Maine

[dowgirl71]

My Springer likes to run at my chickens, but if they don't run, she gets scared and backs away from them.

Kinsey, that is so funny about your Springer! Ours is the same way. She will also chase off neighbors dogs from our lawn and she makes this AWFUL sounding howl, as she is running. We joke that she is probably thinking, "Oh please keep running-don't turn around!"

 

[lazy gardener]

Suggestions, anyone? Stew, the RIR, dominant rooster is on the slow bus re: figuring out how to use the ramp to go up to the pop door into the coop. So, I've been giving him some remedial education, going out every night after everyone else is tucked in, and walking him up the ramp. Also doing it a couple of times/day. He's developed a mean streak, either because he doesn't like my hands on approach, or he does not like it when I herd the rest of the flock in after being out for some free range. (only speculating about what is going through his tiny little bird brain.) So, when I feed them now, he attacks my hand. And tonight when I went out to put him in, he was in attack mode. So I just left him outside in the run. I've read suggestions including: to dangle an aggressive rooster upside down by the feet, take them down to the ground and hold them in "submissive" mode for a bit, carry a big stick, and get the stew pot boiling. He's not quite big enough for the latter approach, but getting there. I can't have an aggressive roo, scared of what might happen when my naieve 6 y.o. gets in his face to read him an other story.

 

[ducklucky]

So sorry Ash. Did that son of a gun get in or try to pull them thru or just have a murder spree. Wow, would not know what emotion to have either, not much you can do but protect the rest, or try to. It seems to be a particularily bad year for predators, our winter was too mild. Good for us, but not for our kids. Now I am afraid to put my month old ducklings out in a chain link enclosure. They are too friendly and would probably try to shake a racoon hand. Not good...

 

[Widget]

I have never been a fan of RIR. Never knew one that was nice. As for Stew I would be concerned that he would go after your daughter. Bad enough when they hit us with their spurs. Would hate to see what it would do to a six year old. Other than calling him now you could lock him up and grow him out until he has a bit more meat on his bones then invite him in for dinner.

Suggestions, anyone?  Stew, the RIR, dominant rooster is on the slow bus re: figuring out how to use the ramp to go up to the pop door into the coop.  So, I've been giving him some remedial education, going out every night after everyone else is tucked in, and walking him up the ramp.  Also doing it a couple of times/day.  He's developed a mean streak, either because he doesn't like my hands on approach, or he does not like it when I herd the rest of the flock in after being out for some free range.  (only speculating about what is going through his tiny little bird brain.)  So, when I feed them now, he attacks my hand.  And tonight when I went out to put him in, he was in attack mode.  So I just left him outside in the run.  I've read suggestions including: to dangle an aggressive rooster upside down by the feet, take them down to the ground and hold them in "submissive" mode for a bit, carry a big stick, and get the stew pot boiling.  He's not quite big enough for the latter approach, but getting there.  I can't have an aggressive roo, scared of what might happen when my naieve 6 y.o. gets in his face to read him an other story.

 

[buckabucka]

Lazy gardener, I don't think I'd keep that roo around if you have young kids interacting with him. If you especially wanted this particular bird for some reason, you could try training him since he is not big enough for freezer camp anyway.

I did have to train one of my Basques roosters last year. My approach was to pick him up every time he acted aggressively and hold his head down in a submissive position. When I let go of his head, if he picked it up, I would hold it down again until eventually I could let go and he would leave his head down. Then he was set back down on the ground.

Sometimes I had to do this 2 days in a row, but it slowed down to once a week, and now I never have to pick him up. Sometimes he was hard to catch, but I persisted until I got him. I don't know if all roosters can be trained, but it worked with this guy.

