My rooster is watching me....

[aart]

If he only watches carefully as you handle the hens and if you keep calm and keep the hen calm and put her back down...he'll know you're not hurting them and will probably accept it without attack. I handle my hens regularly, pick them up keeping everyone calm and putting them back down pretty after just a few minutes, in front of the rooster and he keeps watch but accepts it without too much concern. Works for me, but keep your eyes peeled and a check on your emotions around him.

 

[cafrhe]

Overall he tolerates us handling the hens. I dont pick them up often anymore. Before we got him, they were all squatting for us, so it was easy. Not any more.
He has learned that we are the bringer of good things. The girls always swarm us when we go outside, so now he brings them over to us as well. I have no problem respecting his 'manhood' and job, and I really hope he can manage to not cross a line. My daughter handles the chickens most of the time. She is small adult sized and not afraid at all, but has much less experience than I do with grumpy animals. I will be interested to see if he challenges her and how she handles it.

 

[aart]

Overall he tolerates us handling the hens. I dont pick them up often anymore. Before we got him, they were all squatting for us, so it was easy. Not any more.
He has learned that we are the bringer of good things. The girls always swarm us when we go outside, so now he brings them over to us as well. I have no problem respecting his 'manhood' and job, and I really hope he can manage to not cross a line. My daughter handles the chickens most of the time. She is small adult sized and not afraid at all, but has much less experience than I do with grumpy animals. I will be interested to see if he challenges her and how she handles it.

That is key IMO....animals can feel our fear and react to it.

If she has a good head on her shoulders, and a momma who does know how to handle grumpy animals, she should do fine. Best of luck to yas...he is a gorgeous bird.

 

[cafrhe]

LOL, So far she is not afraid...but she hasnt been attacked by an animal before yet either! She is very level headed though.

While I think we can handle what he can dish out, because I have read other peoples experiences and fears, I worry that I am not concerned enough about a real Roo attack....I know I was chased by a roo as a kid, but dont remember much trauma! Most of the critters I have had to deal with have teeth, so I figure 1 beak and a few claws cant be as bad as an animal with a mouth full of teeth and much more weight (horses, dogs etc). If I get my *** kicked, I will be sure to report back lol.

And thank you, he is a pretty boy. His tail has come in now so he looks much more dignified and balanced.

 

[AmericanMom]

I had a beautiful EE roo that one of my broody's raised, I had planned on using him for breeding but as he got older he started making me nervous, he would follow me, always one or two steps behind, he would move out of my way, but only out of my way (My other rooster knew the drill, move and keep going) when I would sit on my stump out in the run watching he would come within a few feet of me and just watch... I told hubby he started giving me the stink eye and it was only a matter of time before he tried to attack, I have chronic back problems so one wrong move and I am down for days or weeks.. One day DH was out with me and he just stood back and watched, pretty soon he left but came back with the net, I asked what he was doing and he told me while my back was turned he didn't like the way the EE was acting and that I was right, it was just a matter of time.. He was 6.5 months old when he went into the freezer..
MHO, there are to many good roosters out there to put up with a mean one.

 

[One Chick Two]

If he only watches carefully as you handle the hens and if you keep calm and keep the hen calm and put her back down...he'll know you're not hurting them and will probably accept it without attack. I handle my hens regularly, pick them up keeping everyone calm and putting them back down pretty after just a few minutes, in front of the rooster and he keeps watch but accepts it without too much concern. Works for me, but keep your eyes peeled and a check on your emotions around him.

Quote:
I'm going to agree here with aart. Being calm, confident, cautious and consistent is the very best way to deal with impressionable cockerels.

Everyone deals with roosters differently, has different experiences, and has different ideas on how to deal with behaviors. We have found fear inducing treatments just do not work for our situation. We only want friendly roosters, so we don't have to worry about bad behavior later on, so we work with our males. Socialize daily, and always monitor them anyway.

We have many roosters... but, the first thing and main thing I usually do is calmly and gently make sure everyone is calm when they are being held and put back down after being held. Speak calmly and softly, so they have to stop fussing to hear what you say. I also put cockerels all in with a stable, well-balanced adult rooster. And this helps. We've only had one male early on that was a hand biter. He was a hatchery PR RIR. He tested us during his juvie stage, but, outgrew the phase once he realized biting didn't faze us. He never escalated as everyone stayed calm and never rewarded that behavior, nor reacted with fear. He never learned to act reactive and fearful. Again, some would disagree, I'm just letting you know what's worked for us.

To me, I also think it may be possible your male may possibly be showing interest in you for attention... and you might not realize that is what he possibly may be doing, as most roosters are not generally known to be seeking attention. Usually the males who have the best, and gentle looking eye contact with me are the ones who are most often the friendliest. When he's coming for treats during the swarm he is showing he likes the positive interaction. He may just be unsure of you, or the rake, etc.

