Roo Question

[m2wandc]

Sooo it turns out my suspicions were confirmed yesterday morning...my silkie PONG let out a crow...lucky for him, it was at 10am...DH says as long as he doesn't develop a loud amazingly irritating crow that happens at 4am and he doesn't get mean then he's OK to stay...

soooooo I'm asking you for any tips you have to ensure he's family friendly status while he grows into the rooster he's born to be. I'm doubtful you can dictate his crow loudness or time, but if that is something you can guide by all means share those tips too...thanks!

 

[Bantam Bodon]

I think its up to the roo itself whether or not he will be family friendly. I would just try to have as much contact as i could with it. Sometimes a rooster just decides its going to protect the flock from anyone and anything, even people.

 

[m2wandc]

Will he eventually move from #3 in the flock of 4 birds to #1?

Rocky (my girl barred rock) is #1 and she seems to be set on maintaining that status...you can see pictures on my page (link in my signature)

 

[silky ma]

My roo --bobby-- and I share a close relationship--on purpose--
Since we live in an residential area he knows that he is to come inside if he needs to let loose. Havent had complaints for years from the neighbors.
I know this might sound weird but I do pick him up each day and we have snuggle time where i talk to him. He learned real fast that this is chill time with mom . Some times when HE wants me.... he will crow at the back door wait for me, pretend to run away and when I pick him up start to coo with his head under my neck.
At night he puts the girls away in the hen house and walks inside to go to his area to sleep. The earlier you start with all the chicks the easier it is to handle the ones you find to be a roo.

 

[m2wandc]

he's never really liked being held as a baby chick, but I've done my best to touch him at least daily...

...my hubby has to pick him up each night and put him in the coop, because neither of the silkies will go into the coop on their own yet...and it's been a couple of months! (so in that regard the roo is pushing his luck, but he gets handled daily from DH too) LOL

***

I'm really curious to find out if roos automatically rise up on the totem pole or if he's likely to always be under the others? How does that work with a flock of 3 girls and ` boy?

also, he doesn't go into the coop on his own, so how in the heck will he encourage his flock to?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
He's young yet. He will eventually fight for and get his place at the top of the flock.
When I had two roos, one was the alpha and the flock leader and the other lived on the edges of the flock (Thor). He didn't try to boss the hens and he just tried to steer clear of the alpha at all times. Once I re-homed my alpha, Thor stepped right up. Most of the hens accepted his leadership right away. He had to fight a couple of my bossier hens, but he did and they now tow the line. The one hen that refused to submit now lives on the edges of the flock and just stays out of his way.
Unlike the other posters, I don't handle my roo except for routine health checks. He's always been a tad bit afraid of me and I like it like that. He steers clear of me just like he used to steer clear of the former alpha.

 

[m2wandc]

so if there is a roo in the flock, it is unlikely or impossible that a hen would be the alpha...???

...I wonder because Rocky (the top hen) is a real meanie and has been put in chicken jail for 3 days once already...

...and Rocky is MUCH bigger in size to this little silkie Roo...does the roo have a fighting chance?

You can sort of see the size difference in this pic:

Rocky is the barred rock (alpha hen) bottom right
Pong (roo) is the silkie on the top left

Here are some more pics for the fun of it, since I'm sharing anyhow.

Rocky (#1 on the chicken totem pole) & Buffy (#2)

Pong (#3) & Ping (#4)

 

[m2wandc]

Now if Rocky turned out to be a roo...I would have an easier time finding him a home.

 

[gritsar]

Do you know for a fact that Rocky is a hen? Post some side shots if you don't.

ETA: It's not a matter of physical size with roos, as evidenced by flocks where the alpha roo is an itty bitty ol' bantam and still lords it over bigger hens. It's all about attitude with the roos.
My former alpha roo was half the size of Thor, but Thor was scared witless of him.

 

[chickenchik12]

whats a dh?