It's strange that he won't go inside at night. Usually they all stick together as a flock. Maybe he thinks he needs to be out there protecting everyone.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Suggestions, anyone? Stew, the RIR, dominant rooster is on the slow bus re: figuring out how to use the ramp to go up to the pop door into the coop. So, I've been giving him some remedial education, going out every night after everyone else is tucked in, and walking him up the ramp. Also doing it a couple of times/day. He's developed a mean streak, either because he doesn't like my hands on approach, or he does not like it when I herd the rest of the flock in after being out for some free range. (only speculating about what is going through his tiny little bird brain.) So, when I feed them now, he attacks my hand. And tonight when I went out to put him in, he was in attack mode. So I just left him outside in the run. I've read suggestions including: to dangle an aggressive rooster upside down by the feet, take them down to the ground and hold them in "submissive" mode for a bit, carry a big stick, and get the stew pot boiling. He's not quite big enough for the latter approach, but getting there. I can't have an aggressive roo, scared of what might happen when my naieve 6 y.o. gets in his face to read him an other story.

I think his name is just about perfect. There's no reason to keep a mean roo. I had one that just attacked me, and then my parents came to visit and he attacked them, and then once when they were out free ranging he attacked my neighbor and her little boy who came over. He was lucky he dropped dead a few days later because I was going to assist. I don't think they ever change that part of their personality and will look for ways to do it. Mine only did it when my back was turned. Reminded me of King Boo from Mario.

I would put him in a grow out pen and get him a few more weeks to plump out and then eat him.

 

[lazy gardener]

Lazy gardener, I don't think I'd keep that roo around if you have young kids interacting with him. If you especially wanted this particular bird for some reason, you could try training him since he is not big enough for freezer camp anyway.

I did have to train one of my Basques roosters last year. My approach was to pick him up every time he acted aggressively and hold his head down in a submissive position. When I let go of his head, if he picked it up, I would hold it down again until eventually I could let go and he would leave his head down. Then he was set back down on the ground.

Sometimes I had to do this 2 days in a row, but it slowed down to once a week, and now I never have to pick him up. Sometimes he was hard to catch, but I persisted until I got him. I don't know if all roosters can be trained, but it worked with this guy.

It's strange that he won't go inside at night. Usually they all stick together as a flock. Maybe he thinks he needs to be out there protecting everyone.

He's not staying out at night to protect everyone. He stays out at night because he can't figure out the ramp, and he's too heavy to fly up. He's not the brightest crayon in the box. The submission training sounds like a good idea. I was hoping that he would be a good roo to keep around as a flock protector, but I agree that an aggressive roo belongs in the pot. I hope to grow him out a bit... there's no meat on his chest now... every time I pick him up, I check to see if he's filled out any... Remember the wicked witch in Hansel and Gretel?? And my general opinion re: RIR is the same. Generally, I think they are an aggressive breed, though the female is very personable. Unfortunately she was exhibiting signs of Vit E encephalopathy this morning. So I mixed up a special brew of FF with Nutri-drench, Vit E and Selenium with increased protein. They'll all get some supplement for a while. The Dom chick that I treated when he was real small shows no more neuro signs, but he developed quite a case of scoliosis, and he shows signs of cardiac issues. Between all of the roos I ended up with and the Vit E issues, this is starting out to be a discouraging intro to Poultry keeping.

 

[MustardTiger]

Ash. I am sorry about your birds. Frustrating.




Frustrating is also the word for all this rain. At first I loved it, now it is drowning my garden

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Well the goat show was a bust. Must have been all the rain. We drove down to Windsor and there were only a few vehicles there. We decided to just cut our losses and head home.

 

[ChickMagnet207]

Suggestions, anyone? Stew, the RIR, dominant rooster is on the slow bus re: figuring out how to use the ramp to go up to the pop door into the coop. So, I've been giving him some remedial education, going out every night after everyone else is tucked in, and walking him up the ramp. Also doing it a couple of times/day. He's developed a mean streak, either because he doesn't like my hands on approach, or he does not like it when I herd the rest of the flock in after being out for some free range. (only speculating about what is going through his tiny little bird brain.) So, when I feed them now, he attacks my hand. And tonight when I went out to put him in, he was in attack mode. So I just left him outside in the run. I've read suggestions including: to dangle an aggressive rooster upside down by the feet, take them down to the ground and hold them in "submissive" mode for a bit, carry a big stick, and get the stew pot boiling. He's not quite big enough for the latter approach, but getting there. I can't have an aggressive roo, scared of what might happen when my naieve 6 y.o. gets in his face to read him an other story.

I have never had a True RIR Rooster that was the least bit mean, Trade him in for a Real RIR