My new Rooster

[lfoose]

Hello,

Recently I became the owner of a one year old Rooster. He will be our 'pet' rooster. Unfortunately I do not know very much about roosters and how to care for them. It was suggested that I keep him alone for a couple of days and hand feed him so that he hopefully will get used to me. Well, he is eating but roosting at the top of our chicken coop and hasn't been to interested in socializing with us.

Please offer any suggestions you can for me! I would like him to become freindly and be able to interact with our daughter.

Thanks!

 

[BantyChickMom]

It will take time for him to gain your trust. Just give him treats, and soon he will learn where they come from.

Remember,
he is out of place in his new home and has to become comfortable with his new situation.

 

[Hotwings]

Quote:
I wouldn't worry about him yet as he is probably getting used to his new surroundings. You would take care of a rooster like you would every other chicken. Do you have any other hens? At 1 year he should be sexual mature. This is only my personal opinion but how old is your daughter? If she is young I really wouldn't suggest a rooster as a pet, maybe a hen. Roosters can get aggressive when they get older and can be difficult if you don't know how to handle them. A lone birds is not a happy bird as chickens are flock animals by nature. He may not become aggressive if he is by himself, as it usually takes a group of hens to trigger this response. Of course there is always the exceptions, I have heard from members here that their rooster is nice nice and I have heard that some can have a Jekyl & Hyde complex. The breed can also come into play, some breeds aren't as aggressive as others.

 

[lfoose]

What kind of treats do you suggest?

My daughter is 7 yrs old.


I have always wanted a Rooster for a pet but I was planning on becoming more familar with the care involved before getting one. This one, 'Carlo' was a bit unexpected. He is my first and only bird right now. We thought about getting a hen as a companion but I am not ready to care for any offspring!

 

[Frozen Feathers]

So don't let them hatch eggs.

Just because a rooster is mating with a hen it does not mean that the hen is going to wan to hatch them. Most breeds don't go broody, meaning they don't have any instincts to hatch out chicks anyway.

I do agree roosters can get very aggressive, especially if he doesn't have any girls to "boss around" he may turn to you or your DD to try and mate with or herd you around the yard.

Get some hens, he'll be happier, they are flock animals.