Roaster taming

[Kev]

Thank you for saying that I hated to do it.but today when I went to release the hens I could feel myself stressing out then I remembered that his gone and I felt better.so he was affecting me more then I thought and my chicken are suppose to relax me not stree me out.

Exactly!! This is why I won't read attacking rooster threads most of the time. So many people suggesting or pushing to 'work with a roo' when it's plain the individual roo is not going to be an easy case. Especially bothersome if the owner has small children, or frequently visiting small children or even any children who are afraid or leery of going out because of the rooster.

Roos are not necessary, are so easily replacable with many good roos, last but not least it is a HOBBY for most people, it's supposed to be relaxing.


In my flock any roo that even attempts to charge is immediately culled. I can tell you after several generations, the roos are still "all rooster" except they have no inclination to show aggression towards people, they don't even bite or pecked if picked up.

 

[centrarchid]

After seeing this, I am going to indicate that if you have difficulties with roosters and refuse to consider approach, then you should not have roosters at all until someone teaches you how to keep them. Very disappointing.

 

[CrazyTalk]

In my flock any roo that even attempts to charge is immediately culled. I can tell you after several generations, the roos are still "all rooster" except they have no inclination to show aggression towards people, they don't even bite or pecked if picked up.

Yup. While what centrarchid says is true (that a lot of the problems are owner behavior), a lot of rooster behavior is hormone driven, and thus genetically heritable.

Keeping a nasty rooster just means you'll make more nasty roosters (and nastier hens), and there's no reason for that considering how selective people can be with roosters (because most of them are going to be culled). Unless you're dealing with a really specific genetically bottlenecked population, temperament should be the first thing you're selecting for.

 

[DanEP]

I will not allow any people aggression I have found that mean roosters will have mean sons so they are never allowed to breed. I refuse to spend my life looking over my shoulder to feel safe. A one strike rule has given me a pair of roosters that are completely trusted with adults but I still supervise small children around them

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote: That is an interesting approach to rooster training. I have done most of the normal ways with some/little success. I will try this with the next soup-pot wanta-be.
Scott

 

[whittychick]

Thank you for saying that I hated to do it.but today when I went to release the hens I could feel myself stressing out then I remembered that his gone and I felt better.so he was affecting me more then I thought and my chicken are suppose to relax me not stree me out.

Yes! I did the same thing! Now I let my girls out and all Is good and calm!

 

[Faraday40]

Orpington roo temperament ?s I have read that Orpingtons are gentle giants. Is this mostly true for the roos as well?

I have a BIG boy at age 7 1/2 months. I think he may have tried to hit me, so I put him in solitary for 6-8 hours. Honestly it felt like he accidently bumped into the back of my leg, but I didn't want him to get away with anything. A week later, he tried to jump on my daughter's shoe while she was swinging. Again into solitary, but not sure if she did anything prior. Likewise with my son & our chicken sitter, he may have tried to attack - but a weak attack at best. He's so large that I think he could draw blood (or at least make us feel more than a light tap on the shin). It kind of reminds me of when a middle school kid tries to swear. They want to sound tough & use naughty words to impress their classmates, but they mumble because they don't want to get caught.

Questions: Is this aggression? Is he testing us? Is our reaction of picking him up & putting him in solitary enough? (Occasionally we charge at him if he's acting cocky toward the hens nearby.) How long do roosters test the waters? Will he grow out of it or will it worsen with age? Are there any warning signs we should look for? The kids know enough to never run away from a rooster, but I'm pretty sure our last rooster was not normal. Our last roo (an Easter Egger mutt) was very tame & still enjoyed human cuddles at 1 year old. (Well, he no longer jumped up into our laps, but when we picked him up, he was fine.) We got rid of him only because he crowed nonstop & over-mated the hens bald.

I told my kids not to get attached to this one b/c he's only staying until I have a reason not to keep him. He was never held nor pampered. He's so beautiful, but not a pet I like the fact that he rarely crows. My hens are even growing their feathers back & looking pretty again. I'd like to keep him around for hen protection.

One more question: Does the amount of crowing stay about the same or will it change seasonally or with age? (no other roos here)

 

[whittychick]

Hmmm not sure about the crowing? I have never heard of it changing with climate or age. And with the signs...I think you'd know if it was an attack or not. So go with your gut and watch yourself. They can be brutal and hurt someone who isn't expecting it. My Henry started going after my niece and that was the end of him.

 

[Faraday40]

Hmmm not sure about the crowing? I have never heard of it changing with climate or age. And with the signs...I think you'd know if it was an attack or not. So go with your gut and watch yourself. They can be brutal and hurt someone who isn't expecting it. My Henry started going after my niece and that was the end of him.

At what age do roosters change? Ours never tried anything for 7 months. The one time he "bumped" me may have simply been excitement & clumsiness. I was calling them & leading them out to the garden where I sometimes spread treats. He has not tried anything with me since. He comes up to me & will eat from my hand, but I don't handle him much.

I don't want to rush into an assumption that he's aggressive (after all, I barely felt anything) but I don't want a rooster of his size flogging someone. The fact that we had a couple of light taps makes me wonder. He's an English Orpington, so slow to mature - if that matters. (First crow wasn't until age 21 weeks. Couldn't even mate the older hens until he was over 5 months old.)

 

[whittychick]

At what age do roosters change?  Ours never tried anything for 7 months.  The one time he "bumped" me may have simply been excitement & clumsiness.  I was calling them & leading them out to the garden where I sometimes spread treats.  He has not tried anything with me since.  He comes up to me & will eat from my hand, but I don't handle him much. 

I don't want to rush into an assumption that he's aggressive (after all, I barely felt anything) but I don't want a rooster of his size flogging someone.  The fact that we had a couple of light taps makes me wonder.  He's an English Orpington, so slow to mature - if that matters.  (First crow wasn't until age 21 weeks.  Couldn't even mate the older hens until he was over 5 months old.)

All roosters can vary with age...when their hormones start to enhance, they can become agressive. Not all roosters but most. Mine was about 9 months when he started. I got rid of him last April, so he was a year old. He got so intense, I couldn't even open my coop door to feed him or my girls! My hubby had to, he didn't dare go near my hubby! He was so beautiful and was a great rooster for the girls. But man was he a JERK! He's alive still and happy at a farm a few towns over! I didn't have the heart to kill him