Pet Chicken, Attitude Adjustment ADVICE needed

[epeloquin]

Quote:
I found your answer to be much more than advice. In fact you didn't offer advice, you told her she needed an attitude adjustment and that she should put the bird outside where he "belongs". Then you tipped your hand by stating you would not "keep a songbird in a cage or a fish in a tank...purely for my pleasure and enjoyment". You took the request for advice on how to manage a cockerel to foist your personal philosophy on them. To tell someone they need an attitude adjustment because keeping a cockerel indoors doen't fit your paradigm is hubris. In fact, your own philosophy is a bit inconsistent. It is wrong to keep a songbird in a cage or a fish in a tank but it isn't wrong to keep chickens in your yard? If we take your philosophy to its logical conclusion then we should just return all chickens to the jungle.

Mankind has a long history of domesticating animals. In many cases the domesticated animals readily accept man into their societal structure - chickens included. There are multitudes of people who have chickens that enjoy living in their homes, even prefer it to living outdoors. I suspect that franklinstreet is like virtually everyone in this forum and she loves her chooks and if this fellow can't adjust then I suspect he will be put outside.

It is sad that when someone asks for advice you spring upon them telling them they need an attitude adjustment and that they're wrong for having the bird indoors and then bristle when called out for being rude.

 

[Beekissed]

All advice is individual opinion gained from experience~if someone asked you for advice on what tires to buy they could only tell you their experience with a certain brand and how it has served them or has not. You might also give advice on a tire NOT to buy based on a poor personal experience with it. Either way it is still advice and it is still your own opinion on a subject. You could offer advice on something you read about said subject and this would be someone else's opinion.

The use of the phrase "attitude adjustment" was derived from the title of the post and only served to show that a roo acting like a roo doesn't need an attitude adjustment...he isn't necessarily displaying any type of attitude and is merely being what he is. Attitude is defined as disposition or opinion, etc. in this context and I was merely suggesting that they might change their opinion or disposition towards this roo's behavior as even something that needed changing.

If the response was considered as "bristling", then I can only say you seem to be highly sensitive to imagined aggression....as the OP seems to be with a roo being a roo needing an "attitude adjustment". He is what he is and advice is merely just that...to be taken or left without feeling put out if the advice was not what you wanted to hear. Opinions vary and that is life.

 

[FLchook]

Get him an old lazy dog

I have a semi house chicken... and he has just entered into his "teens" He is literally using my dogs head!!!!

Champ will just be sleeping, Ugly Boy sneeks up behind, jumps up, grabs hold of his ear and does his deed...

Champ jump just lays there and takes it

He was brought in the house after being torn up by our other rooster. If he tries to get near the other hens, they all chase him off. Poor guy so frustrated.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

Quote:
Eloquently put. Your observation is much appreciated.

We are a small flock here, and have limited options. I suppose there is always the option to just dispose of him. He is JUST a chicken afterall (please read sarcasm between those lines)! I "disposed" of a group of cockerals by selling them at a local auction. I was torn by the decision, but chose practical over sentimental. One could argue that my hens are more sentimental than practical themselves. I did not choose production layers, and I have no intent on eating them when they cease to be of "use". They are for my company and amusement (and they emit great fertilizer and provide eggs when not broody). This "worthless" little roo still has one up on the indoor cats and dog... he poops useable fertilizer, though I love my four leggers too. If he does turn out to be dangerously unmanageable, then I will consider feesible alternatives that preserve quality of life. Domestication is afterall selection and carefull adjustment to condition something to an enviornment imposed by humans.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

Quote:

My dog, Briar, is pretty old. She is being VERY tolerant, and surprisingly not aggressive (sigh of relief). But I'm not gonna push her that far. Briar was raised on the dog show circuit and came to me after she retired at the age of 11. She has never been around chickens or even cats much.

I LOVE that your dog is so patient with your horny young guy!!! Too bad that he is exiled, must be hard on a young stud... But what do ya do, right?
Thank you for sharing that!!!

 

[franklinstreetwest]

This idea of caponizing has really peaked my interest. If it had the effect of lessening the dominant and territorial tendancies like it does in dogs and cats, that would be worth the effort. I spent some time trying to track down a forward thinking avian DVM that worked on some of my mother's fowl. He had a rooster that he worked with designers to create a prosthetic leg for, worked with
4-H kids (the reason I remember him) and amputated a wing for my mother's peacock, etc... He is an "out of box" thinker when it comes to birds. I found that he moved to Chicago. They actually do acupuncture at his clinic!! Talk about thinking alternatively. I emailed him and hope he can advise me in regard to caponization. I also called Michigan State University Poultry Sciences building and a couple local Vets. I'm waiting for the right people to be in the office.

