Reforming Rooster?

[AbbysSilkies]

Hello!! I have 10 hens, two pulleys, and two roosters. I’ve known all along I could only keep one. I was so sure I’d keep Milo, he’s older, he was always my favorite. Boots, in my eyes, used to be nothing but a rapist who didn’t care about the hens. (I’m not sure which of them is the alpha) but lately it’s changed. Milo has become a demon bird!! I can’t feed them without getting attacked!! And he is worse to my friends!! Boots still doesn’t do much besides hang out with his sister. They’re both buff Silkies btw. Is it possible Milo could be reformed after boots leaves? I need to decide who I’m keeping today. I can’t tell if Milos protecting the others or just being aggressive. I miss my cuddly little roo!!

 

[AbbysSilkies]

Also, should be noted that the one I don’t keep is gonna be fine. That rooster, along with a cockerel I have, will be going back to the breeder who hatched the roosters and gave me the eggs that hatched my cockerel/countless other hens, and she’s a sweet lady who will take good care of him.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Nothing wrong with keeping a two roosters,but if you don’t want too oh well.

What is their age frame?

 

[AbbysSilkies]

Nothing wrong with keeping a two roosters,but if you don’t want too oh well.

What is their age frame?

I can’t, we live in the suburbs and my family won’t keep more than one. Milo is a year old, Boots is around 9 months

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Milo probably isn’t gonna change,there soem things you can do to assist.The younger guy might.My roosters roughly chase an dmates the hens but that doesn’t remain he doesn’t care about them,because they both still defend them,and give them treats.If their both good at caring for hens,but ones human aggression,give him up.

 

[AbbysSilkies]

Milo probably isn’t gonna change,there soem things you can do to assist.The younger guy might.My roosters roughly chase an dmates the hens but that doesn’t remain he doesn’t care about them,because they both still defend them,and give them treats.If their both good at caring for hens,but ones human aggression,give him up.

Ok. Thanks. I know I need to keep Boots. I’m just so upset about Milo, he was my first bantam and he used to be such a sweet young boy... but I know roosters are better off shy and won’t be cuddly like hens

 

[TheTwoRoos]

False,don’t give up hope that you can’t keep a friendly rooster,all my boys are friendly.You have to dominate them,just not always cuddle them.

 

[bobbi-j]

Hello!! I have 10 hens, two pulleys, and two roosters. I’ve known all along I could only keep one. I was so sure I’d keep Milo, he’s older, he was always my favorite. Boots, in my eyes, used to be nothing but a rapist who didn’t care about the hens. (I’m not sure which of them is the alpha) but lately it’s changed. Milo has become a demon bird!! I can’t feed them without getting attacked!! And he is worse to my friends!! Boots still doesn’t do much besides hang out with his sister. They’re both buff Silkies btw. Is it possible Milo could be reformed after boots leaves? I need to decide who I’m keeping today. I can’t tell if Milos protecting the others or just being aggressive. I miss my cuddly little roo!!

First of all, I'm glad you are aware that you can't keep both. The reason Boots "used to be nothing but a rapist who didn't care about his hens" is, Boots is still a cockerel. An immature rooster, operating solely on hormones. Since he is still young, there is a good chance you can start now to train him to respect your space. When I have cockerels, as soon as I recognize their gender I start "training" them. I distance myself from them. I don't handle or hand feed them. When they're old enough to be outside, I will "walk through them". If they are between where I am and where I want to be, I don't go around them. I make them move out of my way. If one challenges me, I meet him with confidence and make him back down.

While I agree that "some" roosters can be friendly, I believe there is a HUGE difference between friendly and not human aggressive. I prefer the not human aggressive ones. If you do some research on the site, you will see that many hand-raised, hand-fed, babied "roosters" (usually more often cockerels - roosters under a year of age) will turn on their keepers. They are hormonal, intact male animals whose instinct is to breed and protect their females. Sometimes those instincts will prompt them to lose their minds and attack the giants who take care of them and bring their food. When that happens, they're not doing their "real" job of protecting and caring for the flock.

I think you've made the right decision in getting rid of Milo. It's bad enough that he attacks you, but worse that he attacks your friends. That is a liability. If he were to hurt one of your friends, or they were to get an infection from a puncture wound or scratch, you could be financially responsible for medical bills.

 

[AbbysSilkies]

First of all, I'm glad you are aware that you can't keep both. The reason Boots "used to be nothing but a rapist who didn't care about his hens" is, Boots is still a cockerel. An immature rooster, operating solely on hormones. Since he is still young, there is a good chance you can start now to train him to respect your space. When I have cockerels, as soon as I recognize their gender I start "training" them. I distance myself from them. I don't handle or hand feed them. When they're old enough to be outside, I will "walk through them". If they are between where I am and where I want to be, I don't go around them. I make them move out of my way. If one challenges me, I meet him with confidence and make him back down.

While I agree that "some" roosters can be friendly, I believe there is a HUGE difference between friendly and not human aggressive. I prefer the not human aggressive ones. If you do some research on the site, you will see that many hand-raised, hand-fed, babied "roosters" (usually more often cockerels - roosters under a year of age) will turn on their keepers. They are hormonal, intact male animals whose instinct is to breed and protect their females. Sometimes those instincts will prompt them to lose their minds and attack the giants who take care of them and bring their food. When that happens, they're not doing their "real" job of protecting and caring for the flock.

I think you've made the right decision in getting rid of Milo. It's bad enough that he attacks you, but worse that he attacks your friends. That is a liability. If he were to hurt one of your friends, or they were to get an infection from a puncture wound or scratch, you could be financially responsible for medical bills.

Thanks so much. I did get rid of Milo. I’ve also decided to trade Boots with a breeder for a sweet bantam hen she has that doesn’t lay. Figured a non laying sweet hen is better for me than a non laying rooster that keeps his distance! And I can now sit with my chickens without getting scratched!

 

[AbbysSilkies]

I don’t even need a rooster, and the reason I wanted to keep one was because I loved Milo so much when he was a baby, so I’m just getting another hen