Rooster Training Advice

[Criticalicious]

Doing the wing dance at you is not yet a problem but can become one - he's treating you like one of his hens rather than respecting your space. He should see you as above him, not beneath. Generally unless I'm doling out treats, the rooster should keep a wide berth around me, move out of my way if I walk towards him, and submit if I pick him up. He should not be trying to impress me with his wing dance! Sometimes I toss random objects in his general direction to keep him off balance - pine cones, sticks, leaves, anything I have to hand - not to hit anything, just to spook him. I remember as a kid the story of Chicken Little seemed silly... until I started raising chickens.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

But what if he's doing the wing dance not at you, but at a hen that you just put down?

 

[Criticalicious]

Wing dancing at hens especially one you just set down is totally normal. He's getting her back in line with the flock.

 

[Cingratz]

I totally understand how you feel. My chickens always came to me and sat on my lap, they would let me powder them down with D.E., check for injuries etc. But since we got a Rooster (Cogburn) my girls became his. I saw the change within a week or so. We got him to protect our chickens, and that is exactly what he is doing. Its now his job, not mine. When I bring out kitchen scraps, (cucumbers, bread, etc.) he calls the girls over and will let them eat. He will not eat of anything, until they are finished. I now find it hard to even catch one of my girls to check them out. They are like therapy for me. I am a full time care giver for my mom 91 yrs. old. I've taken care of mom for 6 years now. Its hard. So I get my husband to watch mom while I go for a little therapy and watch my chickens and Cogburn. I do miss them jumping on me. But now its them and Cogburn. He has never charged at me but he sure does make a certain noise whenever I get close to his girls.
A hunt dog was running in my yard, Cogburn flew up over the 5' fence to attack the dog, only to protect his girls, he fought almost to his death. But he was doing his job. We had to nurse him back to health. Totally recovered now & clipped his wing too. Now I enjoy watching him care for the girls. He calls them over when he finds a worm, he calls them to run into the coop when there is a hawk, or danger of anything. Hope you too can learn to enjoy your rooster who has taken over your job.

My girls do follow my guy but they will come to me just a readily. He accepts me and dances around me like he does the hens. He has always accepted me that way.c Now my partner is another story he will challenge him. lol. My guy is still young and can't keep his girls all together. It is kind of sad sometimes that they don't listen to him like they should.

 

[Sobek]

If a rooster claims my hens I claim him as my dinner.

 

[Manhen]

Has anyone tried using a "chicken stick"? I use a long hiking pole I have had for years, light and easy to move with one hand, and helps keep your balance when walking around chickens. They will naturally move away from your stick, except the teacher's pet, or may attack it instead of you if it is an active rooster. I also use it to flick straw at the recalcitrant birds...gets em movin.

 

[suzfau]

I like having lap sitting hens. I picked them up long before I had the roo and would like to continue. It was picking them up and giving them treats that made them lap sitters. Now with this new 6 month hen flock the roo is getting upset when I train them in the same way as my older hens.

It all makes sense, of course, I am just looking to see if people can have a rooster and pick up their hens.

Ah, that makes sense now. The new girls are undoubtedly vocalising or fussing. Since you are (training) acclimating them to handling, that tells us they aren't used to it and reacting to a perceived danger. Rooster hears the girls call for help and responds appropriately. Remember, he will lay down his life for them if needed. He's a good boy. He's not attacking you.
Unless I'm doing health checks or something, I sit in a chair and let them hop up. You should respect your girls and not just grab them. If I do need to pick one up, I talk to her, stroke her back, then slowly lift. She knows what's going on. If she still fusses, Rooster runs over to observe then walks away if things look good. I must mention that he is an unusually passive rooster (easter egger). I had a very vigilant boy earlier. Attacked everyone when he was with the girls. Saved one from a hawk attack too! No I training was going to alter his genetic code. I had to round off his spurs, round off his upper beak (biting) and clipped his flight feathers. Once he was out of sight and smell of the girls for a few minutes, the hormones subsided and he would happily sit on my lap while I petted and preened him. It is what it is.

 

[brindlelove]

i say you should hold your rooster everyday to make them more used to you they can remember your face and they can remember 100 faces

 

[brindlelove]

Hi All,
I have a 6 month old Buff Brahma rooster (Cameron). I am devoted to proper training and am always seeking advice on best practices. His last remaining unruly behavior is to run toward me when I pick up a hen. I can pick him up and do anything else around him without issue. He does not bite or jump at me. When he runs toward me (when grabbing hens) I push him over with my foot, then grab him and hold him to the ground until he submits. I try to do this every few days. Sometimes 3 times in a row. He eventually wonders off (free rangers).

I would like for him to not mind when I pick up the hens and never run at me or any other human (obviously). I got him because I heard his breed makes docile, beautiful roos - which he is! When I'm not picking up hens, he is very sweet and mellow.

Will this training method ever work? Will he ever ignore me when I pick up hens? Will he ever ignore 'strange' humans when they pick up hens?

Thanks!View attachment 1853958

i have the same problem i just try to nudge him away so he learns not to do it anymore and he does not peck or fly at u i say your fin he is a great rooster