In the meantime, I am trying to be alpha by firmly forcing Weeble to the ground in a "laying down" position, whenever I approach him. After holding him at the base of the neck, I stroke and coo and talk to him. After I release, there seems to be an appropriate period of time in his perception that he should remain submissive, then he gets up and is affectionate. Then I repeat the behavior when he tests it again. He is the happiest when we garden together... no worries, no conflict, just lots of chatter and dust bathes!! No surprise there really, just a little chicken being a little chicken. In contrast to the let an animal do as it wishes, Pudge my cat, is happiest when she can roam around outside. But she came from a home where the folks would drive around her slowly when she layed in the dirt road. She would still be happy laying in the road, but I live in the city and that just isn't the safest place for her. So I don't let her follow her bliss.

I love hearing everyones' roo stories and experiences!! If you care to share, keep 'em coming. They provide great insight.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

Here is Weeble, my little outcast.

 

[JoePa]

Now girls - let an old rooster settle this - the OP asked for advice - she got it - but it wasn't the kind she wanted - called it rude - well it wasn't rude - it was someone's advice - people have different opinions - some think keeping a chicken in the house is nuts - some don't - some think that Weeble is cute - I think he's ugly- see how we think differntely - but we shouldn't get mad if someone thinks differently - remember "keep a stiff upper lip" , John Wayne

 

[Pele]

Quote:
Aw, he's soooo sweet! Roosters are harder than hens to turn into house chickens, but it is doable! Since your rooster is young, you could try something that I've always done with my birds to reinforce my dominance and my bond with them.

Every bird I've had gets held a lot (which you are obviously doing), but they ALSO get turned onto their backs and held a few minutes several times a day. This is a suuuper vulnerable and submissive position for them, and they hate it at first. But I am sure to be gentle and stroke their bellies to show them that I won't hurt them (I also talk soothingly to them the entire time). This starts establishing your dominance from day one with them. Every day that they get put into that position shows that you have power over them (dominant), but won't hurt them. This establishes lots of trust with your birds, and more importantly, lots of respect.

Roosters in particular respond to fear and lack of respect with attacks and violence, so you have to establish both with them. If you make him afraid of you with hitting, spraying, etc, he'll start doing sneak attacks. If you don't establish dominance, however, he'll try to regulate your behavior as a subordinate.

I personally am very against caponizing unless as a last resort. Because in 99% of the cases, you do not have a vet near you that has ever done the proceedure. The surgery is an invasive and risky one because of the location of the organs to be removed. It involves anesthesia, which is risky for birds because of how their lungs work. Also, the organs (trying to be family friendly) are deep inside and near the spine. Not something you want someone who's never done the proceedure before to try to your beloved pet.

However, if your rooster truely cannot function outside, and ends up with uncorrectable behavior problems, caponizing might be the only alternative. It is a big risk to his life, but its better than being forced to stewpot the poor thing.

I hope that helps clarify things for you. Don't let anyone get you down about trying to do the best for the animals you love. Chickens have been domesticated animals for thousands of years, and are far removed from their wild origins.

 

[sumi]

I adopted a little rooster chick when he was 1 day old. He lived in the house, went EVERYWHERE with us, even the beach, grew into a lovely boy and got placed outside with the other chickens when he was old enough. I then adopted 2 chicks, both roo's, who didn't go everywhere with us, but grew up in the house and went outside when they started crowing 05:00 in the morning. Am NOT a morning person. Then I adopted 2 more chicks, a roo and finally a hen.

They grew up, went outside with the others. And so on, 5 more chicks, one more roo. Raised in our house. No problems. Poo everywhere, food on the kitchen floor, yes, it happens. Apart from crowing at inconvenient times and one roo that got a bit aggresive for a short period I had no problems at all.
I let them hang out with the outside chickens and eventually they sort themselves out. My first roo is now leader of the flock and is still loving and comes to visit, but adapted to being an outside chicken.
Enjoy your lovely roo. He's really cute. If he gets funny with you sit down and talk to him. That's what I did with mine. Teenagers...