Random Rooster Questions/chicken psychology

[Kris5902]

At least I know there’s nothing weird about my boy’s smell. And that I’m not imagining something! Thanks @Chickassan for braving the rooster sniff test for us!

So, I ended up babysitting the child my one rooster wants to destroy again yesterday. If I put my ratty “farm jacket” on her and she’s completely quiet, he doesn’t react to her. As soon as she speaks though, the trick is over, and he goes into full defense mode. It’s definitely a “her again” thing, and I don’t know if this particular boy will ever get over it.

I’m working on the “don’t be afraid of the roosters/bull/senile aggressive dog” part, but some other people here have put it into her head that roosters are terrifying monsters. (Yet the actually aggressive and far more dangerous Rams are ok???) I just urge caution, awareness of the animals behavior, and moving with confidence but in a non threatening way. It works for all but one of the Roosters. (He is what most people would define as “aggressive”).

As to a link between the targeted tail plucking by hens and emasculated Roosters, if anyone else sees this I’d love to know more, but that’s not something as easy to observe as the chicken “man stink”! No experiments on this one, please (not that anyone here would!) I mean that they ripped his tail out completely, not just a regular molting situation. I probably spend too much time observing and working with my chickens for a “farmer”, but so far only about 20 have names... I’m sure more will get named eventually, though (I just can’t help it, I also name the beef cattle).

Thanks for the input and entertainment everyone!

 

[MROO]

That sounds so much nicer than what iv'e been calling what I did.



I can add dirty rooster sniffer to my resume at long last.

Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) would be SO proud!

 

[MROO]

At least I know there’s nothing weird about my boy’s smell. And that I’m not imagining something! Thanks @Chickassan for braving the rooster sniff test for us!

So, I ended up babysitting the child my one rooster wants to destroy again yesterday. If I put my ratty “farm jacket” on her and she’s completely quiet, he doesn’t react to her. As soon as she speaks though, the trick is over, and he goes into full defense mode. It’s definitely a “her again” thing, and I don’t know if this particular boy will ever get over it.

I’m working on the “don’t be afraid of the roosters/bull/senile aggressive dog” part, but some other people here have put it into her head that roosters are terrifying monsters. (Yet the actually aggressive and far more dangerous Rams are ok???) I just urge caution, awareness of the animals behavior, and moving with confidence but in a non threatening way. It works for all but one of the Roosters. (He is what most people would define as “aggressive”).

As to a link between the targeted tail plucking by hens and emasculated Roosters, if anyone else sees this I’d love to know more, but that’s not something as easy to observe as the chicken “man stink”! No experiments on this one, please (not that anyone here would!) I mean that they ripped his tail out completely, not just a regular molting situation. I probably spend too much time observing and working with my chickens for a “farmer”, but so far only about 20 have names... I’m sure more will get named eventually, though (I just can’t help it, I also name the beef cattle).

Thanks for the input and entertainment everyone!

Our farming neighbors always named their beef cattle. I distinctly remember Angel (because she'd soon be one,) Beef, Round, Roaster and the Angus "twins" ... Ham and Burger. I thought it was awful, then, but now I understand.
Since my daughter's been showing Guernseys, we've had a few interesting dishes from cattle who went through what we call "a change in career," ourselves. They "went into the restaurant business." We've had Rutabaga Stew, Tacos 204 and my favorite ... Jerry Steaks. Now, whenever I pick up beef from my dairy-farmer sister, I'm sure to ask if it was a "Name" or a "Number." I hate the thought of eating "someone" I led around the barn - or worse, once bottle-fed!

 

[Shadrach]

I don't usually cuddle the roosters here but for your sake I've been sniffing the odd rooster as the opportunities arose.
None of those I've sniffed ( they have not been impressed by the sniffing I might add) smell very strongly but they do smell differently to the hens.
I'll do further investigation when the peck wounds on my nose have healed.

Appearance is very important for the average rooster. I have had one, or two who were a little less diligent about bathing and grooming, but I haven't had a rooster have his tail stripped by domineering hens yet. I would be hard pressed to decide if any change in demeanor was due to the indignity of being bullied by a hen,
or his actual appearance.
However, going by the expression on young Cillins face in the picture below if you asked him if his tail feathers mattered that much I imagine he would respond with something like 'would you be happy looking like this'.
I should point out that no animals were hurt in conducting this investigation and if you want to know what happened, ask the weasel.

 

[MROO]

I don't usually cuddle the roosters here but for your sake I've been sniffing the odd rooster as the opportunities arose.
None of those I've sniffed ( they have not been impressed by the sniffing I might add) smell very strongly but they do smell differently to the hens.
I'll do further investigation when the peck wounds on my nose have healed.

Appearance is very important for the average rooster. I have had one, or two who were a little less diligent about bathing and grooming, but I haven't had a rooster have his tail stripped by domineering hens yet. I would be hard pressed to decide if any change in demeanor was due to the indignity of being bullied by a
or his actual appearance.
However, going by the expression on young Cillins face in the picture below if you asked him if his tail feathers mattered that much I imagine he would respond with something like 'would you be happy looking like this'.
I should point out that no animals were hurt in conducting this investigation and if you want to know what happened, ask the weasel.
hen,View attachment 1944466

Cillin looks just fine. He's simply "channeling his inner Araucana!"
EDIT to Add:
Zen Chicken!

 

[tn_artist]

Okay, I had to do it. My daughter and I are her OEGB boy and a barred Cochin. Then we sniffed some random pullets. Buttercup, old English, d'Uccle.
We had to go back and forth several times, but did detect a slight scent that the girls didn't have. The boys smelled nothing alike though. As it was so difficult to detect when trying, we hadn't even noticed. Neither not was unpleasantly odorific.

 

[Chickassan]

I will add that the oldest male has much, much worse BO than his son.
There is nothing slight about his scent, he's a clucking hot dog stand.

 

[tn_artist]

I will add that the oldest male has much, much worse BO than his son.
There is nothing slight about his scent, he's a clucking hot dog stand.

I will add that the oldest male has much, much worse BO than his son.
There is nothing slight about his scent, he's a clucking hot dog stand.

 

[Chickassan]

I'm just glad there is a reason iv'e been smelling BO.
Iv'e done the self sniff more than I care to admit.
That ment a guy in dire need of deodorant is in my coop a whole lot or there is a bear that smells like Coney island close by.
I wonder if having another male around turned up his volume?

 

[tn_artist]

I'm just glad there is a reason iv'e been smelling BO.
Iv'e done the self sniff more than I care to admit.
That ment a guy in dire need of deodorant is in my coop a whole lot or there is a bear that smells like Coney island close by.
I wonder if having another male around turned up his volume?

We have three cockrels in one flock and for in the other. They are all around the same age though. They become roos in February and March. Things may get stinky as the age progresses.