Making Yourself the Alpha Rooster in a Mixed Flock

[Luffpuff]

Hi everybody!

I have my first roo, the ever fashionable Mr. Fox, a polish. I raised him from day 1 and he is finally past his awkward phase and looking gorgeous.

I have read horror stories about aggressive roos so I have started, since he first started mounting behavior, to establish myself as the Alpha. The idea is to make sure he is a well-behaved protector of the flock. So far, my seabright hen has done a better job of running down intruders (she took on a full grown cat yesterday) but Mr. Fox definitely rules the roost on other matters.

Here are some ways I have been asserting myself as Alpha. They seem to be working because he crows like crazy when my roommate goes outside but he just glowers and watches for treats when I am out there.

Dominance mounting: Luckily I have a very submissive older hen who goes into submissive position whenever I step near. Basically, any time I am in the backyard I grab the nearest hen (or Mr. Fox if he isn't quick enough) and push them into submissive position for a few seconds then walk away. It says, I am the boss, I get the girls when I am out here... you don't.

Cock-blocking (hehe): Whenever I am outside, nobody else gets any. So if Mr. Fox makes an advance at one of the girls, I push him away. They aren't his hens, they are mine.

Treats: I give them treats regularly with the same bowl, whistle, and mannerism. They know that I hold the shiny bowl of bugs!

Blinking contest: If Mr. Fox looks like he is getting grumpy about me giving attention to the girls or makes any crowing noises or grumpy sounds, I stand full tall and stare him down. Generally, he stops what he is doing and moves on with his business.

Any other tricks for getting good behavior from your roos?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Yep imo everything you're doing is gonna cause issues if anything.
The other poster is right. He doesn't see you as another rooster and you're doing everything you can to show him he's wrong and you are a rooster.
And for what? To pick a fight? To show him that he needs to pay more attention to you so when you show a weak moment it'll be his chance to show you a thing or two?
Believing its necessary to dominate a rooster is such a silly concept to me.
Think about it. If someone shuts you up every time you try to talk, makes you sit down anytime they come around, stops you in the middle of sex every time the see you engaged or dangles you upside down, chases you around or all these other dominating gestures how long you gonna put up with it?
He's eventually either gonna fight back or become so whipped that he will serve no purpose to the flock.
If you want to be alpha rooster then re home the rooster and run around squatting hens and crowing all day.
If you want a rooster then let him be the rooster.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I mostly ignore my roosters unless they are making trouble than I run them off a bit, otherwise I don't bother dominating.

I've had a polish rooster, he was a pain and went away, all he did was mate and run, he never took care of a single hen.

 

[The Moonshiner]

So all you did was tell him "no" and he never crowed at night again?
He understood what you meant?
Heck I have kids that don't understand "no" that well at times.

 

[Chickassan]

Just let him be a rooster and you be a proper food person, that makes a good roo. Don't try to be the alpha roo, they know you're not a chicken.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They aren't his hens, they are mine....Basically, any time I am in the backyard I grab the nearest hen (or Mr. Fox if he isn't quick enough) and push them into submissive position for a few seconds then walk away. It says, I am the boss, I get the girls when I am out here... you don't.

This is my thoughts - if they are your girls and not his then why have rooster in the first place. His services are not needed, so either re-home him or make a nice dinner.

A rooster's role is flock master - to mate, find goodies, woo the ladies and act as a first alert system (warning). You are not letting him do his "job".

A human's job is flock keeper/caretaker. You provide shelter, food, water and see that their needs are taken care of (cleaning, treating injury/illness). As caretaker, you can still interact with the girls and him, but as a human.

The girls are fun to pet/cuddle, but putting them into a submissive role(making them squat for you) is probably confusing to them. He is also likely confused as well, he doesn't know which way to go or act when you are around - he doesn't know if he's going to get snatched (attacked) or if he is going to have to compete with you for the girls, or if you are going to choose to leave him alone. You need to be consistent with your behavior - he really doesn't need your attention unless he is making aggressive movement(s) towards you - if he's minding his own business with his own girls while your there, then leave him be.

