I'm trying to do this, but I think I'm not doing it right. Here's what I do, and what happens.
Treats right now are their food wetted as a mash, with some green trimmings on it. (Fodder, snipped spinach, whatever.) I go into the run with two pie pans, and the they all come running, because they know it's snack time. (I have 3 pullets and 1 cockerel.) I try to "give" the plates to him, saying, "Darl, this is for you," but it's hard to set it down in front of him with three girls swarming around me.
He puffs out his hackles and pecks at my feet. I tell him, "Chickie snack! For you to give to your girls!" Yes, I know he doesn't understand English...
After about 5-10 seconds, he figures out, hey, the girls are eating goodies! Then he goes over to them, tidbits, and eats too.
When he has come after me (pecking my feet), unrelated to treats, I have held him down for 30-60 seconds. He will struggle, stop, then struggle again, and I let him up when he stops and seems quieter.
I don't pick him up because I think he would thrash, and I'm afraid I'd drop him. It would also scare the girls. I don't pick up any of the birds; I wish I had handled all of them more as chicks. (I brooded them inside and was afraid they'd get loose and my dog would go after them. I will shut the dog in her crate and handle chicks more next time.)
Is he a lost cause now? He's just shy of a year old. I will keep trying, and try other things if there is a way to get him to behave better, or hope that he may calm down. Suggestions?
