Still ignorant after all these year...

[nanci1989]

hello everybody. I have had chickens for 3 years now. It would seem that there would come a point where I could say that I know what I am doing. My best old gal just got over a case of salpingitis that I used backyard chickens site on a daily basis... In April, I bought 9 pullet chicks at my local feed store and I just found out that one of the pullets is a rooster. Now, for these years, I only know the gals and don't know how to care for a boy. Anyone out there have any advice for me (not make dumplings...ha ha). Is the care different than what I have been doing for my gals?

 

[rIrs roost]

Nothings different. At least not for me. Some say not to feed them layer feed but I know plenty that do.

 

[nanci1989]

Nothings different. At least not for me. Some say not to feed them layer feed but I know plenty that do.

What do you feed if not layer feed?

 

[rIrs roost]

What do you feed if not layer feed?

I feed all of my chickens from birth All Flock on Flock Raiser. I use to use layer but switched. I know someone that feeds nothing but layer crumbles to chicks on up. I wouldn't do it but he swears it hasn't caused any problems.

 

[lazy gardener]

My roo eats layer feed, and I expect him to live to a ripe old age, as do roos from other flocks who eat layer feed all of their adult lives. As for treating a cockerel differently: Yes, I would encourage you to keep him at arm's length, and not to "make a pet" of him. Watch for any sign that he may having human aggressive thoughts. These include: giving you the "stink eye", following you closely, especially from behind, dropping a wing and/or side stepping towards you, tidbitting in front of you, biting, or pecking at you, flaring his hackle feathers at you. Immediately take corrective steps. Here's an excellent post written by Beekissed on roo management. If you start training him at a young age, you will most likely never end up with a roo that needs to be culled b/c he's become human aggressive.

I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything to him. If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant ones and subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation. There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down and giving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck. No holding him down and nothing else. That's a rooster on a hen maneuver, not rooster on rooster.

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate in this picture. You are getting dominated by your bird simply because you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to be walking when a dominant is in the area. What you never see is a dominant rooster getting attacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose. So far you are losing and not even challenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive. He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner. Some people never have to go on the offensive because their movements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked your husband. Most men move more decisively than do women and children and they rarely step around a bird, but walk through them.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all. His environment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language he understands. Because they are quick on their feet and can evade you, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that will lengthen your reach by 5 ft. really helps in this. Don't use a rake or broom because they are too clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when you don't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements and walk directly towards your rooster. Move him away from the feeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leaves the coop. The stick will help you guide him. Then...wait patiently while he gets his bird mind around what just happened. He will try to come back in the coop...let him. When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim it well. If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs and keep at it until he leaves the coop once again. Repeat this process until he is too wary to come back in the coop.

Feed your hens. When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack the wall by the pop door just as he tries to enter. If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stick either smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry. Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching your hens eat. Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him. Don't worry about the hens running and getting excited when this is happening...they will get over it. This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.

When the hens have had a good tucker....leave the coop and let him come back in. Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...top roosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock. You shouldn't either. Take your stick and startle him with a smack on the floor next to him when he is least expecting it...make that bird jump and RUN. Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder and trying to get out of your way. THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together. Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands. You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need to establish that when you move, he moves...away. When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster. If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop. Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate. They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space. If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him. At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door. If he feels the need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops. He doesn't get to crow while you are there. He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along. And it can be fun if you venture into it with the right attitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly. This can work on strange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn. You rule the coop...now act like it. Carrying is for babies...you have a full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby.

 

[rebrascora]

Many people feed their whole flock grower or flock raiser and just ensure that the layers have access to plenty of calcium in the form of oyster shell and crushed egg shells. Others, myself included feed mostly layer and don't encounter any problems. I have difficulty sourcing a grower or flock raiser that is not medicated unless I buy a premium brand which is twice the price of layer and since it is not possible to feed the boys separately and I can't afford to feed the whole flock a premium brand, they get layer with the girls.
Otherwise as regards raising a cockerel, it is best not to handle them too much or try to make pets of them. You want them to be respectful of you and a bit wary. Familiarity breeds contempt and too much petting and hand feeding can lead them to think they can be dominant over you when they reach adolescence. Thankfully you have older girls that hopefully you will be raising him with and they should teach him some manners. Cockerels raised with siblings the same age and no seniors, are more likely to become aggressive when they mature. Having old hens or a cock bird to put him in his place as he matures is very helpful. As he gets older, make sure he gets out of your way when you enter the pen. Make a point of walking right at him so that he has to move and make a daily habit of it. He has to know you are boss and not think twice about challenging that situation.

