Rooster Coddling

[Gxspenst]

Heard on here that many people go against petting and holding your roosters. Is there any specific reason to this? The two roosters I raised where always seemingly affectionate, crawling into my lap to fall asleep as well as always wanting to be held. Was I misreading these behaviors as affection?

 

[Mosey2003]

It can lead to more aggression once sexually mature, as they don't see you as someone to stay away from.

 

[Gxspenst]

It can lead to more aggression once sexually mature, as they don't see you as someone to stay away from.

Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to keep a close watch on the boys from no one, but thankfully they haven’t acted aggressively towards me!

 

[Mosey2003]

How old are they?

 

[Ms Biddy]

It can lead to more aggression once sexually mature, as they don't see you as someone to stay away from.

They say a bottle raised bull calf is the most dangerous kind. When they reach 1,800+ lbs and the testosterone is flowing full force, you don't want to be seen as a herd mate, sexual competitor or even an equal. The familiarity and lack of fear is a dangerous mix. A rooster may only weigh 8+ lbs but it's the same concept. They don't reason well but if they see you as a foreign and dominant species rather than a peer or friend who has catered and been submissive to them in the past they are more likely to ignore you when it's time to mate, compete and fight for dominance in the flock.

 

[Folly's place]

In chickens, human aggression appears to be a separate trait genetically, and might appear regardless of your management style. However, many of us old fogies, with lots of experience with cockerels of all sorts, feel that it's best to be the giant who brings food, and not cuddle them. Pullets and hens, sure, but not the boys.
Game bred roosters, who happily will fight each other to the death, tend to be very good with humans, by all reports, because over generations they have been selected for those traits.
People who raise calves or foals on the bottle successfully are very very careful to manage them with safety in mind! Having them disrespectful early is a disaster later!!!
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

The cockerels that I've had who were the most 'friendly' and 'bold' often turned into jerks as they matured.
Mary

 

[silkiemother]

my 1 1/2 year old rooster,bear, is the sweetest thing ever,he curls up in my lap,only crows at 7 in the morning,and doesn't attack anyone except for my dad,but that is because my dad boots him and no one else boots my rooster.is that normal?

 

[Ms Biddy]

The cockerels that I've had who were the most 'friendly' and 'bold' often turned into jerks as they matured.
Mary

I've had tiny little chicks charge up to my hand in a way that some might see as friendly and cute. After some previous experience with jerk roosters, I now see that kind of behavior as an early expression of dominance, which I don't tolerate. With those chicks, I respond as another chicken would by chest bumping them back. After about 3 bumps, each more forceful than the last those chicks decided I was the dominant force and simply started ignoring me. Sure enough, they grew up to be the males and a couple of them tried wing dancing at me. Nope, not happening either. They keep their distance for now and I watch them closely, but they are the sons of a rooster I butchered for being aggressive and those traits are being culled from my flocks.

 

[Mosey2003]

my 1 1/2 year old rooster,bear, is the sweetest thing ever,he curls up in my lap,only crows at 7 in the morning,and doesn't attack anyone except for my dad,but that is because my dad boots him and no one else boots my rooster.is that normal?

But why does your dad boot him? Probably because one of the first times he saw your dad, he went at him. Because he wouldn't know your dad like he knows you, and thus saw him as a threat.