Rooster behavior

[SunshineSusie]

Hello Chick-Folk -

I have 6 hens and 1 rooster - all about 5 months old. Yesterday, someone gave me a rescued a very young Rhody - a sweet little girl, Ester, who just wants to be held. I am trying to integrate her with the flock but I made a terrible, horrible noob mistake and I am reaching out for any help on how to fix my stupidity (if, in fact, stupidity can be fixed):

Today is Day 1. I took her out of her cage that was in the coop with them last night and she started roaming around next to my feet. I picked her up and Mr. Peabody didn't like that at all...he started pecking my toes and ankles: not hard or aggressive as he is usually a sweet boy. I even videotaped it. As I put her down, he got between me and her. I was so happy to see he was taking her into his protection immediately. Yay!



Here is Mr. P guarding her at the water bowls while keeping his eye on the flock that was coming.

A few minutes later, the flock was pecking her - the rooster was running them off but he couldn't do it alone, so stupid me...I helped him shoo them away. I am sure nature allows them to peck...

First Q: Are they hurting her? She's really small and maybe 2-3 months old. Do I let the pecking just go and they'll all settle in or would they cause her harm????

So, I decided to come inside and let the pecking order take place while watching to ensure nothing got out of hand. That's when Mr. Peabody, my rooster, grabbed her by the head and jumped on her back.

Yep, you got it - I thought he was harming her oh ever so badly, so, I grabbed my broom and pushed him off her. He came at me and I shoo'd him away harder than I wanted to.

Oh!!! I feel so horrible and am just a wits end with how stupid stupid stupid I was to do this. Mr P lets me hold him, he eats out of my hand and then I go and do this.

I've had hens before but never a rooster and I am so upset with what I might have done to my relationship with Mr. P.

Second Q: WHAT DO I DO? Do I need to get out there and re-establish my good, safe, and close relationship with him again. OR should I give it a few hours for him to settle down???? What should I do?

Lastly: Will he now stop protecting the new hen? Will he see her as pain and/or humiliation?

I am so upset with my stupidity and noob-ness I just can't believe I did that! Help!


~ Susie

PS I have been wading thru so many posts about what to do - but wow - there's so much, I decided to just write.

 

[kimthom66]

Today for the first time my RIR roo attract my. I kicked his silly butt. He's a year old and has never challenged me before. I didn't hurt him but I did kick him. He came at me again and I kicked him again. Then I chased him around the yard a while. After that I got the bag of mealworms, sat down and offered them to the hens. They love mealworms. Bill joined right in and ate from my hand. I can forgive him because its what roosters do, however, if he gets too mean, it's chicken pot pie time.

I am having the same issue...my young rooster is starting to come after me, usually when I am walking to the coop and all the hens are following me because it means food. But I don't know what to do? Will he grow out of this? Will he be an aggressive rooster? I have an almost 1 year old grandson and he loves to watch the chickens but I am afraid as he gets older and walking around that the rooster will go after him?
I read here to not go after him, that he will think I am a rooster and keep coming after me? He was so docile as a young roo and still is the gentlest when eating from my hand? Anyone here have any thoughts?

 

[kimthom66]

Hello Chick-Folk -

I have 6 hens and 1 rooster - all about 5 months old. Yesterday, someone gave me a rescued a very young Rhody - a sweet little girl, Ester, who just wants to be held. I am trying to integrate her with the flock but I made a terrible, horrible noob mistake and I am reaching out for any help on how to fix my stupidity (if, in fact, stupidity can be fixed):

Today is Day 1. I took her out of her cage that was in the coop with them last night and she started roaming around next to my feet. I picked her up and Mr. Peabody didn't like that at all...he started pecking my toes and ankles: not hard or aggressive as he is usually a sweet boy. I even videotaped it. As I put her down, he got between me and her. I was so happy to see he was taking her into his protection immediately. Yay!



Here is Mr. P guarding her at the water bowls while keeping his eye on the flock that was coming.

A few minutes later, the flock was pecking her - the rooster was running them off but he couldn't do it alone, so stupid me...I helped him shoo them away. I am sure nature allows them to peck...

