OUCH! My rooster bit me!!! *UPDATE PG. 2*

[FlockEweFarm]

Red, It is really, really HARD to get ahold of my roosters beak! He pecked the snot outta me half a dozen times while I was trying to get ahold of him, so I finally just thumped on the head and sat there holding him for about a half hour, which really seemed to annoy him to no end. Good thing is, I know hes not totally blind in the eye my mean little daughter hit him in yesterday.

While he was injured, the two other roosters took the chance, and now I have Dan and Gaylord as boss roosters(Astrolorpes), and that wont do, because Dan beats up on the hens and is a coward when it comes to defending them, and Gaylord...welll, he isnt very roostery, except for beating up on Strangle(BPR) and Tilt(BC), doesnt even crow, and he acts strange for a rooster, I thought he was a hen until he started growing spurs and getting a bigger comb and wattles. How do I help Strangle, with his new vison issue, get back in top position, without axing Dan and Gaylord, yet?

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
I don't really know of a way for him to regain his alpha position until he recovers, but once he does he will deal with them on his own terms and most likely regain his position.

Of course you could relegate Dan and Gaylord to a bachlor pen...

 

[okiemommy]

You do know RIR roos are not well known as nice guys?

I had no idea about that either....I was told that the RIR breed is known for it's gentleness...I guess that doesnt apply to roosters.​

 

[Beekissed]

Mine is not aggressive. Only had to remind him a couple of times who brings home the food! In all fairness, he was only "defending" his harem against the giant in the coop....I didn't carry him around but he got the message alright and seems smart enough to avoid further conflict!

 

[Sparrow]

My sweet EE cockerel, Sparrow, has tried biting me a couple times over the past week. He is about 12 weeks, and I expected that kind of behaviour to start around that age. He is totally dysfunctional with all the other chickens except his EE girlfriend, Rizzo. They live in a cage together in my house for now. I would like to build them a pen outside at some point, but they are happy together. He absolutely LOVES to be cuddled, and once last week I blocked the door of his cage with my hand when I was feeding to keep him from coming out. I was in a rush, but he was so angry about it he gave me a mean look and bit me with the tip of his beak. Just the tip, but then he stood there clamped on to the back of my hand and glowering at me with one eye. lol It only hurt a little, and I found it humorous. I didn't let him know that, though, so I grabbed his beak, pulled it off of me, and "pecked" him on the noggin all in one motion. He was startled! Then, I put my hand on his back and made him lay down(he didn't fight much) before I took him out of his cage and carried h im around a bit. Then, I petted him and put him back in, and then continued trying to feed him. He didn't act up at all that time.

He also tried to bite me because I noticed that he had pulled a strip of toilet paper into his cage(no idea where he even found it!) and was madly in love with it. I went to tak a piece of it out that had gotten grody, but he jumped up, squealed, and bit me. He held on to my hand again, and I treated him the same way that I did before. He relented, I took the gross piece out, and then gave him an extra strip later. lol

Most roosters will go through a period of trying to be big and bad. It's in their nature. But I believe that they can be effectively trained to control it, if not entirely then enough so that they are pleasant to be around usually.

 

[Guitartists]

Hmmm..... that explains why my RIR x EE Stewpot is well,...named Stewpot

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
I completely agree with you here Sparrow! It is a matter of not backing down and showing them who is the alpha and who is not. That's exactly why Mr. Rhodey and myself had a nice long walk when it was pretty much dark outside!

I think he got the message last night. If not, his beak is mine next time!

 

[smom1976]

does this work with hens too.. I have a pullet that doesnt come around me at all like the other ladies do.. well occasionally I catch her and hang on for a while then let her go. she does at least come wiht the group now when I come in for feed.. she squaks and tries to peck a bit when I pick her up. She is the only one out of 16

 

[gumpsgirl]

I went outside this earlier, walked up right in front of Rhodey and picked one of the hens that was in front of him up. Of course she squawked and flapped, but guess what?!?! He just cocked his head to the side, looked at me, turned around and walked out of the coop! Maybe he got the message last night that his behavior was a no, no. I sure am hoping so. I really do like that boy and would hate to have to get rid of him.