NY chicken lover!!!!

[horsekeeper]

Hi -- great to have information from the 1800's....so was wondering....how do you tame a mean chicken or rooster? I have a 9 month old buff cochin bantam rooster and he has been great until just recently....he "attacks" me when I feed him and his (2) girls....maybe it has something to do with been "cooped up" with this terrible winter we are having....I do open the coop door every few days when the temperature goes above 25 degrees - (I live in upstate NY) but he doesn't come out....A few times I've held him up by his legs for a few minutes and he seems to calm down....any suggestions would be appreciated...Thanks so much....

These are just my thoughts from having a lot of roosters. It depends on why the rooster/cockerel is attacking. Some are just mean to the bone and persistent and the only cure is the crock pot. Even if you manage to dominate them you run the risk of an ambush when you are not looking and can get a serious injury. Others are adolescents trying to figure out who is boss and will grow out of the stupid phase to be nice boys. You need a little patience with these guys and to be firm and consistent with discipline. I like to mash them down on the ground (gently) and show them I have complete control of their movements. There is no sparring like there is if you go after them with your foot or a broom, so they have no chance to think they are going to win the fight. Sometimes I hold them with one hand around their neck (body controlled in my other arm) and get my face in theirs to explain what will happen if they don't behave. A stare down like roosters do, but with no chance to respond aggressively. Most of them realize I am a predator and decide to be polite. The ones that are too stupid to get it go in the pot. Last, some are frightened and attack to be defensive. Those tend to calm down when held and stroked while you talk softly and have turned out to be some of my best boys. Once they realize you aren't going to hurt them they improve their attitude.

I have a young cochin bantam right now who was biting and screaming every time I picked him up. I tolerated the bite and stroked his head and comb until he let go. After about 3 times he decided I wasn't a predator trying to eat him and now he snuggles down and enjoys his cuddles. Your boy is probably trying to defend his girls and you will have to assess if he is scared or mean tempered. Most cochins, bantam or standard, are pretty laid back, but they go through that teenage stage at that age where they behave stupidly. Start working with him a bit and give him a chance. Love the buffs, I have a small flock of standard size buffs and a few bantam partridge and black.

 

[joycemay]

Thanks so much for your suggestions; yes, I think patience working with him is a 'must'....and he might be just acting act to see how I will react....and he is protecting his 'girls'.
Sounds like you have a farm-full of animals - that's great....thanks again....

 

[joycemay]

Hi --- thanks a bunch - appreciate your suggestion.....

 

[Kylea0219]

Welcome from Varysburg ny

 

[Glasshen]

Welcome to the new folks! It is a good bunch of people on the thread. Personally I am a bit tired of the cold. Teens are fine, sub zero is only good in freezers. My chickens would rather stay in their coop than even have the door open in the cold weather. I may look for a new home for Earl, he is the one they pick at. He is healing up nicely, so now I will look for that Rooster Booster pick no more stuff and try that. Return him to the flock and see what happens.

I have called a butcher a friend has used for those two boys and Fawn the egg eater. Unfortunately they won't be doing chickens until spring, and with only three, they will want to do mine with others...so they will be with me for a while.

Looking forward to tomorrow being a warmer day and getting outside.

 

[Gramma Chick]

So, i have a bully rooster chick...4 days old
I am literally going to wring his neck...what the heck can I do?

WOW ....he sounds like he will grow up mean too ...
Id say you have 2 choices :
Kept him separate all his life or wring his neck .
I would at least complain about him to who ever you bought him from

 

[Gramma Chick]

Hi -- great to have information from the 1800's....so was wondering....how do you tame a mean chicken or rooster? I have a 9 month old buff cochin bantam rooster and he has been great until just recently....he "attacks" me when I feed him and his (2) girls....maybe it has something to do with been "cooped up" with this terrible winter we are having....I do open the coop door every few days when the temperature goes above 25 degrees - (I live in upstate NY) but he doesn't come out....A few times I've held him up by his legs for a few minutes and he seems to calm down....any suggestions would be appreciated...Thanks so much....

Is that the little bugger ? your Avatar ?
If you only open it every few days ..
he might view you as a intrusion into his Private Space .
Coop should be opened every day...it needs to vent ...exchange fresh air
They do have a jerk stage ...He will either learn or he wont .

 

[Lapeerian]

My first V-day chick hatched tonight! Had 10 more pipped before bed!

 

[Gramma Chick]

Welcome To the Thread New Ones ! Watch Out we are all Chicken Enablers !

