Rooster Question

[ClareScifi]

There seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether or not roosters outgrow their aggressive "teenage hormonal activity." Some say roosters calm way down at about 1 year of age, after a tumultuous period from 20 weeks old until that time, when hormones are in full gear.

Others claim roosters just get meaner with age.

I'm sure maybe either can happen.

But which is more likely, given your experience?

Especially regarding hand-raised roosters, who were super-gentle and affectionate as chicks but then turned aggressive with the onset of hormones?

Thanks for your help. I have a 9 1/2 month old rooster.

 

[centrarchid]

I hen raise, brooder rear and hand raise roosters. Hand-reared I do for purpose of close and frequent handling as adults. The handling is done under a range of conditions and handled birds are expected to come into close contact with people they do not know. My roosters are not aggressive as adults and we have had some that exceeded a decade in age. Agression did not increase with age.

Some breifly become aggressive as subadults but I do not respond. They can peck or flog but I ignore and allow them to do it more if they like. If aggressor stops attack but still acts aggressive, then I move closer to enable more attacks which he quickly tires of. I am thick skinned and such birds are generally far from what they are capable of as adults so no damage to me occurs. I do not attack or recoil from them.

Adult roosters can be made aggressive if hen or chicks of their harem are threatened. That I see as good but also try not to threaten such groups, at least not during daylight.


Their can be a seasonal component associated with molt. Roosters in heavy molt tend to be defensive. Give them space since they feel vulnerable.

At least one breed for me is prone to man-fight when used as a breeder under commercial hatching egg production conditions. California greys are breeding machines and roosters of such are incompetent fighters but they still try. Owing to no interest in handling them I made no efforts to break aggression. Simply having a gamerooster around kept such stinkers in line.

 

[ClareScifi]

When you say some briefly become aggressive as subadults, what do you mean by that, time-frame wise?

 

[cafarmgirl]

I've had roo's that settled down after that crazy "teenage" stage and I've had some that got nasty and stayed nasty. I just give 'em time to settle down and see how things are when they are over a year old.

 

[ClareScifi]

Interesting, cafarmgirl. That is what I suspected. I guess time will tell. Two and one-half months to go... I have a feeling my boy will be a settle-downer, but I could be wrong. No matter, I'll love him nonetheless, either way.

 

[centrarchid]

When you say some briefly become aggressive as subadults, what do you mean by that, time-frame wise?

I tend to avoid use of age since developmental speed is very much dependent on breed. Subadult is the period when they are actually coming into the set of feathers they will have as full adults (third set). They have all the color but not the length of a full adult rooster so many of the feathers, especially the longer sicle feathers have blood in them. For my American dominiques that is in the 20 to 24 week time frame while with games it is in the 24 to 28 week time frame. WIth faster maturing breeds it starts and ends earlier than with American Dominiques. There is actually a degree of overlap as not all breeds repressented well by those intervals.


Such cockerels will be in the phase where they aggressively go after hens and pullets but females in general will not submit to advances. Once cockerels feathers become mature there is also a qualitative change in behavior that adult females detect making so such cockerels become more attractive. It is at this time, despite becoming less man-aggressive that such males will also challenge the older roosters in a sustained fight.

If rooster at 9.5 months (38 weeks) still come at you, then you have a man-fighter. If he is valuable and you are thin skinned, then put one some heavier clothing and provide him a target but totally ignore his antics. Do what you do when he attacks so long as it does not involve you going after or getting away from him. Do not give him feed awards for being good or bad. Stay out of his pecking order. If he is getting onto you for molesting his hens excessively, then the rooster is dealing with a problem owner.

 

[ClareScifi]

I can't go near him. He pecks so hard it draws blood. I just keep away from him, and that works very well. There is no need for me to come in contact with him-- unless he got sick.

At night, when he's gone to bed, he's very docile and I can pick him up then, if need be. I tried the avoiding his pecking behavior bit. It did not work.

I don't think there is a "One Size Fits All" for roosters. Each has its own personality.

 

[ClareScifi]

I meant to say, I tried ignoring the pecking behavior. He still pecked. It didn't make any difference at all.

 

[ClareScifi]

So he'll probably always be a manfighter, then, and he won't become any gentler as he gets older?

 

[centrarchid]

If you consider his behavior a problem, then replace him with another.