New Rooster Drama / Help Request

[Radian]

Hey Folks,

Couple quick questions. We have 6 tame 2 year old hens , the kind that if you don't watch where you walk you will step on. Basically pets. We now have a new , young and nervous rooster. He isn't feral just isn't a "pet" yet. The fact the hens aren't "accepting" him yet (lots of chasing, no injury) probably doesn't help.

With a 5 month old bird is feeding and sitting with them the best way to get a calm and friendly pet that can be picked up without a feather dropping chase? I assume catching and handling is counterproductive now. We're taking the lots of mealworms approach.

The 6 hens are "adjusting" I assume the rooster will one day be a rooster and stop sleeping in the nesting boxes because the hens bully him off the roost.

This nesting box sleeping makes a messy bird, I assume a little "dirty" undercarriage is not a health risk and bathing him would not help with the goal of calm domestic tranquility...
Thanks in advance, Radian.

 

[DobieLover]

Hey Folks,

Couple quick questions. We have 6 tame 2 year old hens , the kind that if you don't watch where you walk you will step on. Basically pets. We now have a new , young and nervous rooster. He isn't feral just isn't a "pet" yet. The fact the hens aren't "accepting" him yet (lots of chasing, no injury) probably doesn't help.

With a 5 month old bird is feeding and sitting with them the best way to get a calm and friendly pet that can be picked up without a feather dropping chase? I assume catching and handling is counterproductive now. We're taking the lots of mealworms approach.

The 6 hens are "adjusting" I assume the rooster will one day be a rooster and stop sleeping in the nesting boxes because the hens bully him off the roost.

This nesting box sleeping makes a messy bird, I assume a little "dirty" undercarriage is not a health risk and bathing him would not help with the goal of calm domestic tranquility...
Thanks in advance, Radian.
View attachment 1635657

He's young and the hens will not just accept him until he matures.
Either provide him a roost away from the girls (and at a slightly lower height) or expect to keep cleaning out the nest box he sleeps in at night until the girls accept him and allow him to roost with them.
As long as they are not being relentless and constantly bloodying him, let them work things out. Be grateful he isn't attacking you!

 

[Ducksandchickens]

He's young and the hens will not just accept him until he matures.
Either provide him a roost away from the girls (and at a slightly lower height) or expect to keep cleaning out the nest box he sleeps in at night until the girls accept him and allow him to roost with them.
As long as they are not being relentless and constantly bloodying him, let them work things out. Be grateful he isn't attacking you!

 

[Radian]

Thanks,

No injury, and no aggression towards us. They all get along during the day and he was kept apart for a week.

Now he only gets pushed off the roost, no real danger to him.

You guys think feeding is better than handling to end up with a docile bird. I don't want a bird that I can't handle but don't need to fight that battle now.

 

[DobieLover]

Thanks,

No injury, and no aggression towards us. They all get along during the day and he was kept apart for a week.

Now he only gets pushed off the roost, no real danger to him.

You guys think feeding is better than handling to end up with a docile bird. I don't want a bird that I can't handle but don't need to fight that battle now.

I don't handle my cockerel unless for health checks/maintenance. He doesn't like it and it will not serve to 'tame' him. The cockerel/rooster mind does not work that way no matter what you may read to the contrary. Some of the boys enjoy being handled but I think most hate it. It all depends on the individual.
As long as he is being respectful of you and the girls I would just keep an eye on his development. I would strongly recommend NOT trying to make a pet out of him but let him do his job of watching over the girls. You'll have to see how inclined he is to doing his job after he matures a bit more.
How old are your girls?

 

[Radian]

I don't handle my cockerel unless for health checks/maintenance. He doesn't like it and it will not serve to 'tame' him. The cockerel/rooster mind does not work that way no matter what you may read to the contrary. Some of the boys enjoy being handled but I think most hate it. It all depends on the individual.
As long as he is being respectful of you and the girls I would just keep an eye on his development. I would strongly recommend NOT trying to make a pet out of him but let him do his job of watching over the girls. You'll have to see how inclined he is to doing his job after he matures a bit more.
How old are your girls?

