Rooster Troubles

[ilovemychickens5110]

No matter what I am doing, my rooster always comes after me and pecks at my legs very hard and sometimes jumps as well. I've been kicking him whenever he does that, but I don't want to do that anymore. I want him to know that what he is doing is not acceptable. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Sorin]

There are many, many opinions on this. I won't say that any one of them is wrong, but here is a link to a great, non violent way of dealing with this problem http://www.motherearthnews.com/happy-homesteader/help-for-agressive-roosters.aspx. It deals with teaching the rooster you are not competition. Once they realize that, the agression usually stops. I have used this method myself before and have helped a few friends with this as well with great success. Keep in mind though, that some roosters may not be able to be re-habilitated. Good Luck!

 

[feliciamckee]

I have read that you can put something thick on, such as waders or very thick jeans whenever you go around him. Then, just let him do his thing. He should eventually get tired of it and bored when he sees it is not affecting you. Just ignore him. It may take awhile but it may be effective.

Also, do you ever offer him treats from your hand? That is the first thing mine looks for when he sees me. He knows when I come around, it will be something good for him.

I'm thankful to have a sweetheart rooster but he is a Jersey Giant and they are known to be gentle.

 

[R_Chickens]

Wow. Get that behavior stopped ASAP.

Here's an article you should digest right away: http://shilala.homestead.com/roosters.html

We've been following this advice and our 17 hens and 3 roosters are VERY calm, almost pet-like. We still have to remind the roosters once in a while.

I pick them up (my daughter is the main caretaker and picks them up pretty much daily), handle their combs, waddles, all over. If they've been acting up or trying to get aggessive, I hold them on their back, cradled in my arm like a baby and pet and handle them all over. You'd think it would be distressing, but they calm right down, as long as they can't see all the 'action' going on in the coop.

When I go to put them down, they have to be calm and not squirming or I pick them back up.

We also never allow them to run and get away. If we go to pick them up, we make certain we always get them.

When one of the hens complained loudly the other day, 2 of the roosters came running, but stopped just short, giving me the evil-eye. They settled as the hen settled. I told my wife that was 'good' as they were being protective, but knew not to approach or challenge us.

We are certainly not experts, but people comment on how unbelievably calm and pet-like our chickens are. You can pet them when they come running as you open the coop. Not all like handling, but they tolerate it. Then there are the two hens who have to be right in the middle of everything you do, checking out everything.

As we've adjusted their initial cage to be larger, then moved them to the coop and continue to make improvements, we let them with us as we work.

When we took the screen off the top of their initial cage for feeding in the basement, they would hop up on the edge of the cage and walk around it, but not leave the cage. Only twice did we have to put them back on. Once was a rooster after a 9 hr power outage and they were in the dark all day. They were all pretty skiddish with the flashlights and all. He was just spooked.

We're not the 'chicken psychology' type, but this advice has made for a very manageable flock of 'pets,' which was our goal for these first 20. They will stay with us long term. Future flocks as we add them will be mixed egg and meat production.

Hope this helps you as much as it has helped us!

- JC

 

[ketcham]

I have a rooster that was acting up.I booted him a few times and he now gives me lots of room.Still make him mad in the evening[roosting time] when I pick him up and pet him.He is in charge of the other 8.Kevin