Preparing Daughter for a Roo

[RobertaD1]

My daughter is 6 1/2. She is very livestock savvy. She has no fear... which makes me have to watch her harder, UGH.... but she will jump right in with large livestock. My brother shows/judges hogs.... she gets right in there with him and brushes, feeds, drives..... like a champ. At my moms, gets right in with her miniature donkeys. Climbs right on the gate to pet my uncles horses... makes me buy a bag of apples to feed them. Shes a natural born farm girl! She has stepped up, and really taken on the chores here with the girls. She gets really ticked if you feed, water, even open the door to the coop and shes not right there.
OK ... these wee hens will be great for her! Learn responsibility.... give her some chores.... make her feel, accomplished. All is right with the world. Ordered my pullets with her in mind!

Rolled the dice with first round of chicks.... 13 pullets! YEAH!!! Rolled the dice again... just 6 chicks, thats all...6....(forgot...I shouldn't gamble)
I crapped out!

As I was choring last night, got a REAL good look at my month old barnevelders.... snake eyes.... ones a roo! The Daughter does real well with all the chickens, until one of the girls pecks her legs, she's not a big fan and screams bloody murder, what will she do with this roo?

HOW do I prepare her for this rooster? We've always had a roo on the farm, even when she was little... but she wouldn't go into the coop or run. What should I do with her AND the wee roo to minimize or even eliminate attacks. I know while hes an adolescent, he will be a royal P.I.T.A. The last roo we had was an a%$#*&e! (Buff Orpington). Actually, we've not had a gentle one...LOL... They have ALL been jerks, maybe this is our time! (Remember... I shouldn't gamble). I know we could rehome him, but I sleep better with a rooster. We are predator heavy, and they have been FABULOUS protectors. So I really want to keep him.

So, how do I do this?
-I just hope there's only 1 roo... I'm questioning one of the Easter Eggers...

 

[JadeFarms]

So I have trained quite a few roosters, my neighbor mean roosters actually, so they could be tame. I suggest hand feeding, so he associates you with food. Try not to chase him when you need to catch him. When you hand feed him pick him up a couple times so he gets used to you, and see if your daughter will pet him and hold him too so he is used to her too. I know that some people have different opinions, some say not to hold them, but I have always had success when handling them in a calm way.

 

[RobertaD1]

So I have trained quite a few roosters, my neighbor mean roosters actually, so they could be tame. I suggest hand feeding, so he associates you with food. Try not to chase him when you need to catch him. When you hand feed him pick him up a couple times so he gets used to you, and see if your daughter will pet him and hold him too so he is used to her too. I know that some people have different opinions, some say not to hold them, but I have always had success when handling them in a calm way.

That sounds reasonable... especially since they are so young!
Ive read the article about "talking their language" but thats for older roo's... and hopefully my older hens will teach him manners.

 

[JadeFarms]

That sounds reasonable... especially since they are so young!
Ive read the article about "talking their language" but thats for older roo's... and hopefully my older hens will teach him manners.

Yea, If you start seeing aggression, it could just be him getting to that breeding age. But I do that with my two roosters still and they are sweeter than all my girls.

 

[RobertaD1]

Really need advice now... There will be NO dark eggs on this farm this year.... BOTH barnevelders are roos.... ugh.........

 

[JadeFarms]

Really need advice now... There will be NO dark eggs on this farm this year.... BOTH barnevelders are roos.... ugh.........

You can look on Craigslist and find a barnevelder hen? Marans also lay dark eggs too if you wanna look into those also.

 

[RobertaD1]

Yea, If you start seeing aggression, it could just be him getting to that breeding age. But I do that with my two roosters still and they are sweeter than all my girls.

I may do that I've never had 2 roos.... thank heaven I have the room!

 

[aart]

The Daughter does real well with all the chickens, until one of the girls pecks her legs, she's not a big fan and screams bloody murder, what will she do with this roo?

Oh, that's not a good sign.
Fear Factor needs to be overcome.

 

[RobertaD1]

Oh, that's not a good sign.
Fear Factor needs to be overcome.

I completely... and 100% agree with you! She HAS gotten better.... but we arent there yet. Part of me hopes that in my training of the boys... and I WILL work their wee butts off... they will ignore her. The girls on the other hand... wont leave her alone. It almost ridiculous! Ex... I wrapped her trampoline with fencing so the girls could "mow" under the tramp. Ran my tunnel, and as they do their work, they talk to my daughter as she moves around on top. Not even freaked out... well, until she REALLY gets jumping.
So... you can see why I would be heartbroken if she would not help anymore....

 

[aart]

Pecking birds....
This might give her an upper hand and help in understanding that pecking is how they communicate, and that she can 'talk back to them'.

Have had this happen several times, mostly with hand fed chicks often as they come of age and get spunky. It's pretty easily curbed with calm and deliberate determination.

I peck them back, on the head or anywhere I can reach, with the tips of thumb and first 2 fingers, as hard and fast as many times as I can before they get away. Well, not hard enough to hurt them, just startle them and let them you mean business. That's what another chicken would do, so they understand that kind of communication.

If that doesn't work after a couple applications, I hold them down to the ground with my hand on their back until they submit....again firmly enough to get the job done but not hurt them....add a few finger pecks and/or tug on the feathers on the back of their neck.