Michigan

[vicki2x2]

I agree, I ignore my roosters, but I never move out of their way, they move out of my way. I walk straight forward and they move or they get pushed out of the way. I don't coddle them, love on them or anything, with exception of the serama's because they are so small and sweet and easy to hold. Sometimes they get held by my little one who likes to carry someone around and it is usually whoever she can manage to catch at the time. They are very tolerant.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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Ok...so get rid of mean roosters for breeding purposes and do not coddle...thanks. I never knew if it was what I was doing or not doing. It is genetics. That makes sense. I will go back to "ignoring" with the next ones and watch for aggression.....weed those out. Thanks for this information....it should really help me out.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Our roosters and ourselves are content to ignore one another. The cochin is laid back but the EE has the potential to be aggressive. That being said, DD has been going in and out of the run since he was a few weeks old and he is used to her. She ignores him and he ignores her. It's great.

Like Vicki said, walk like you own the place. Always behave with utmost confidence. Animals can read body language quite well.

 

[Olive Hill]

No problem. Culling is definitely important. But I do agree with Vicki in that your demeanor is important too. So I hope I haven't confused you there. I think a lot of problems people have with all types of animals are often dominance related as a result of the way they subconsciously communicate with their animals. When you walk through the flock, the chickens -- including the roos -- should move out of the way just like Vicki described. Stand tall, shoulders back, walk through with intent. Animals don't have a complex spoken language the way we humans do. They communicate almost entirely with body language and attitude. Exude confidence and you will be respected.

If you find yourself feeling afraid of a rooster at any point stop and really think about that. Even if you're on the small side that rooster is probably no more than 10% your size, lacks high thinking capability, has no tools at his disposal. There is absolutely NOTHING to be afraid of. Do roosters have peaks that peck and pinch, yes. Do they have spurs that can scratch, puncture and slice, some do, yes. Is any of that a life and death situation for you? Absolutely not. If you're challenged your first instinctual response should be to retaliate, not retreat. You retreat once, you even think about retreating once and the animal has your number. They know when you're unsure. So don't be. Rules to live by with all animals. Which is why you shouldn't put yourself in the position to be challenged by a bull in a pasture, for instance.

I know this is easier for some people than others -- if you're a flight, rather than fight type you may have to work on conditioning your own responses, but it can be done.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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Hmmm....probably not really a fighter but I did grow up on a dairy farm with a very nasty bull....but with the bull I always carried a pitchfork. I did strike back at the mean roosters that I had in the past...as did my husband...never ran. They always came back for more no matter how often they were struck. My husband would be so aggressive with them I would always be shocked they'd come right back for more. So....I think it was mostly genetics. I will however bear in mind to "exude confidence" ! thanks everyone for all the advice.

 

[Opa]

If you have a walk in run and are being harrassed by over aggressive roosters, start carrying a broom. They work great breaking aggression and are real handy for playing rooster hockey.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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[Uncle_Bubba]

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We have a gray orp roo and a black giant roo, both are just awesome with us and his girls. They were even good when I picked up a hen inside the run to let my 1 1/2 yr old niece get a closer look and touch. I think I might cry if anything bad happened to the black jersey giant roo, he is so good to his flock and is great with us.

 

[keyt1969]

Ohhh rooster stories.

2 BLRW roos

1 killed 3 hens while trying to "get" with them, so we separated them. They have been crowing non-stop, all day, every 2-3 minutes for a month now.

They are Aric's boys so I promised I wouldn't do anything with them, but their run is about 30 feet from where I'm sitting now. I hear them from morning til night and sometimes, even though they are in separate coops now, they will crow at each other from their coops. Doesn't make a difference if they are in the same runs either they do this all day. But I can't put the other one back in with the chickens because he's already killed 3 hens. I even tried putting some females in with the killer but the ducks terrorized them.

Any other ideas??

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

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I actually only got (forget the exact number) something like 9 or 10 from My Pet Chicken a year or two ago and it was in March. They came with a heat pack and arrived fine. I live in North Michigan and had them in my heated basement with lamp for about 4-5 weeks and then moved them to the coop with heat lamp for some more weeks....following the recommended dropping or tapering off of the heat lamp. I can't remember when I let them outside.....I have a 8X10 coop and they had lots of room in the coop until I felt it safe weather-wise. I'm a worrier about our cold springs too.

Thanks, I will find out if she will be adding a heat pack or something like that. I have a nice area in my coop already for chicks so that is no problem there. I refuse to have tham in the house anymore.. too much dust and mess.