Potentially raising my first rooster! Advice needed!

[StinkyAcres]

For the first time in 16 years I am going to give one of my cockerels a chance to stay with my flock. Having never done this before and never had experience with roosters I wanted to ask for advice to, hopefully, raise him to be a gentle and respectful roo. I know there are differing opinions on this but I'd love to hear from those who have experience raising multiple roosters.

My cockerel is currently 9 weeks old and VERY interested in being with me. I was kneeling down while doing some work on the chicken run the other day and he climbed up onto my back. He loves hopping up on my lap or my shoulder whenever he can. I don't think I want this to continue.

• How do I make sure he knows when I don't want him to do something?
• How should I being treating him when I visit the coop?
• How should I approach him for health checks, etc.?
• Is hand-feeding okay?

He is being raised with (and put in his place by) adult hens which I've read helps. Any other tips to increase the chances he'll grow up to be a good boy?

 

[nuthatched]

Ignore during the day, get him used to health checks at night.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Ignore during the day, get him used to health checks at night.

Okay, thanks. But I don't know how to ignore him when he's climbing all over me.

 

[nuthatched]

Okay, thanks. But I don't know how to ignore him when he's climbing all over me.

Don't let him do that, peck him off, hopefully he's still young enough to train out of that.

 

[SamLockwood]

Don't let him hop on your back unless you want him to think of you as a hen he can mount. I'd just stand up whenever he tries to do that and / or push him off you. I don't mind a chicken that wants to hop in my lap, but I don't care to have them on my shoulder or near my face. They sometimes get impulses to peck shiny things like eyes or earrings.

Other behaviors you want to watch out for is at some point as he matures he may "test" you by trying to chase you, herd you, or peck you. Don't ignore those as they'll escalate.

For expressing disapproval, pick literally anything you want just make sure to use consistent body language, voice tone, and cadence. My preference is to stand tall, hands on my hips and elbows out, shake my head and say "no sir!" If he persists I'll then move him out of my personal space gently but firmly with the bottom of my foot. I don't even mind if he takes a peck or two to save his ego as long as he backs off.

One posture to avoid with chickens in general and roosters in particular is leaning forward and staring at them. For one thing, you're putting your eyes in beak-range. For another, you're mimicking the "challenge" posture a rooster takes to start a fight.

You shouldn't have to do anything special when you're going about things like collecting eggs, etc, but do keep an eye on him and watch is body language. If he seems curious or relaxed, it's OK. If he starts getting agitated then have some treats ready in your pocket and try distracting him with that. Or you can simply treat him before you approach the coop and he'll be too busy stuffing his face to worry about what you're doing there.

Another trick to making friends with your rooster as he matures is if you do give treats to your flock on a regular basis, put them out so he gets to them first. He'll usually make his "tidbit" noise to the hens and act like he found this amazing stash for them. You become his buddy that helps him get laid. Otherwise if you hand out treats to the hens first he may interpret your actions as that of a potential rival and you'll have problems later.

Unless it's something dire-looking, I tend to wait until night-time to grab them for health checks / wound care / etc. They don't see well at all in dim light and they get kind of lethargic when the sun is down.

As far as "hand feeding" goes, if you can manage to do that without getting pecked then kudos to you. I have one rooster that eats like a jack-hammer and my alpha rooster is too shy with people to get that close to someone.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Don't let him hop on your back unless you want him to think of you as a hen he can mount. I'd just stand up whenever he tries to do that and / or push him off you. I don't mind a chicken that wants to hop in my lap, but I don't care to have them on my shoulder or near my face. They sometimes get impulses to peck shiny things like eyes or earrings.

Other behaviors you want to watch out for is at some point as he matures he may "test" you by trying to chase you, herd you, or peck you. Don't ignore those as they'll escalate.

For expressing disapproval, pick literally anything you want just make sure to use consistent body language, voice tone, and cadence. My preference is to stand tall, hands on my hips and elbows out, shake my head and say "no sir!" If he persists I'll then move him out of my personal space gently but firmly with the bottom of my foot. I don't even mind if he takes a peck or two to save his ego as long as he backs off.

One posture to avoid with chickens in general and roosters in particular is leaning forward and staring at them. For one thing, you're putting your eyes in beak-range. For another, you're mimicking the "challenge" posture a rooster takes to start a fight.

