CrossBreederForFun
In the Brooder
- Sep 5, 2021
- 13
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Some roosters are just not aggressive and will accept your presence without confrontation. But the others are as you say, are "roosters", and becoming top dog is their nature. In flocks where two or more roosters seem to get along without constant confrontation, those roosters have already established a pecking order in their initial confrontations while maturing together and they all know their place. They all tried to be top dog, but only one came out on top.So do you think I should continue my time with him and let the pecks slide as normal? What should I do if he ever "attacks"
The same happens in their relationship with humans. Yes, there are exceptions and I'm sure there are stories about roosters with whom some of us have been buddies. But those are the exceptions. Mostly we just get lucky finding a non-aggressive rooster.
While it may be possible that you can be "friends" with a rooster, a relationship with a rooster that really wants to be top dog in your relationship isn't going to turn out that way. They aren't humans and are not likely going to respond to loving touches and affection. I've read that trying to befriend them actually precipitates more aggressive behavior since they see you as weak and someone they can dominate. These roosters don't understand affection. Chicken whispering won't work. They just understand a pecking order. So you have to establish that you are the top dog. And you can do that in a way they can understand without being mean. When they show aggression, even the initial pecking as they mature, don’t wait, respond immediately with authority as suggested in other comments, not affection. If they continue to show aggression, somehow pick them up firmly and hold them down to the ground. And hold them there for a while so it registers to them that you are in control. Hold their head down to the ground at the same time. I'm not saying grind their head into the dirt. Just confine and hold them down. The sooner you start this discipline the better. After doing this several times you may succeed in teaching a rooster to respect you as the boss and not try to usurp your place in the flock. Works for me. And no one gets hurt.
Note that my comments refer to what I have boldened and underlined above, not to every rooster. To some, his may sound harsh, or just plain not nice, but it does work and the prime benefit is that no one, the chicken, or you, or your children, gets hurt.