would also like to say, this rooster will be the perfect size. Med. I like a rooster to not be too big, or heavy. It saves on hens backs.

Well I personally wouldn't. I did hand raise my rooster. It slept with me and would happily jump up on me, sit on my shoulder etc. It was perfectly fine until I gave it hens to look after.

Because I hand raised it, it had no respect for me. It felt like it had to protect the pullets and turned nasty.

The one we didn't hand raise is the nicest ever, eating out your hand and all.

I learned my lesson and won't hand raise a rooster again.

It was a shame really, because he was the sweetest boy. Really nice temperament and all. I'm happy yours managed to be so friendly, but I feel like I went wrong somewhere along the way with mine.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Every chicken is different, sorry you had a bad experience. my rooster doesn't come near me unless it wants to be picked up, which it does want to be picked up. Cuddling works in my favor, I must be doing it right, had chickens for 40+ years.

 

[featherhead007]

His feet were hot!

 

[Saaniya]

Mr TOOTOO & Mr TEETEE

 

[gimmie birdies]

WOW!

 

[4 ever Orpington]

. Smart woman

No blessed man!

 

[Kat C]

No blessed man!

Sounds like you are both lucky and smart and blessed with each other (and the roo)