Sad day, I will have to rehome...

[Robin'sBrood]

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Do you have enough hens for 5 roos? Seems like they would get pretty worn out, if ya know what I mean.

As for the OP, I don't know the answer but I hope you can keep him since you really want him!

 

[rooster-red]

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YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING RIGHT ?

or AM I? Only the chickens know, and they're not talking.

Thats probably a good thing!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

All right, I read the article, and still don't agree. Someone's been spending way too much time trying to analyze and interpret basic chicken behavior. Certainly there is the pecking order in the flock, and all the poultry politics going on. Where there are 2 or more roos in a flock there will be all that power struggle and periodic change in leadership.

But I don't believe the chickens think you're really one of them, and that you should engage in all that chickenish interaction with them. And some of the article's suggestions sound unkind, almost cruel. Knocking chicks over when they're fighting? Swatting, chasing, scaring roosters on purpose? I think doing that would put you more at risk of making a roo more wary & defensive around you.

Certainly you should spend time tending your flock and getting to know them, and let them become familiar with you. But the consistency they should expect comes best in the form of kind & considerate care. I think that fear is the motive behind most rooster aggression, not disrespect for your authority.

At this time I have 6 roosters with 60 hens. They are all mannerly, and do not fear us. I like to watch them buk-buk-buk to call their hens over to the treats I distribute, I wouldn't swat or slap them away from doing their job. They all stay busy mating with the hens, and I wouldn't try to stop them even if I could, or thought I should. Anyway, chicken sex happens so fast, you'd have to be right next to the hen to stop the rooster before he finished.

 

[dancingbear]

I sorry, but this is one of the most absurd notions I've ever heard. I've kept chickens for years, grew up with them. This article is nonsense.

If you keep messing with this roo, or maybe you've already got him confused, he may become aggressive. It sounds like he WAS just fine, but you said he looked like he was sizing you up...maybe so, since you kept challenging him. Maybe he's wondering if you're a rival, when before, he just ignored you and acted like a normal roo.

Some roos will get aggressive. Most don't. We eat the mean ones, and the extra ones. In many, many, years, I've really only had 2 that got aggressive toward people.

 

[2boxers]

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Indeed. I have seen one of my roosters grab a treat and run. The other roosters chase him for a few seconds and then stop and look around at each other. In my mind, I can almost hear them saying, "D'uh, remind me again, guys. What were we doing?"

I love my chickens, but they are dumb. I don't think they are dumb enough to think that I am one of them, but they are dumb.

To the original OP, I will gladly trade you a Rhode Island Red roo for your Orpington. My reds are very very tame and friendly.

 

[cajunlizz]

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#3 under "Now that you're King"

I have NEVER read anything SO STUPID in all my life . THIS person that wrote this have NEVER been raised around chickens /roosters . HE is making up his own rules and customs for his own personal agenda . THIS IS NOT A FACT of how things should be . ROOSTERS are in total control over his FLOCK . IT MIGHT be your flock as the main owner , BUT once you have a ROOSTER , he takes control and will protect this flock at all COST .

So , if you going to try and make that roosters life IN YOUR TOTAL control , GET rid of the entire flock . Roosters are doing their JOB when mating with the hens . THATS what you got roosters for .
So , allow them to do their job .

 

[sussexgal]

My mutt roo attacked me only once - I had just scooped up a timid two month old chick and it was yelling like an owl had it. The roo was doing his job protecting the flock. A quick openhanded swat to his butt made him rethink what had just happened. We now have an understanding and he just watches me if I decide to scoop up any of the rest of the flock no matter how loud they yell. He mates whoever whenever.... he's about 18 months old. His name? Spanky

 

[lemurchaser]

He may kind of like being carried around, so you may be rewarding the behavior. I would push him off everytime he does it. Or chase him off. But it is normal for him to keep trying. Low ranking roos are going to try to sneak in a mating at every opportunity, that is normal bird behavior.

 

[banter]

Never being raised around chickens I had no preconceived notions about them. I never analyzed them and we get along fine! One roo has jumped on me a couple of times and I just turned around and told him to SNAP OUT OF IT! Then I did a little dance. He respects me now lol! I have no idea what I'm doing, but neither do they!

 

[cajunlizz]

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THATS WHAT YOU THINK . They never forget , so watch your back .