I don't know how aggressive a Polish can actually be, but if he were a large fowl rooster like RIR, Barred Rock or even an Orpington, you would be potentially playing with fire - challenging a rooster on a daily basis most likely you will get challenged back one day - then you will need to decide what to do with a "bad rooster".

Just my 2cents.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Maybe keeping an eye on behaviour and recognising possible signs of potential human aggression before they translate into action is another option to consider. If your cockbird is not showing signs of human aggression, then all is well.

As with many things chicken - there's rarely a wrong or right way to do things. Our circumstances, environment and management styles differ. I'd suggest reading all advice and then decide what best suits you.

Not to mention every rooster is different. Or at least they're individuals so what works for one may not work for another.
It stands to reason that a rooster could just be plain mean and no method is going to change that. So on the flip side a rooster could be so docile that even if you did take the wrong approach that he would still turn out fine.
I have no doubt that anyone can dominate almost any rooster. But what's the end result? That's my curiosity. Seems if you are the alpha its now your job to take care of the flock.
A lot of the people that go through this have a rooster for flock protection. To me it seems if he is no longer alpha he is not going to put in much effort in protecting a flock that's not his.
The other reason for roosters is for fertile eggs. When people want to run and knock them off of hens and show them that's my hen not yours what is that doing to them? Seems counter productive to have a rooster for breeding but then telling him he doesn't get the right to breed.
I must say I'm not a rooster rehabilitater. I have kids and there's too many roosters out there that don't needed rehabilitated to keep any around that would put my kids at risk.
Now back in the day I've had a rooster or two that I thought needed an adjustment and I would gladly help them with that. When I was a kid it was common practice to punt any rooster that advanced towards you.
Technology has made things so easy for us. We don't need to think when we can just Google anything we need.
Pork Pie Ken is right there are a lot of options and it would be wise to look into them all and make your own decisions.
I think something that a lot do wrong is that they think a rooster is something its not.
People like to think they're pets and should be looked at as a pet like a dog or cat. Others want to put human emotions into the mix. None of that is going to help. You may want him to be more than just a rooster but he's not and he doesn't want to be something he's not.
Everything a rooster does revolves around two things. Survival and reproducing.
I hear people say a bad rooster needs to be held, hugged and told how much he is loved. Really? First if a rooster is trying to flog me the last thing I'm going to do is grab him up and put him closer to my face. And telling him how special he is and how loved he is? You really think he has any concept of love or needing to know he is loved?
Learn all you can. Use commons sense. Take opinions as just that, opinions. Use what you can throw away the rest. See what fits your situation. And good luck.

 

[bobbi-j]

bit of a different approach but i give my rooster a lot of hugs and tell him he's a good boy. he really seems to take it hard if i tell him he's bad haha. he used to crow when it was dark out but after i told him "no" he has stopped. if he really gets the devil in him and starts acting out i will hug him until he closes his eyes for a bit

I am curious - how many roosters have you raised? If you have raised more than one, has this approach worked with all of them?

 

[Chickassan]

Look at the comb on that guy, he's so handsome.

View attachment 1243069

He's about 7 month old and i raised him since he was 2 weeks. I'd say he has a few months of growth left since his spurs are still stubby

I agree, every rooster is different some are just mean lol! My fella isn't, he crows in my vicinity yes indeed he does! But...he crows at everything. He mates the hens in my vicinity, that's good! I'm getting new chickies out of that. He is constantly in my space, it isn't malicious he either thinks I've got food or he's wanting to show me his nest making prowess. If you didn't know the guy you'd freak out and swear you were about to get flogged the way he runs up to you but he's really just coming to say hello, and of course maybe get a treat.

 

[Pork Pie]

Maybe keeping an eye on behaviour and recognising possible signs of potential human aggression before they translate into action is another option to consider. If your cockbird is not showing signs of human aggression, then all is well.

As with many things chicken - there's rarely a wrong or right way to do things. Our circumstances, environment and management styles differ. I'd suggest reading all advice and then decide what best suits you.