should I pick up my roo?

[gritsar]

Quote:
He avoids you as he would avoid the alpha rooster. That's not a bad thing IMO. If you need to check him for something, say for example you notice him limping during the day, wait until he goes to roost. Once it starts getting dark and he's on the roost picking him up will be alot easier for you and (usually) alot less disturbing to the roo. If you don't intend to show this rooster I see no reason to force him to like being held.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Ok thanks Gritsar, I was really beginning to wonder if it was a bad thing that he was
uncomfortable with being approached and picked up. I do not want to press it if
he would just rather be left along.

He is a good roo, I do not want to do anything to put him on the defensive and
cause problems.

thanks again.

 

[sourland]

Do nothing to change his recognition of you as being dominant. Make pets of your hens and treat your roosters like chickens.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

well said sourland. I think that is it in a nutshell. I will do just that.

thanks all, I get such great advice here.

 

[nickie]

I tend to fall under the hens are pets roosters are roosters category. I do pick everyone up for general wellness checks once every week or two, but other than that I just enjoy watching them. My head roo is not by any means terrified of me and will eat gently from my hands but he really freaks during physical exam time. My second in command tolerates it much better, but still not his idea of a good time.

If you have trouble catching him just wait until roosting time and its no big deal.

 

[nickie]

Looks like gritstar and I were saying the same thing at the same time. Lol. Let him be him and don't worry about it.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

I may have to wait till roosting time but it is going to be a rather tight pinch.
See my coop is four feet off the ground so getting to him is not going to be
as easy as walking into a large coop and picking him of the perch.

I will have to use my access door for cleaning to get him, or the door to the coop.
Not the easiest task. I will include pics to you can understand. But if he is afraid
of me it may be my only option.

I just hope that I can get a good grip if the angle is not ideal.



Here is a pic of the front of my coop. Getting the bird out will be a tight fit.
If he is sitting in just the right place it might work. Other that than it could
be really hard.

Thanks again everyone

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
Mr Woof loves me like no other. He is my good bird friend.

But I don't think he represents chickens, in general. He witnessed us through some hard times, and he just sort of took me in under his wing, so to speak. Everytime I come home, he wants his pick me up and coo time. But I don't think its because he wants to be held or petted, so much as he wants to give me comfort. He takes care of things, that way. That's what roosters do.

Maybe yours figures you're alright, and you don't need any roostering?

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

That is so cute. Sounds like Mr Woof has more of the personality of a cuddly puppy.

I guess you are right Roy figures that I do not need roostering. That is adorable, so sweet.

 

[spiritdance]

It's a matter of owner preference, not a matter of "this is right, and that is wrong." I prefer to be able to handle mine whenever necessary without causing them undue stress. I don't believe it's an "either or" deal, where you have "either" a rooster "or" a pet. I handle my roos from chickhood on without "unmanning" them or "fawning" over them. I just pick them up and carry them around, turn them upside down sometimes (so they aren't as freaked out when it's time for "the cone"), handle their feet so I can trim nails as necessary (the hens appreciate this), get them used to me handling their wings for clipping, accustom them to a "sevin sock" for parasite treatment, handle their beaks so worming is not too stressful,and even get them used to bathing in the event they need one as an adult. My roos respect me as dominant because I don't put up with any nonsense from them, but they aren't too difficult to catch or handle. As for your roo avoiding you, unless he's risking bodily injury to get away or acting as though you're a threat to his hens, just keep doing what you're doing to reinforce his trust without undermining your dominance, but if you have time you could start spending a few minutes in the coop at roost time as well. I sit with mine for a while most evenings because I find it relaxing and because I've found that my birds are much calmer around me when they associate me with a nonthreatening presence in the roost. It also gives me a chance to observe all the flock together and note any conflicts I need to watch out for, any excessive scratching signaling parasites, etcetera. This might make things a bit easier for you and for your roo in the event you do need to handle him for maintenance purposes.