Year and a half or so on the hens age. Only time there are issues is roosting. He isn't really acting like a rooster yet either.. Thanks for the info.

 

[Geena]

My most well mannered roosters were raised up from a young age by older hens. I think a little bit of "henpecking" is good for them at that age, keeps them in check. Give him a month or so and he'll be up on the roost with his new lady friends.

 

[getaclue]

He's a cockerel, NOT a hen. Big difference. Don't try to tame him too much. Instead, when you enter the coop, walk straight up to him, and get him moving away from you a little. Then proceed with coop chores, or whatever. Occasionally, not daily, grab him, pick him up, and check him over. Pet him, gently stroke between his ear, and waddle. They like that. Then in a couple minutes, put him back down. He's showing no aggression at this point, and you would like to keep it that way. By walking towards him, like you're going past him, and he has to get out of your way, tells him you are the alpha, in a way he can understand it.

Hopefully, you will never have any issues, but if you are going to have some aggression, it will probably be around the time he begins to mate. Like any teenager, he will have more hormones than good sense. That is the stage when cockerels start to feel their oats, and try to challenge the alpha. I like to keep a "rooster stick" nearby. A "rooster stick can be a long thin tree branch, a 1 x 2 x 6, a broom handle without the broom, a kid's plastic baseball bat, etc. Do NOT use the bristled end of a broom, or a garden tool. You are not trying to injure the bird. The main purpose of a "rooster stick" is to extend your reach. IF, and only if he ever challenges you, the very first time, grab the rooster stick, walk up to him, and TAP under his tail feathers. Get him moving out of your way, and keep him moving. Every time he stops, get him moving again. Do this for about 3 - 5 minutes, and pay attention to his panting, and don't overdo it. Now go water the chickens, and feed them. When he tries to approach the feed, tamp the rooster stick on the ground, or tap his butt. Do not let him eat with the hens for a few minutes, and while you are with the hens. When you go to leave, and are away from the hens, he may go eat, and be with the hens. Do this for at least a week.

After doing this a couple days, pay attention to his posture, after you first enter, and get him moving out of your way. When he stops, is he giving you stink eye, or just looking at you? Is he coming to rest on both legs, or is he doing the shoulder lean? If so, keep chasing a bit more. When he gets to where you can come in, he moves out of the way, and resumes normal activity, then he will be fine. Like I said previously, continue this for at least a week, and little longer if needed. Once they move out of your way, come to a stop, and resume normal activity, you don't have to keep them moving with the stick. A few days later, you may begin letting him eat with his ladies too. A friend of mine had to do this with one of her cockerels for about 3 weeks, before he finally would move away, and resume normal activity without giving stink eye, or shoulder lean. He was a stubborn little cuss, but worth all her effort in the long run. She's never had anymore trouble out of him. On the rare occasion that I have had a cockerel challenge me, and yes it has happened, I can usually get them under control within a week. Yes, I pick mine up at least once a week to examine them for mites, weight loss, etc. I do have 1 rooster that loves to snuggle, but there's secret to it. I have to pick him up, and walk away from his ladies. If they are nearby, he has to act all macho, but when I walk away from them, he is a snuggle bug. Crazy rooster!

 

[Folly's place]

I don't try to make 'pets' out of my cockerels; they need to get out of my way and pay attention to the pullets, hens, and any predators. If I need to handle one of my roosters or cockerels, I pick them off their roost at night. In an emergency, maybe it would be necessary to handle one during the day, but that's unusual.
Enjoy your hens, and be glad that this youngster is ignoring you!
Mary

 

[getaclue]

I don't make pets of my cockerels, but I do pick them up at least once a week. I check them over for mites/lice, bumblefoot, weight loss, injuries, and general well being. They are not so afraid that I have trouble when I go to dust them, worm them, bathe, and get them ready to show.