 

[Gramma Chick]

These are just my thoughts from having a lot of roosters. It depends on why the rooster/cockerel is attacking. Some are just mean to the bone and persistent and the only cure is the crock pot. Even if you manage to dominate them you run the risk of an ambush when you are not looking and can get a serious injury. Others are adolescents trying to figure out who is boss and will grow out of the stupid phase to be nice boys. You need a little patience with these guys and to be firm and consistent with discipline. I like to mash them down on the ground (gently) and show them I have complete control of their movements. There is no sparring like there is if you go after them with your foot or a broom, so they have no chance to think they are going to win the fight. Sometimes I hold them with one hand around their neck (body controlled in my other arm) and get my face in theirs to explain what will happen if they don't behave. A stare down like roosters do, but with no chance to respond aggressively. Most of them realize I am a predator and decide to be polite. The ones that are too stupid to get it go in the pot. Last, some are frightened and attack to be defensive. Those tend to calm down when held and stroked while you talk softly and have turned out to be some of my best boys. Once they realize you aren't going to hurt them they improve their attitude.

I have a young cochin bantam right now who was biting and screaming every time I picked him up. I tolerated the bite and stroked his head and comb until he let go. After about 3 times he decided I wasn't a predator trying to eat him and now he snuggles down and enjoys his cuddles. Your boy is probably trying to defend his girls and you will have to assess if he is scared or mean tempered. Most cochins, bantam or standard, are pretty laid back, but they go through that teenage stage at that age where they behave stupidly. Start working with him a bit and give him a chance. Love the buffs, I have a small flock of standard size buffs and a few bantam partridge and black.

Good Advice H -
here is some Rooster advice from
Beekissed

How about "how to never have a rooster attack you"?
In all my years of raising chickens, I've never had a roo that I've raised come at me. Sure, maybe one or 2 have given me the eye, but that is as far as it goes. And this is why.....I never, I mean never pick up or cuddle with a cockerel, Unless I have to for a medical reason or for safety's sake. Theirs not mine.
I always am the boss. From day one, as soon as I see that there is a cockerel I am keeping, I let it know I am the boss. If I see it looking at me oddly, or come at me a little, I start to go after it. Usually its just walking towards it & yelling. They soon learn not to even think about attacking me.
I've had Silkie roos I bought from other people, almost always be attackers. I don't know what it is about them. Napolean complex...dunno.
Anyway, it works for me. I prefer to not have a situation happen rather than have to fix it.
BTW, I do walk into my pens and all my roosters, will walk up to me, around my feet, etc. They are not really afraid of me, they just respect me. Well, that is unless I have my big net in my hands, then they all run like crazy! LO
Quote:

I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything to him. If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant ones and subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation. There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down and giving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck. No holding him down and nothing else. That's a rooster on a hen maneuver, not rooster on rooster.

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate in this picture. You are getting dominated by your bird simply because you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to be walking when a dominant is in the area. What you never see is a dominant rooster getting attacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose. So far you are losing and not even challenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive. He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner. Some people never have to go on the offensive because their movements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked your husband. Most men move more decisively than do women and children and they rarely step around a bird, but walk through them.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all. His environment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language he understands. Because they are quick on their feet and can evade you, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that will lengthen your reach by 5 ft. really helps in this. Don't use a rake or broom because they are too clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when you don't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements and walk directly towards your rooster. Move him away from the feeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leaves the coop. The stick will help you guide him. Then...wait patiently while he gets his bird mind around what just happened. He will try to come back in the coop...let him. When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim it well. If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs and keep at it until he leaves the coop once again. Repeat this process until he is too wary to come back in the coop.

Feed your hens. When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack the wall by the pop door just as he tries to enter. If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stick either smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry. Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching your hens eat. Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him. Don't worry about the hens running and getting excited when this is happening...they will get over it. This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.

When the hens have had a good tucker....leave the coop and let him come back in. Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...top roosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock. You shouldn't either. Take your stick and startle him with a smack on the floor next to him when he is least expecting it...make that bird jump and RUN. Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder and trying to get out of your way. THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together. Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands. You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need to establish that when you move, he moves...away. When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster. If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop. Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate. They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space. If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him. At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door. If he feels the need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops. He doesn't get to crow while you are there. He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along. And it can be fun if you venture into it with the right attitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly. This can work on strange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn. You rule the coop...now act like it. Carrying is for babies...you have a full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby.