Rooster Coddling

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

I can't imagine that kicking a rooster would possibly do that, unless you've crossed the line to abusive in force.
Personally, I 'kick' my roosters if they get out of line. They ARE NOT hurt, they are not terrified of me, and I can keep just about any rooster toeing the line that way. By kick, I mean push out of my space with the same force that you could do by reaching down and shoving them with your hand. Feet are safer for the human, though. If you have a borderline mean cockerel, your face and hands shouldn't be down there!

I definitely do NOT cross the line into abusive force just enough to make him respect me and my space, just like you say.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

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.

I don't have an issue with my rooster wing dancing me and I know the meaning of it. The OP, @Gxspenst, of the thread does have the issue however.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I definitely do NOT cross the line into abusive force just enough to make him respect me and my space, just like you say.

Yes, well I never intend to... but I'm not gonna lie and say I never reacted with more force than was needed, acceptable or I was comfortable with... accidents happen! Sometimes you don't realize your own strength compared to the size of the bird. Fortunately, I recognize my folly and try not do it again. Doing something repeatedly would makes it abuse... and accidental incident (that is taken care of if need be) is not.

So yes, I have crossed the line... (even when their action was at another bird and not me) but it WAS part of my learning process!

I won't cull for an attempted wing dance from a cockerel. Everyone gets a chance as testing boundaries is natural... I do cull for repeated stupidity to challenge the food giant, after a SHORT adjustment period.... While things DO breed forward...and I won't intentionally do that... I am NOT the sum of my parents' stupidity. My 3 siblings absolutely are peat and repeat... but I STAND ON MY OWN apart from them! (but that's still 75% awful and 25% "well" adjusted )

Nobody culls hens for attitude.. and they are some serious beeyotches... and THAT breeds forward as well... into their sons... I love my Marans... my pure cockerels rock... but my favorite hen an Easter Egger puts out the nastiest cockerels ever... even when bred to my very acceptable Marans rooster. They are pretty birds too.

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

Yes, well I never intend to... but I'm not gonna lie and say I never reacted with more force than was needed, acceptable or I was comfortable with... accidents happen! Sometimes you don't realize your own strength compared to the size of the bird. Fortunately, I recognize my folly and try not do it again. Doing something repeatedly would makes it abuse... and accidental incident (that is taken care of if need be) is not.

So yes, I have crossed the line... (even when their action was at another bird and not me) but it WAS part of my learning process!

I won't cull for an attempted wing dance from a cockerel. Everyone gets a chance as testing boundaries is natural... I do cull for repeated stupidity to challenge the food giant, after a SHORT adjustment period.... While things DO breed forward...and I won't intentionally do that... I am NOT the sum of my parents' stupidity. My 3 siblings absolutely are peat and repeat... but I STAND ON MY OWN apart from them! (but that's still 75% awful and 25% "well" adjusted )

Nobody culls hens for attitude.. and they are some serious beeyotches... and THAT breeds forward as well... into their sons... I love my Marans... my pure cockerels rock... but my favorite hen an Easter Egger puts out the nastiest cockerels ever... even when bred to my very acceptable Marans rooster. They are pretty birds too.

I appreciate your honesty and unique perspective.

 

[CannedMonster]

Yes, well I never intend to... but I'm not gonna lie and say I never reacted with more force than was needed, acceptable or I was comfortable with... accidents happen! Sometimes you don't realize your own strength compared to the size of the bird. Fortunately, I recognize my folly and try not do it again. Doing something repeatedly would makes it abuse... and accidental incident (that is taken care of if need be) is not.

So yes, I have crossed the line... (even when their action was at another bird and not me) but it WAS part of my learning process!

I won't cull for an attempted wing dance from a cockerel. Everyone gets a chance as testing boundaries is natural... I do cull for repeated stupidity to challenge the food giant, after a SHORT adjustment period.... While things DO breed forward...and I won't intentionally do that... I am NOT the sum of my parents' stupidity. My 3 siblings absolutely are peat and repeat... but I STAND ON MY OWN apart from them! (but that's still 75% awful and 25% "well" adjusted )

Nobody culls hens for attitude.. and they are some serious beeyotches... and THAT breeds forward as well... into their sons... I love my Marans... my pure cockerels rock... but my favorite hen an Easter Egger puts out the nastiest cockerels ever... even when bred to my very acceptable Marans rooster. They are pretty birds too.

I read in another thread a while back that genetically temperament comes from the opposite sex parent in chickens.
Looks like you have direct experience with that lol.
I had 3 SLW that were the Mean Girl Squad.
It took quite some time before my cockerel was able to dominate them.
I rehomed them to a friend and my flock is more peaceful now.
The Mean Girls don’t act like beeyoches in her, much larger, flock.

 

[Gxspenst]

I don't have an issue with my rooster wing dancing me and I know the meaning of it. The OP, @Gxspenst, of the thread does have the issue however.

I've begun training to make him stop the wing dance, so i'm very thankful to the BYC community for helping me out! Let's hope this training has a positive effect.

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

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

I know this from experience! You speak the truth!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I read in another thread a while back that genetically temperament comes from the opposite sex parent in chickens.

I hadn't read that one yet. In breeding it is interesting to see how some things pass to same sex offspring while others pass to opposite. Genetics is fascinating stuff!

Now that you mention it... her daughters with the very same rooster were much more shy and lower pecking order among the flock.

Yes culling from your flock can be rehoming. It's a great option for some birds.

I was out in my Silkie pen just now and saw a hen do the wing dance at a subordinate... So I should say the wing dance towards me is not accepted.

 

[HuffleClaw]

I guess I’ve been breaking the rules! I hold my roosters even more than my hens... Cowboy, my 3 year old rooster (handled since day 1) hasn’t even shown any aggression towards me or anyone else... Also my cockerels don’t act crazily like I’ve seen (I.e. aggression). I’ll continue to be a “rooster hugger” until further notice

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

Guess I'll be the test subject. Will keep you posted. More than 50% roosters. Only one idiot. I'll figure out who it is. I'll be nice, try to work it out, like a dem, then I will negotiate like liberal, then I'll intimidate like a Republican, then I'll solve it on my own. Like I always do ,lol.