First Q: Are they hurting her? She's really small and maybe 2-3 months old. Do I let the pecking just go and they'll all settle in or would they cause her harm????

So, I decided to come inside and let the pecking order take place while watching to ensure nothing got out of hand. That's when Mr. Peabody, my rooster, grabbed her by the head and jumped on her back.

Yep, you got it - I thought he was harming her oh ever so badly, so, I grabbed my broom and pushed him off her. He came at me and I shoo'd him away harder than I wanted to.

Oh!!! I feel so horrible and am just a wits end with how stupid stupid stupid I was to do this. Mr P lets me hold him, he eats out of my hand and then I go and do this.

I've had hens before but never a rooster and I am so upset with what I might have done to my relationship with Mr. P.

Second Q: WHAT DO I DO? Do I need to get out there and re-establish my good, safe, and close relationship with him again. OR should I give it a few hours for him to settle down???? What should I do?

Lastly: Will he now stop protecting the new hen? Will he see her as pain and/or humiliation?

I am so upset with my stupidity and noob-ness I just can't believe I did that! Help!


~ Susie

PS I have been wading thru so many posts about what to do - but wow - there's so much, I decided to just write.

First : Integrating a new chicken you should place her near the others but in a cage by herself! Never just throw a new chicken into an established flock they need to get used to her first by being near but not allowed to hurt her. Then after a few weeks of that you should allow her to join them while free ranging if possible as they are usually too distracted by eating to care. Some then just place the new hen in the coop at night after they are roosting and say when they all wake up together they are one big family! But always separate at first!
I hope this helps. I can't speak to the roo as I am a new roo owner and looking for answers myself!

 

[One Chick Two]

Hello Chick-Folk -

I have 6 hens and 1 rooster - all about 5 months old. Yesterday, someone gave me a rescued a very young Rhody - a sweet little girl, Ester, who just wants to be held. I am trying to integrate her with the flock but I made a terrible, horrible noob mistake and I am reaching out for any help on how to fix my stupidity (if, in fact, stupidity can be fixed):

Today is Day 1. I took her out of her cage that was in the coop with them last night and she started roaming around next to my feet. I picked her up and Mr. Peabody didn't like that at all...he started pecking my toes and ankles: not hard or aggressive as he is usually a sweet boy. I even videotaped it. As I put her down, he got between me and her. I was so happy to see he was taking her into his protection immediately. Yay!



Here is Mr. P guarding her at the water bowls while keeping his eye on the flock that was coming.

A few minutes later, the flock was pecking her - the rooster was running them off but he couldn't do it alone, so stupid me...I helped him shoo them away. I am sure nature allows them to peck...

First Q: Are they hurting her? She's really small and maybe 2-3 months old. Do I let the pecking just go and they'll all settle in or would they cause her harm????

So, I decided to come inside and let the pecking order take place while watching to ensure nothing got out of hand. That's when Mr. Peabody, my rooster, grabbed her by the head and jumped on her back.

Yep, you got it - I thought he was harming her oh ever so badly, so, I grabbed my broom and pushed him off her. He came at me and I shoo'd him away harder than I wanted to.

Oh!!! I feel so horrible and am just a wits end with how stupid stupid stupid I was to do this. Mr P lets me hold him, he eats out of my hand and then I go and do this.

I've had hens before but never a rooster and I am so upset with what I might have done to my relationship with Mr. P.

Second Q: WHAT DO I DO? Do I need to get out there and re-establish my good, safe, and close relationship with him again. OR should I give it a few hours for him to settle down???? What should I do?

Lastly: Will he now stop protecting the new hen? Will he see her as pain and/or humiliation?

I am so upset with my stupidity and noob-ness I just can't believe I did that! Help!


~ Susie

PS I have been wading thru so many posts about what to do - but wow - there's so much, I decided to just write.

Okay, first, don't beat yourself up too badly. Sounds to me like you had a good relationship with Mr. P, so I believe you can reestablish the trust bond by just being the lovely person he's always been friends with. He sounds pretty balanced to me. Trust can take a little while to rebuild with chickens, but once he sees that that episode was just a passing thing, I'm sure he will come around. Treats can always be helpful. lol

There is a little conditioning thing I occasionally do with our friendly roosters who can be held, I call it a "chicken hug." I find this is very handy embrace for establishing trust, especially during stressful situations. All of ours seem to like this and become calm quickly. Only try this with roosters who are tame and docile. Always be confident and calm even if they fuss just a bit at first when getting used to it.

