Preparing Daughter for a Roo

[RobertaD1]

So, the hormones are just starting to kick in. This morning I noticed a BIT more of the "rooster stand off" than I have previously, and the crowing... wow.If it wasn't so funny, I would be annoyed. The boys will be, I THINK... 11/12 weeks, next week.
Teachers on vacation can NOT keep track of time...UGH
They are currently still being good by giving the humans a wide berth as we move around the coop to do chores. Teddy, the larger of the 2, was reprimanded this weekend by my Rhode Island Blue, Stella. ( I SWEAR I have never named chickens before my daughter...LOL). He didn't DO anything out of place towards me, but Stella... who is my constant shadow, must not have like the way he looked at me, or maybe he was just too close, because she ran his little but off. After he left the coop, she came right back to "help" me fill feeders. I guess I get lost They will follow DD still looking for treats, but keep their distance.

Now... as for the daughter......
This child will be the death of me. We have went over and over the rules this past week. She have been banned from morning feeding because we couldn't follow the rules. We have stomped, and run, and have taken to carrying the pullets around because, "she looks tired". The littles of our flock can get away when they see her in an "affectionate" mood, but the pullets that are starting to lay... well, they just squat. If I have said "put that poor chicken down" once... Ive said it 100x. So, we are being banned from the coop for a few days. She may go down to talk to them through the fence, but not in. The good news, she has been pecked and didn't scream... just pecks them back. I guess she's a one lesson at a time girl

Really, training the Cockerels is a WAY easier job than this KID!

 

[aart]

Really, training the Cockerels is a WAY easier job than this KID!

No Doubt!
Hang in there!

 

[RobertaD1]

No Doubt!
Hang in there!

Oh.. I'm hanging but just barely!
She informed her father and I 2 nights ago, that she was sick of being bossed and shes so hot, that shes going on vacation since I wont let her have any fun. (She did this at dinner, and very diplomatically I might add)
She "would go to her Uncles house for 3 weeks where he has a pool and pigs". At that moment, she got up and picked out jammies.
We still laugh at it because she didnt get emotional, just told us what was going to happen, and left us with our mouths open.
I have my hands full!

 

[Redhead Rae]

Really, training the Cockerels is a WAY easier job than this KID!

Amen to that. We are working on our 4 year old son. He likes to chase chickens. Our roosters are good, but we don’t want him to provoke them or scare the chicks half to death.

 

[RobertaD1]

After reading post after post on rooster/cockerels and children's behavior around them, and how that said behavior will instigate attacks....

I want to take a moment to THANK each and everyone for their input on how to train, not just the birds, but HOW TO TRAIN MY DAUGHTER AROUND THE FLOCK!!!!

For the most part... things are going VERY WELL! The boys are starting to behave more like a cockerel every day.... BUT, are respecting me... and the daughters space. They do not crowd her, move quickly around her, or come up to her from behind. They still watch her intently... but then, she is the bringer of good things! My prayer is they keep this attitude through their "teenager" months. With me, they wont even stay in the coop if I am working. They will watch from the door as I fill feeders or place waterers, and will come in to eat, but they haven't pushed..... yet .
( Being a high school teacher, I do at least understand teenage boys... and their hormones... and I also understand.... they WILL push me eventually. I am NOT naive enough to think they will NEVER push back... and I AM ready for that.)

My daughter is coming along. We have a discussion everyday about HOW to behave around the flock!!! She is 6... but not totally brain dead. SLOWLY she is getting it, and yes, some things need daily reminders...LOL.... BUT, overall, she moves slower while in the coop, is better about handling the hens, does not grab anyone anymore at least not in the last week...
is genuinely better. Does she remember outside of the coop... not always. But, she's a work in progress.

NOW to work on her around the tunnels!

EDITED because of development... NOT a BAD one....
After writing this post, I went out to gather eggs... I went alone. The cockerels were laying in the coop with their brooder mates. The smaller cockerel stood up and went to shake off as I approached, fluffing up feathers while giving me the side eye... in an INSTANT he was corrected and sent running out of the coop by one of the Golden Comets. They do not bully the boys... but they do NOT take their crap either. Thank goodness my girls know who fills their feeder! LOL! They can take care of the boys... I HOPEFULLY can get such a positive and quick response from my daughter...LOL!!!