You shouldn't have to do anything special when you're going about things like collecting eggs, etc, but do keep an eye on him and watch is body language. If he seems curious or relaxed, it's OK. If he starts getting agitated then have some treats ready in your pocket and try distracting him with that. Or you can simply treat him before you approach the coop and he'll be too busy stuffing his face to worry about what you're doing there.

Another trick to making friends with your rooster as he matures is if you do give treats to your flock on a regular basis, put them out so he gets to them first. He'll usually make his "tidbit" noise to the hens and act like he found this amazing stash for them. You become his buddy that helps him get laid. Otherwise if you hand out treats to the hens first he may interpret your actions as that of a potential rival and you'll have problems later.

Unless it's something dire-looking, I tend to wait until night-time to grab them for health checks / wound care / etc. They don't see well at all in dim light and they get kind of lethargic when the sun is down.

As far as "hand feeding" goes, if you can manage to do that without getting pecked then kudos to you. I have one rooster that eats like a jack-hammer and my alpha rooster is too shy with people to get that close to someone.

Thanks much! That is the info I am looking for. Very good to know about throwing treats to distract him and feeding him first. I do pretty much all health checks at night - I was mainly wondering how best to approach him and where to put my hand first, if it even matters. Normally I put my hand on their backs to keep them from moving too much while I check their crops, etc. on the roost.

 

[Folly's place]

I want my cockerels to move out of my path, and spend their time and attention on their flockmates, and looking out for danger. I don't hand feed, or want any birds in my lap or definitely not jumping on me!
Here, cockerels who are too 'interested' in humans aren't 'friendly', they are bold, and often turn into 'man fighters' as they mature.
IMO, human aggression is mostly genetic, with management having some influence.
You will hear from people who cuddle their cockerels and raise nice birds, and from 'hand off' people like me who have cockerels turn into jerks.
However, having birds who think a person is a flock member, not the giant who brings food, is in trouble when the cockerels decide it's time to take over.
You might have a cockerel who decides this current behavior is a bad idea, or one who wants to eliminate you...
Most of us put up with way too much with our first rooster, and later figure out that it just isn't worth it to keep a jerk.
Mary

 

[StinkyAcres]

I want my cockerels to move out of my path, and spend their time and attention on their flockmates, and looking out for danger. I don't hand feed, or want any birds in my lap or definitely not jumping on me!
Here, cockerels who are too 'interested' in humans aren't 'friendly', they are bold, and often turn into 'man fighters' as they mature.
IMO, human aggression is mostly genetic, with management having some influence.
You will hear from people who cuddle their cockerels and raise nice birds, and from 'hand off' people like me who have cockerels turn into jerks.
However, having birds who think a person is a flock member, not the giant who brings food, is in trouble when the cockerels decide it's time to take over.
You might have a cockerel who decides this current behavior is a bad idea, or one who wants to eliminate you...
Most of us put up with way too much with our first rooster, and later figure out that it just isn't worth it to keep a jerk.
Mary

Thanks. At what age about does the aggression usually begin? It would be great to know whether or not I want to keep him by the time I butcher the other(s).

 

[redinator]

Okay, thanks. But I don't know how to ignore him when he's climbing all over me.

Maybe now I can return the favor of information

I have one chick of my older 4 ones that would do the same as your rooster. I use to let her up on my shoulder or, if I was bent over in the run she'd hang out on my back. This was all cute and funny while she was a chick, but one day while she on my shoulder, I was looking her over and she nearly pecked my eye. She also got the nasty habit of pecking at my ear.

Needless to say shoulder rides weren't allowed anymore. I just wouldn't let her on them anymore. She still likes to be held and be loved on, but if she makes a move to get on my shoulder I put her down and walk away. She figured it out pretty quick and settled for being in my lap or held in my arms.

Not sure this will work for a cockerel, because they can be a stubborn, but worth a shot.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Here are some descriptions of the breed I found. Promising!

"They are poised and confident around people, but the roosters are never aggressive toward their caretakers." https://greenfirefarms.com/swedish_flower_hen.html

"Roosters are typically very confident around all the farm hands but never aggressive." https://www.bressefarms.com/store/p...om/chicks--juveniles--starter-birds.html.html

"Roosters are good protectors yet gentle and kind to their hens and are friendly and not aggressive to their humans." https://www.redbrickroost.com/swedish-flower-hens