Pick them up and hold them, body secure in left arm. Right hand, gently guide and stretch the rooster's head on or slightly over your shoulder. (Turning your face away, so there can be no possible exploration pecking.) after they leave their head there, I drop my chin onto their shoulder, tucking them under my chin, and talk gently to them while gently stroking their earlobes, wattles neck and comb. Things like "Shhh...it's okay... good boy..."

After a few moments, when I feel them relax their head, I then lift my head up, look at them, watching for relaxed, or closing eyes. They are usually limp by this time. I make sure they are always balanced and happy before putting them back down. If they are upset at first, I will hold them until there is no struggle, straightening legs while talking to them gently. This has worked very well for us.

We have a freerange rooster who had gotten attacked by a raven the day before Xmas eve, and badly wounded his eye and face. The rooster ran down a hill, and I scooped him up at the bottom, giving him a chicken hug. Even being very wounded, he relaxed his head on my shoulder and moaned, but didn't struggle even when we examined and cared for his wounds. He is such a big boy it would've been doubtful without this conditioning that we would've easily caught him, or have been able to handle him without having this conditioning.

Here is Brownie having a chicken hug during his molt. lol (I took this photo with my right hand, so you can tell he wasn't trying to get away.) Notice I'm wearing a tank top and have no old scratches or pecks. This method has worked for me- all of our roosters know the drill. lol Again, try only with roosters with balanced temperaments, and wear protective clothing at first

Best of luck!

 

[kimthom66]

Okay, first, don't beat yourself up too badly. Sounds to me like you had a good relationship with Mr. P, so I believe you can reestablish the trust bond by just being the lovely person he's always been friends with. He sounds pretty balanced to me. Trust can take a little while to rebuild with chickens, but once he sees that that episode was just a passing thing, I'm sure he will come around. Treats can always be helpful. lol

There is a little conditioning thing I occasionally do with our friendly roosters who can be held, I call it a "chicken hug." I find this is very handy embrace for establishing trust, especially during stressful situations. All of ours seem to like this and become calm quickly. Only try this with roosters who are tame and docile. Always be confident and calm even if they fuss just a bit at first when getting used to it.

Pick them up and hold them, body secure in left arm. Right hand, gently guide and stretch the rooster's head on or slightly over your shoulder. (Turning your face away, so there can be no possible exploration pecking.) after they leave their head there, I drop my chin onto their shoulder, tucking them under my chin, and talk gently to them while gently stroking their earlobes, wattles neck and comb. Things like "Shhh...it's okay... good boy..."

After a few moments, when I feel them relax their head, I then lift my head up, look at them, watching for relaxed, or closing eyes. They are usually limp by this time. I make sure they are always balanced and happy before putting them back down. If they are upset at first, I will hold them until there is no struggle, straightening legs while talking to them gently. This has worked very well for us.

We have a freerange rooster who had gotten attacked by a raven the day before Xmas eve, and badly wounded his eye and face. The rooster ran down a hill, and I scooped him up at the bottom, giving him a chicken hug. Even being very wounded, he relaxed his head on my shoulder and moaned, but didn't struggle even when we examined and cared for his wounds. He is such a big boy it would've been doubtful without this conditioning that we would've easily caught him, or have been able to handle him without having this conditioning.

Here is Brownie having a chicken hug during his molt. lol (I took this photo with my right hand, so you can tell he wasn't trying to get away.) Notice I'm wearing a tank top and have no old scratches or pecks. This method has worked for me- all of our roosters know the drill. lol Again, try only with roosters with balanced temperaments, and wear protective clothing at first

Best of luck!

I am going to try this! Do you do this at any time or when (after) they have shown aggressive behavior?

 

[One Chick Two]

I am going to try this! Do you do this at any time or when (after) they have shown aggressive behavior?