Some roosters actually seek attention... like the poster's rooster who rooster follows them like a puppy and looks in the window. I bet he is a really sweet rooster who probably looks forward to their interactions. Friendly roosters are not usually the norm, so often times this behavior can be mistaken if he hasn't been well socialized. But, if he likes you, but, is fearful, he may do experimental pecks or tugs on your clothing to get your attention. (Just a possibility to rule out.) We have one male who is right now crowing at the back door for treats, lol. He may be training me... but, he is communicating- in his way.

We have a few that will asked to be picked up. There is one freeranger who will tug on your pantleg, and sometimes accidentally grab your skin. My husband occasionally swats at this male, but, I ask him to refrain and not teach him that he should be afraid, as the rooster's not showing aggressive behavior... actually the opposite. He's friendly, sociable, affectionate, and enjoys occasional companionship of humans. How do I know? You hold him, he closes his eyes, smiles, and falls asleep. It's trustful. And I can take him in any pen even with males without their acting up.

However, any male that wing dances around you or offers fake tidbits is one that should be very closely monitored- a male like this is a completely different story. Also, some aggressiveness can be genetic, but honestly, I don't think I'm hearing that here.

I'm just perhaps suggesting, try occasionally gently picking your boy up and talk soothingly to him, after a bit, gently put him down facing away from you. Offer him a treat. See how he reacts. A balanced rooster should walk off a few steps, then, come back and take the treat, or, offer it to his girls, and hope for more. lol Anyone who wing dances, or, tidbits is not well balanced. If he doesn't respond, or escalates, or becomes aggressive, rehome (to someone experienced, fully knowing the situation) or culled.

Just be very careful and watchful.

I've had fully grown "wild" unsocialized roosters, and within a short time are friendly. He may surprise you.

 

[cafrhe]

Wow, One Chick--lots of good info.

While birds are new to me (as an adult-had chickens and took care of them as a kid), I have worked with animals all my life and am pretty good at reading them. I dont want to be too sure because of my lack of experience....but I think he is going to be ok. He is less interested in watching me than he was at first. He will come up immediately when we go outside, but he had to have learned that from the girls--now he leads them up rather than them leading him up. He is very good (so far) with his girls--he does find them treats and calls them to good stuff.

Right now I am reading his interest as curiosity with some assessment. I think if I dont mess with the girls, he will be ok. He is ok if we pick them up and they are calm, but gets agitated if they are able to flap. He doesnt dance for me or offer me treats. He will dance for a girl in my presence--maybe 10-20 feet from me. If I am close enough, I interrupt him. He will yield to me every time I walk him away--and I make sure he keeps moving if it looks like he is thinking about it.

With out cornering him and really scaring him, I dont think I can pick him up. I stroked him a few times this evening when he was on the roost (they are going in pretty early, still light out). He was not happy and if I pushed it, he would have gotten off the roost. I may try a little of that more often to see if he can get used to it. Maybe see what he thinks of offered treats too. When we first got him, my daughter tried to give him treats and touch him, and he was upset by the attention. Would eat treats off the ground, but never from her hand.

I took a pic of him today--Here he is with his new tail

 

[KGreene]

You've received some great advice here...and it works!! My BR roo was a complete little gentleman until the hormones kicked (as was I and my four sons as teenagers), he attempted to show me he was in charge on several occassions, I simply caught him in the act, picked him up and carried him around with me in front of his girls for 5-10 minutes and gently put him down. I had to do this about 4 - 5 times and he finally got the message. I never walk around him ( I make him get out of my way). He does still (and always has) stood around and watched me, but I honestly think that he's just very inquisitive. I wouldnt say he's now a perfect gentleman as he sometimes comes out of the coop or run with his chest all puffed out but never tries anything. I think he's just trying to show off for the girls as if to say, "look at me ladies!...I could kick this guys ***** if I wanted...But I just don't feel like it right now!! so I won't". Overall he's a really good rooster now.

With previous roos I gave back as good (or better) than I got (in terms of being aggressive) with an aggressive roo, to show him who was boss. Which turned out to be only a challenge to them. An invitation to try it again and, completely defeated the purpose.

Just my two cents. Good luck!

 

[aart]

"Right now I am reading his interest as curiosity with some assessment."

Sounds like a good description.

He is gorgeous.....looks to be a specimen of the 'heritage' Barred Rock with the tighter barring.

 

[cafrhe]

Thanks everyone for all the thoughts!

Aart--Even though I wanted a RIR rooster (if we even got a roo), a friend had 2 males and offered one to us. He was free and we figured-why not. We picked "Mario" because he looked pure bred, the other may have been an EE, not sure. We have BO, RIR, red star and EE hens (not from a hatchery, but not positive if they are 'heritage'). While we mainly sell eggs, we will hatch some eggs and see what we get. I am particularly interested in the cross between him and the RS. They are the best layers, but lay enormous eggs. I would prefer a more normal Lg or even XL egg. Maybe their chicks will get us more what we want.