When I open the pop door in the morning, my cockerel is the first one out. Sometimes I have to remind him I am the boss. He will circle, though I never let him get behind me. Sometimes he comes up to my feet with his head down and his hackles raised. If I reach down to "peck" him, he backs up, then comes forward again. I drop my "good morning sweet chickens" voice, tell him to back off, and make sure he is the one walking away before I leave the run.
I took a stick in with me one morning, and he never approached, though he did give me the wary stink eye. The pullets had come out with him, and they were scared and ran into a corner. I don't have any trouble with them, and don't want to scare them.
Later in the day, this isn't an issue. Is he ornery, or maybe horny, in the morning? Just not a morning chicken?
I got to wondering if he recognizes my clothes, as much as my face? Since they've been outside last May, it has been warm enough for me to wear my "garden shirt," which is a long sleeved white Tshirt. Now that it's cooled off, I have been wearing a purple sweatshirt. I've worn that during the day, some, too, and he seems okay; he's more of a problem in the morning. I'm thinking of getting an over-sized white sweatshirt or jacket to wear in the mornings, so I can put it over whatever I need for warmth that day.
They are all about 5 1/2 months old, and grew up together. He's a Buff Orpington, and the three pullets are Black Australorps. He does well with the girls, and I want to keep him, so I am trying to nip this in the bud. I had to cull my two other cockerels (TSC straight run, what can I say?), because they were very aggressive and two too many.
Advice?
I took a stick in with me one morning, and he never approached, though he did give me the wary stink eye. The pullets had come out with him, and they were scared and ran into a corner. I don't have any trouble with them, and don't want to scare them.
Later in the day, this isn't an issue. Is he ornery, or maybe horny, in the morning? Just not a morning chicken?
I got to wondering if he recognizes my clothes, as much as my face? Since they've been outside last May, it has been warm enough for me to wear my "garden shirt," which is a long sleeved white Tshirt. Now that it's cooled off, I have been wearing a purple sweatshirt. I've worn that during the day, some, too, and he seems okay; he's more of a problem in the morning. I'm thinking of getting an over-sized white sweatshirt or jacket to wear in the mornings, so I can put it over whatever I need for warmth that day.
They are all about 5 1/2 months old, and grew up together. He's a Buff Orpington, and the three pullets are Black Australorps. He does well with the girls, and I want to keep him, so I am trying to nip this in the bud. I had to cull my two other cockerels (TSC straight run, what can I say?), because they were very aggressive and two too many.
Advice?
Exactly! He doesn’t want to be seen as cuddly. He wants his ladies to see him as their defender when he comes running clucks a’blazin, their provider...their lover!
