Pet Chicken, Attitude Adjustment ADVICE needed

[franklinstreetwest]

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Yeah, he sure isn't gonna win any beauty contests. He always did have that "Hunchback of Notre Dame" thing goin on. "Cugly" I really like that... it suits him.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

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Thank you for your words of encouragement!

 

[Miyashi]

I agree with Sumi about the sitting down and having a chat with him. I know that can seem strange to many people, but I've had great luck with it! (hens and roos alike!)
I had an amazing little rooster up until Sunday. He was a part time house bird. The only rooish behavior he had with me was first thing in the morning he did his "spanish dance" for me.
He calmed down after that and all was normal. He was a brat maybe once in his life, I picked him up, brought him closer to my face than I think most people would....and I told him he wasn't being a very good role model and that he should be nicer. He looked at me with that sweet little face and I believe he understood me....I believe Roo Boy understood everything I said. (I miss him like mad)
Weeble is adorable! I'm sure he'll calm down when he gets out of his teens!
Best of luck to you! It sounds like you guys really do a lot with him, I'm sure he enjoys it!
I'd love to hear more about him as time goes on. ^_^

 

[franklinstreetwest]

Too long in the house makes for a VERY dirty bird. I took him out in the garden today for a good long forage and dust bath. I dug a lot of holes and he investigated them for me. Made sure I didn't miss telling him about anything good. I planted a lot of flowers and vegetables... he made sure to taste test them all. I harvested some new potatoes, turned my back and found that he rather enjoys pecking and chasing them around the walk, LOL. As it started to get dark, he began to stay closer. It was time to go in when he sat between my feet with that "it's roost time mom" look on his face. It was a good day!

 

[franklinstreetwest]

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I do love my little roo, he's got spunk! It sounds like you Roo Boy was quite the fellow... how long was he with you?

 

[Squishypuff]

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Well said.

 

[poseygrace]

Personally, I think caponizing him and keeping him away from other chickens is more cruel than putting him outside, even if he gets beat up a bit while they sort out pecking order. I found your posts really interesting about why we domesticate animals, and I think humans should think long and hard about whether what they are doing is good for the animal, or just amusing for the human.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

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I have vetted the idea of caponizing. Though I don't find the principle any more cruel than doing it to any other more commonly sterilized animal (dogs, cats, goats, horses, etc.), I have come to the conclusion that it is a higher risk for chickens in the "pet" context. As I have gathered, it is appropriate for meat production only when a 33% mortality rate is acceptable. Weeble will keep his wobbles. I found a place that would do it, and I would pay for it... but the risk isn't worth the reward. He's not that evil of a little roo.

Sociologically, it is very interesting question... why do humans domesticate animals for purely amusement?
Companion Animals and Us: Exploring the Relationships between People and Pets ; textbook on the subject
http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Ani...1130/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1311806407&sr=8-3
And it definately bears study in different cultures. The Western cultures particularly.

It confounds logical why people keep animals of absolutely no use as pets?! I don't understand why people get dogs and then lock them outside all alone. Especially when that dog isn't serving any sort of protection or alarm purpose. Not to mention, dogs are pack animals... whatever that pack is to that dog it should not ever be forced to be seperated from it. At least for optimum happiness. Many more questions about pet ownership, even with the socially common types, come to mind. But I've already deviated from my core request; for help from people that have TRIED or SUCCEEDED in domesticating a rooster.

 

[Patricia Jane]

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Well said

 

[Pele]

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Well said

Wow, talk about different opinions! I think the OP was reacting to the nature in which the advice was offered: as an attack, not constructively. I'm going to exhibit some SERIOUS self control, and not even address how I percieved JoePa's post. (seriously, I spent half an hour writing a rant, then deleted it. Made me shaking mad). I don't want to get this thread even more off-track than it's getting.

Whew! Ok, that stuff out of the way, I think there's been a lot of good advice here. Also, I love the word Cugly and I'm officially adopting it!

I personally believe that the question about the morality of domesticating animals is a really interesting one. On one hand, that animal's genetic perogative of continued existence is ensured if it bends itself to human will and interest. On the other, you can end up with animals like Araucanas and Scottish Fold cats, who inherit lethal genes because they've been interfered with so much (please don't kill me Araucana and Scottish Fold people, I'm neither for or against them!).

I think it's entirely a personal choice, which the OP has clearly already made. It sounds like she/he is instituting a new approach that is working. Also, I think the aggression is very likely to pass after the little guy makes it out of his terrible teens.