Mean Cochin?

[Mylied]

I thought Cochin's were supposed to have a docile temperament like silkies, but my Cochin cockerel (he's at breeding age) is kind of an a-hole. He charges at me and pecks at other birds. He's really beautiful, but I don't want a mean bird. The other three pullet Cochin's aren't as bad, but still are a bit pecky and not so friendly. Did I get a bad batch or are Cochin's not so nice?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Every chicken is an individual. There are bad ones in every breed. Sometimes they mature out of behaviors, sometimes they get worse. My young splash Cochin rooster is currently in jail for pecking hens in the head. His fate is to be determined down the road based on his behavior when I let him out again.

If he's charging you odds are he will get worse unfortunately.

 

[Mylied]

Every chicken is an individual. There are bad ones in every breed. Sometimes they mature out of behaviors, sometimes they get worse. My young splash Cochin rooster is currently in jail for pecking hens in the head. His fate is to be determined down the road based on his behavior when I let him out again.

If he's charging you odds are he will get worse unfortunately.

I've had no problem getting rid of my full sized roosters if they've gotten an attitude, I just really loved the looks of this guy. :-( He's frizzled and I wanted to breed him to my silkie and showgirl. He's a bantam, so his attacks on me don't do anything. I just can't have him hurting the girls and chicks. My showgirl rooster is such a gentleman. I guess I was expecting the cochins to be the same.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ah he's a bantam cochin. They can be buttheads their first year or two. Some take a few years to behave themselves. The aggression can be addressed by not letting him come forward, he should always move away from you.

I end up penning about half of my bantam cochin roosters separately or in pairs during their first year or two until they settle down. So don't be afraid to keep him separately for a while, as long as he can interact through the fence he should learn some manners.

 

[Mylied]

Ah he's a bantam cochin. They can be buttheads their first year or two. Some take a few years to behave themselves. The aggression can be addressed by not letting him come forward, he should always move away from you.

I end up penning about half of my bantam cochin roosters separately or in pairs during their first year or two until they settle down. So don't be afraid to keep him separately for a while, as long as he can interact through the fence he should learn some manners.

Thank you for that advice. That's exactly what I needed to know. I will see how separation changes his attitude and will treat him more like a full sized rooster when it comes to his behavior towards me.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I currently have 8 bantam Cochin and Cochin mix roosters. I admire their spunk, but they can be troublemakers. I only had one that didn't turn out well over the years. They are funny little guys.