nice rooster

[Ibrows127]

We have a white leghorn rooster. He is 8 weeks old. He came from a Kindergarten science class hatching and we have had him from chick. We were going to send him to freezer camp, and the kids are actually ok with it, but I feel a little bad. He is pretty tame after living with a four and six year old for weekends and the last five weeks straight. Does anybody in or near Long Island, NY want him?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry to say... the "friendly" or "nice" cockerels is more often than not a misunderstanding... they are actually confident... and learning that you or people are not a threat... which means they will (most likely) eventually decide that you are part of the harem to be controlled. They don't fear (in the chicken world this means RESPECT) you at all. Once hormones kick in... ALL bets are OFF... They only care about mating and NOT about being friends.

My personal experience says that bird needs to go to a home with plenty of cockerel/rooster experience and no kids OR freezer camp.

The first time I was told by @Mrs. K that the friendly boy was the one who would need to be processed first, I was shocked... BUT she was RIGHT! And after several months of being attacked from behind and relentlessly crowed AT, it was a relief to have him gone.

Of course every bird and situation will be unique. I would start by going hands off... no lap sitting, make sure to walk THROUGH him and NOT around him. Start teaching him some respect.

 

[Killer Tomato]

Sorry to say... the "friendly" or "nice" cockerels is more often than not a misunderstanding... they are actually confident... and learning that you or people are not a threat... which means they will (most likely) eventually decide that you are part of the harem to be controlled. They don't fear (in the chicken world this means RESPECT) you at all. Once hormones kick in... ALL bets are OFF... They only care about mating and NOT about being friends.

My personal experience says that bird needs to go to a home with plenty of cockerel/rooster experience and no kids OR freezer camp.

The first time I was told by @Mrs. K that the friendly boy was the one who would need to be processed first, I was shocked... BUT she was RIGHT! And after several months of being attacked from behind and relentlessly crowed AT, it was a relief to have him gone.

Of course every bird and situation will be unique. I would start by going hands off... no lap sitting, make sure to walk THROUGH him and NOT around him. Start teaching him some respect.

Yes, this was my experience exactly with our rooster. They're all *nice* at 8 weeks. It's a different story at 8 months or 18 months....

I wish you the best of luck in finding a home for him! I'm glad your class had a great hatching experience and am so grateful that you provided your students with such a hands on lesson of life/food/science/responsibility. Kudos to you!