Rooster Training Advice

[LizzzyJo]

I don't think it is. Others here will.
The hens are his as far as he is concerned.
Have you tried just sitting in a chair and allowing the hens to jump in your lap of their own accord? My rooster doesn't mind that. It seems a fair compromise.

Yes, he doesn't mind when they come to me.

Will he ever be ok with other people trying to pet hens? Or should I lock him up if this is going to happen? My older hens are SO friendly when friends/family visit that they don't mind at all to be petted and held.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Yes you can have a rooster and pick up your hens. If you understand and respect rooster behavior and work with it. In his feather brain, they are HIS hens. He needs to learn that you are not a competing rooster trying to steal from him. If you have to, sometimes it's easier just to lock him in the run while the girls free range and hang out with you.

Yes, that's what i was thinking. If people come over or if i want to chill and pet/hold, I lock him up. I really do love having him. He's beautiful and so SO good to his hens. I am never skittish around him, but I am hoping that hi behavior will stay the same/get better as he ages if I continue to work with him. Will it get worse as he ages because of hormones?

 

[Roo5]

No,in his mind their hens but in realness their yours.You should be able to hold hens whenever you feel regardless of what the rooster thinks and if he can’t respect that he needs to go.Hes a young boy so he could turn around.

I currently have a 3 month old buff. Brahma who intends on dominating me.He drops his wings and make a threat calls sometimes around em,I’m working with him and hoping he shapes up.

 

[Criticalicious]

Brahma are usually fairly docile, but the rooster hormones will surge from 6 months to a year and then he should mellow out some as he ages. It's hard to say how he'll behave with strangers until it happens. Every rooster is different.

 

[Roo5]

His hormones are already raging, if anything he’ll get better, other then getting worse , or he might just remain the same.
I feel as if he wanted to act off and get into any more bad behaviors he would have by now.

Yes, that's what i was thinking. If people come over or if i want to chill and pet/hold, I lock him up. I really do love having him. He's beautiful and so SO good to his hens. I am never skittish around him, but I am hoping that hi behavior will stay the same/get better as he ages if I continue to work with him. Will it get worse as he ages because of hormones?

 

[Soy Milano]

Yes 100%! Roosters can totally be gentled! There is even an infographic about it! http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/gentling-roosters

 

[centrarchid]

@LizzzyJo you are doing what I think would be a very effective way to train a rooster in being a man-fighter.

Calling the hens, and the rooster, up for eats can be done without major issue with most rooster.

Securing hens physically in front of him, interfering with his mating efforts, and getting physical with him in an effort to dominate him socially is setting up where he will very likely challenge you and others for top position in pecking order. Based on your description of the charges, he is working up the nerve already.

 

[Chickassan]

Did you raise him from a chick, like first day?
If you didn't and haven't gently handled him a reasonable amount so he has no doubt you're not a threat he's showing great restraint by just running to see what you're up to.
I'd let sleeping dogs lie and not push him.
Gah, i'm scatterbrained! Didn't answer your question. You can have a rooster and handle your hens just not how you're doing it.
You'll end up getting flogged using your current methods. And even my very trusting rooster would not be o.k with strangers touching the hens.
Please don't try that.

 

[LizzzyJo]

@LizzzyJo you are doing what I think would be a very effective way to train a rooster in being a man-fighter.

Calling the hens, and the rooster, up for eats can be done without major issue with most rooster.

Securing hens physically in front of him, interfering with his mating efforts, and getting physical with him in an effort to dominate him socially is setting up where he will very likely challenge you and others for top position in pecking order. Based on your description of the charges, he is working up the nerve already.

OK, i'd certainly like to do things right. It can be hard when I get 5 different and opposing suggestions from 5 different people I'd appreciate any suggestions!

How should I go about training him to let me handle the hens in front of him? He takes treats from my hand, no problem. I've had him since he was a day old. This issue is pretty new.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Did you raise him from a chick, like first day?
If you didn't and haven't gently handled him a reasonable amount so he has no doubt you're not a threat he's showing great restraint by just running to see what you're up to.
I'd let sleeping dogs lie and not push him.
Gah, i'm scatterbrained! Didn't answer your question. You can have a rooster and handle your hens just not how you're doing it.
You'll end up getting flogged using your current methods. And even my very trusting rooster would not be o.k with strangers touching the hens.
Please don't try that.

I did have him from day one. I handle him and pick him up everyday. He lets me pet him and handle him without issues. This issue of not letting me pick up the hens is relatively new. I'm just trying to follow the advice from a bunch of people at once. How should I train him to let me pick them up?