 

[RobertaD1]

Today was the beginning of an interesting event. Of course it's only natural, but not in the daughters eyes! A story for another day...LOL!
Now, I'm not unaccustomed to the ways of animal husbandry, so when our biggest cockerel took hold of the pullet, I knew what was going on.... but what I havent seen before was the scolding of an older hen to the cockerel. He wasnt... particularly rough, just clumsy and the pullet did not appreciate his affections nor were they invited. Weve had roosters before and the last one was ROUGH with the hens, BUT, what I havent seen was this hens "telling off" of this cockerel. The MINUTE the pullet screamed, the hen ran over and throttled him. I was impressed! Will this "gentle" him when it comes to the mating process? He doesnt have older roosters to look to and learn from. Will the older hens guide him in how NOT to hurt the pullets? Of course, we never step in when the boys are being corrected by the hens, but it was upsetting to the daughter. (the husband and I cheered her on quietly)

As for us.... knock on wood... they have been gentleman, and I'm still very impressed! They are not treated as a pet, but not ignored... unlike the girls. He hasn't shown any aggression towards me, nor my daughter. The girls will NOT let him close to her. I also have an entourage of pullets who supervise all my doings in the coop. Neither cockerel can even get close to us.

Having a good rooster is something we have never had... so this is all very new. But then, our lead hens are "hell on wheels" and I feel if those boys want to think they are in charge one day.... they had better pay attention Now, the husband and I are not letting our guard down for one minute, both boys are watched constantly for any signs of aggression. But, are my feelings on things going well so far just in my head?

 

[Redhead Rae]

Today was the beginning of an interesting event. Of course it's only natural, but not in the daughters eyes! A story for another day...LOL!
Now, I'm not unaccustomed to the ways of animal husbandry, so when our biggest cockerel took hold of the pullet, I knew what was going on.... but what I havent seen before was the scolding of an older hen to the cockerel. He wasnt... particularly rough, just clumsy and the pullet did not appreciate his affections nor were they invited. Weve had roosters before and the last one was ROUGH with the hens, BUT, what I havent seen was this hens "telling off" of this cockerel. The MINUTE the pullet screamed, the hen ran over and throttled him. I was impressed! Will this "gentle" him when it comes to the mating process? He doesnt have older roosters to look to and learn from. Will the older hens guide him in how NOT to hurt the pullets? Of course, we never step in when the boys are being corrected by the hens, but it was upsetting to the daughter. (the husband and I cheered her on quietly)

As for us.... knock on wood... they have been gentleman, and I'm still very impressed! They are not treated as a pet, but not ignored... unlike the girls. He hasn't shown any aggression towards me, nor my daughter. The girls will NOT let him close to her. I also have an entourage of pullets who supervise all my doings in the coop. Neither cockerel can even get close to us.

Having a good rooster is something we have never had... so this is all very new. But then, our lead hens are "hell on wheels" and I feel if those boys want to think they are in charge one day.... they had better pay attention Now, the husband and I are not letting our guard down for one minute, both boys are watched constantly for any signs of aggression. But, are my feelings on things going well so far just in my head?

This is why I like keeping older girls around, they school the cockerels in the proper way of things. With a same or similar age flock the cockerels mature first and run amok trying to obey their urges while molesting pullets that aren’t ready to receive their attentions. They also keep the cockerels in check until they come into their own. Still keep a wary eye on them, but I think that the older girls can help prevent most of the unchecked aggression towards humans that you usually end up with when you have a same age flock. I think it is a lot like how young bull elephants run amok and get aggressive if there are no elders to keep them in line. Glad you are able to stay on top of things and your boys are remaining gentlemanly, towards humans anyway.

 

[RobertaD1]

This is why I like keeping older girls around, they school the cockerels in the proper way of things. With a same or similar age flock the cockerels mature first and run amok trying to obey their urges while molesting pullets that aren’t ready to receive their attentions. They also keep the cockerels in check until they come into their own. Still keep a wary eye on them, but I think that the older girls can help prevent most of the unchecked aggression towards humans that you usually end up with when you have a same age flock. I think it is a lot like how young bull elephants run amok and get aggressive if there are no elders to keep them in line. Glad you are able to stay on top of things and your boys are remaining gentlemanly, towards humans anyway.

Thank you for your reassurance! I feels like things are going the right way, I guess I just need someone to say yes, that indeed they are.

 

[aart]

Will the older hens guide him in how NOT to hurt the pullets?

Probably not really, but sounds like they'll keep him off the young pullets until they are ready.
Remind me of the ages of youngers and olders?

 

[Mrs. K]

Good signs... but always beware.

I too, am a believer in raising up a cockerel under older, bigger birds. No human lives with their birds 24/7. No human intervention is going to be there all of the time. Roosters raised under older birds, learn their manners, and are corrected 24/7. This produces a healthy chicken society, beyond the control of humans. They work it out, and it works.

A healthy chicken society is what many long term chicken people have. Their roosters tend to be pretty good roosters unlike roosters raised with flock mates in confinement.

BUT always beware, roosters just do not have a lot of brain and do have a lot of hormones.

MRs K