 

[barred2rock]

My roo eats layer feed, and I expect him to live to a ripe old age, as do roos from other flocks who eat layer feed all of their adult lives. As for treating a cockerel differently: Yes, I would encourage you to keep him at arm's length, and not to "make a pet" of him. Watch for any sign that he may having human aggressive thoughts. These include: giving you the "stink eye", following you closely, especially from behind, dropping a wing and/or side stepping towards you, tidbitting in front of you, biting, or pecking at you, flaring his hackle feathers at you. Immediately take corrective steps. Here's an excellent post written by Beekissed on roo management. If you start training him at a young age, you will most likely never end up with a roo that needs to be culled b/c he's become human aggressive.

I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything to him. If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant ones and subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation. There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down and giving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck. No holding him down and nothing else. That's a rooster on a hen maneuver, not rooster on rooster.

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate in this picture. You are getting dominated by your bird simply because you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to be walking when a dominant is in the area. What you never see is a dominant rooster getting attacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose. So far you are losing and not even challenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive. He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner. Some people never have to go on the offensive because their movements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked your husband. Most men move more decisively than do women and children and they rarely step around a bird, but walk through them.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all. His environment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language he understands. Because they are quick on their feet and can evade you, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that will lengthen your reach by 5 ft. really helps in this. Don't use a rake or broom because they are too clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when you don't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements and walk directly towards your rooster. Move him away from the feeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leaves the coop. The stick will help you guide him. Then...wait patiently while he gets his bird mind around what just happened. He will try to come back in the coop...let him. When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim it well. If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs and keep at it until he leaves the coop once again. Repeat this process until he is too wary to come back in the coop.

Feed your hens. When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack the wall by the pop door just as he tries to enter. If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stick either smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry. Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching your hens eat. Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him. Don't worry about the hens running and getting excited when this is happening...they will get over it. This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.

When the hens have had a good tucker....leave the coop and let him come back in. Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...top roosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock. You shouldn't either. Take your stick and startle him with a smack on the floor next to him when he is least expecting it...make that bird jump and RUN. Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder and trying to get out of your way. THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together. Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands. You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need to establish that when you move, he moves...away. When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster. If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop. Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate. They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space. If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him. At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door. If he feels the need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops. He doesn't get to crow while you are there. He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along. And it can be fun if you venture into it with the right attitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly. This can work on strange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn. You rule the coop...now act like it. Carrying is for babies...you have a full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby.

Question regarding this, if you're the "dominant bird" aren't you expected to take on the role of protecting the flock, finding food, etc. thus the rooster may not?

 

[nanci1989]

Thanks to all that replied to my problem. Actually quite excited to see how the rooster saga plays out. I never thought I would have one. Thank goodness we moved to our 40 acre ranchette last year.

 

[lazy gardener]

Question regarding this, if you're the "dominant bird" aren't you expected to take on the role of protecting the flock, finding food, etc. thus the rooster may not?

Good question, I had to think a bit about my response. I hope that what I've said makes sense to you.

I am not the dominant BIRD. I dominate my birds. A human is the pack leader to his dog, that does not make the human become a dog. The dog still interacts with other dogs in doggy fashion. And the dog knows that the human is NOT a dog. The rooster will still interact with his flock in chicken fashion. My roo and I have an understanding. He knows his name, he knows the word NO. He knows when I expect him to cease an action, such as running down a pullet who has clearly told him that she is not interested in his romantic attempts. If I tell him to leave an area, he does so. I may need to follow through with a step in his direction, but he KNOWS. I will often simply walk him away from a location as a reminder that I own the space. He used to get upset when I picked up one of his girls, especially if she complained bitterly. But, I persisted, and he now comes to check, talks about it a bit, and then he leaves.

 

[aart]

You're not 'ignorant' in as far the negative connotation of that word,
you lack experience with male birds......now you're gonna learn!
You're actually quite smart to ask abut something you don't know about.
Best of cLuck!