New/only chicken. When/how should I start gentling him?

[Ilovemyrooster]

I just got a rooster today. He is my only chicken and I want him to be a pet. I've done a lot of online research but wanted to know more. Anyway my questions are, how should I go about gentling him? Can roosters become good pets? I think he is about 6 months old, is he to old to tame? He hasn't been handled, though he seems sweet, just pretty skittish. Once I pick him up though he will sit in my lap sweetly. He is also very talkative

 

[Alleyoops25]

The best way to tame a chicken is to handle it. Pack him around, pet him and love him wether he wants you to or not. You can also spoil him by giving him red apples, tomatos, watermelon. Things that he cant resist. Start by tossing it in the pen and then sitt and let him get used to the idea that you aint gonna eat him. Before you know it he will be running up and demanding you talk to him.

Have fun with him , and god luck

 

[ozark hen]

welcome to the best forum on line! Sorry, I can't help you but wanted to welcome you. I got my rooster at age six months. He comes right up to me and has taken food from my hand now but doesn't let me pet him. He is a light brahma, and my avatar is his photo.

 

[missusduray]

Treats, bribery will get you everywhere. Boil an egg and crumble the egg yolk and give it to him out of your hand. While he is eating try to touch him on his neck and see how he likes it. Repeat every 3 days or so and make sure that you talk to him and pay a lot of attention to him. chickens are social creatures and do not like to be alone. Maybe someone else has other ideas for you.
Kristyne

 

[SpottedCrow]

It depends on the kind of rooster...Leghorns and Polish tend to be flighty and nervous wrecks.
Orps, RIR's, Rocks and Brahmas seems to be very tame.
Start by holding him and petting him.
Handling a bird will make him used to you. Food is a VERY good incentive.
I'd start by talking to him every time you go by where he is. Call his name and say pretty bird or something in a soothing voice.
Next would be putting your hand in his cage. If he backs up, step away and try again later.
Then let him come out on his own. He'll be curious enough to look around.
This works with caged pet birds.

 

[4H kids and mom]

Well, 6 months is a little old, but not impossible. However, my first thought is how lonely your 1 chicken will be. Chickens are very social critters, and they really should at least one other chicken buddy to do chicken things with. Maybe you could get him a friend? He might be alot less skittish if you get a more tame chicken, too.

You can sure try to tame him down, but if he's never really been handled I'm not sure how that would play out. I would say that if you are his only source of complanionship, he MAY bond with you and allow you near him without running off. BUT....he may be so afraid of humans that he may fly off in search of other chickens, if he came from a farm with lots of chickens. Or he may prove me wrong on all counts and give in and melt in your arms, though I've never seen that happen with an older roo thats never been handled.

I have several quite tame roos, but they have been handled since they were a day old. Even they only tolerate so much from me, or anyone else. A 6 month old may (or may not) be stuck in his ways. At any rate, if you've just aquired him then now is the time to start taming him if you are to have any chance at it at all. Start by figuring out what his "all time fave" treat is, and toss some to him. Gradually toss them closer and closer to you so he has to come closer to you to get his treats. Do this over a few days, a week, or more depending on how he takes to it. He will begin to associate you with good things. Once you can get to the point where he sees you and comes running to see what you might have for him, try offering the treat on your hand, or see if you can touch or pet him while he pecks at the treats on the ground. Once he gets to a point where you can touch him easily, try sliding your hand underneath him but do NOT try to pick him up yet! Now get him to a point where you can slide both hands under him while he eats his treats and then gently lift him a few inches off the ground and set him back down. Continue on until you can lift him up and hold him. Be sure to keep a GOOD distance between his face and yours, as roos are nasty with eyes! (Trust me! I've seen it!)

You will probably never get him to a "super friendly" roo, but you can probably get him to tolerate being held for short periods and even carried around a bit. He may even take treats from you.