Rowdy Rooster

[xeno0323]

Hi Guys, I have a batam roo (Rocky Roo) who is just over 11 weeks old. He's been really friendly so far, but he recently bit me pretty hard, twice. He's the only rooster living with his three hens. I raised him from a chick with his ladies and I'd like to keep him. I'm worried he will start biting harder and more often if I don't nip this in the bud. Do you guys have any suggestions for me? ( I tried to post a picture, but I keep gettin error messages.)

 

[bobbi-j]

There are many opinions on how to try to correct a cockerel’s bad behavior ranging from holding them down, carrying them around, “pecking” them with your finger, to showing them that you’re the boss by “ walking through them”, (going where you want to go, making them move out of your way), moving them away from food and water and occasionally just walking toward them, making them back down. Personally, I use the last approach, and start doing that from the minute I know I have a cockerel on my hands. I start early to hopefully avoid them even getting started with bad habits like pecking, stalking or trying to flog me. You may be able to correct his behavior and get him to respect you, but that doesn’t mean he’ll behave around other people - especially kids. I’d keep an eye on that.

ETA - I’d start by not letting him get in a position to ever bite me again. I wouldn’t get my hands that close to him.

 

[xeno0323]

There are many opinions on how to try to correct a cockerel’s bad behavior ranging from holding them down, carrying them around, “pecking” them with your finger, to showing them that you’re the boss by “ walking through them”, (going where you want to go, making them move out of your way), moving them away from food and water and occasionally just walking toward them, making them back down. Personally, I use the last approach, and start doing that from the minute I know I have a cockerel on my hands. I start early to hopefully avoid them even getting started with bad habits like pecking, stalking or trying to flog me. You may be able to correct his behavior and get him to respect you, but that doesn’t mean he’ll behave around other people - especially kids. I’d keep an eye on that.

ETA - I’d start by not letting him get in a position to ever bite me again. I wouldn’t get my hands that close to him.

Ok, thanks for the information.