Honestly, haven't had any with aggressive behavior, but have one shy rooster who used to peck at my hand when he was a juvie. He is still shy, but if he is scared or panicky, he will get anxious and flog with his wings. Doesn't faze me. I have no fear when it comes to any of them, so I calmly scoop up anyone at anytime, and they all have to be still and calm while I handle them, even if it takes 10 minutes. lol If said roosters to be conditioned aren't balanced emotionally, wear protective clothing, and be very aware, cautious and careful. Cut toenails and spurs and even beak tip if you have to.

It just takes absolute calm and perseverance, but we have had full adults come to us (over 1-2 years old) that were wild and unsocialized, and those very same are very sweet and social males now- none went bad later. (Genes can have some to do with some roosters, so sometimes there's not much you can do for these boys.)

With the shy roo, I spend more time soothing him than the others, but even he always responds well, he just doesn't seek out the attention like most of the other spoiled fellows. lol That said, we do spend time with them daily. They always know what to expect, and that seems to help.

 

[SunshineSusie]

Okay - I want to be a rooster at your house!

I will admit - I'm scared of him. I don't go out in the yard without my broom nearby. I am sure neither one of us appreciates this relationship.

So, I really want to do this. I'm thinking I'll go don a life vest, some leather gloves, and a face mask - just my outfit will freak him out!

But I would love to be able to hold him.



Thank you for your great advice!

 

[centrarchid]

Okay - I want to be a rooster at your house! I will admit - I'm scared of him. I don't go out in the yard without my broom nearby. I am sure neither one of us appreciates this relationship. So, I really want to do this. I'm thinking I'll go don a life vest, some leather gloves, and a face mask - just my outfit will freak him out! But I would love to be able to hold him. Thank you for your great advice!

For now avoid the coddling / chicken mommy approach as it makes him uncomfortable. You also have arrangement where he thinks you are a conspecific. Work on changing that before doing much else. I have lots of fully adult rooster that can be handled readily but if done improperly doing the early stages you can get what is called a man-fighter which is aggravating to be around.

 

[kimthom66]

Honestly, haven't had any with aggressive behavior, but have one shy rooster who used to peck at my hand when he was a juvie. He is still shy, but if he is scared or panicky, he will get anxious and flog with his wings. Doesn't faze me. I have no fear when it comes to any of them, so I calmly scoop up anyone at anytime, and they all have to be still and calm while I handle them, even if it takes 10 minutes. lol If said roosters to be conditioned aren't balanced emotionally, wear protective clothing, and be very aware, cautious and careful. Cut toenails and spurs and even beak tip if you have to.

It just takes absolute calm and perseverance, but we have had full adults come to us (over 1-2 years old) that were wild and unsocialized, and those very same are very sweet and social males now- none went bad later. (Genes can have some to do with some roosters, so sometimes there's not much you can do for these boys.)

With the shy roo, I spend more time soothing him than the others, but even he always responds well, he just doesn't seek out the attention like most of the other spoiled fellows. lol That said, we do spend time with them daily. They always know what to expect, and that seems to help.

Ok, last night I was walking to the coop (the birds were enjoying free range time) and usually this is when the rooster comes after me...but it's also because it's usually when I hand out treats...I have stopped that as they (hens & rooster) seemed to be getting food aggressive. Anyway it was just the rooster who was there, he acted like if I gave him a chance he would try to jump at me, usually when I have my back to him but I picked him right up and he was fine didn't even try to peck at me. I held him for while tried to get him to rest his head which he didn't do but his legs were relaxed and he wasn't fighting me. How long should I hold him for? I put him down slowly and let him walk away. I did this twice yesterday and no attacks. But then again I didn't do the other behavior which was leading to the attacks as well. I also noticed him coming toward me a few times while I was filling waters/food etc. but I stayed firm in my position or started walking toward him and he was fine!
So should I continue to pick him up a few times every day?

 

[chynasparks]

I am going to try the hug technique. Don't know how Bill will toe rate it because its a big chase to catch him. He's not really mean he's just showing his dominance. I was going in the pen with a stick but I didn't like poking at him to move him back. I feel abusive doing that so I took our lawn rake and cut the handle down a bit and I can now gently push him away without all the drama. Plus I can rake dirt in the pen too. He seems to respect the rake, he stopped charging me.