Tips on Nice Roosters

[VsVariations]

(I apologize if this is in the wrong place - I've read up on all the rules I can for today haha!)

I bought 4 pullets end of March, and one (my favorite. freakin'. one.) turned out to be a rooster. They are now 12 weeks old.

Currently, my roo is a sweetheart, and my favorite since I picked him out at a few days old.

Will this change?

- and -

Is there anything I can do, to keep him sweet?

I was thinking of making sure I show dominance when I enter the coop - but how do I do that? What's the best way?

Any tips help! I want to keep this beauty! I'll do Anything!

- V

 

[aknewlin]

I know there are nice roosters. My niece had one that was a sweet heart. I've also seen videos of sweet roosters (like this one:

. I've also heard that it depends on the breed, such as Buff Orpingtons being naturally more docile.

My goal is to keep my roosters (Silkie and Lavender Orpington) sweet like these. My daughters loved on them a lot when they were little, and now that they are bigger (3 1/2 months old), they are harder to catch, but once caught, they both will cuddle in their laps and fall asleep. They don't chase them down and harass them, but they reach down when they are near and pick them up.

I don't know how to get one to do what the rooster in the video did, but I sure would love it! There are more videos out there if you look up cuddly roosters.

 

[Michael OShay]

Gently handling the rooster a lot will help. Also, it depends somewhat on the breeds. Our breeds like Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, Buff Cochins, Light Brahmas, and Black Silkie roosters have generally been quite docile. My children handled them a lot and made pets of them.

 

[VsVariations]

Gently handling the rooster a lot will help. Also, it depends somewhat on the breeds. Our breeds like Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, Buff Cochins, Light Brahmas, and Black Silkie roosters have generally been quite docile. My children handled them a lot and made pets of them.

Ah, gotcha! Mine is an EE (thought I had gotten a real Ameraucana, but nope, the bottom feet are yellow, not white).

 

[aknewlin]

I have three Easter Egger hens. They are gentle birds, but quite skittish. If I manage to catch one in an egg squat, then I can pick them up. Otherwise? Forget it! lol!

 

[gryeyes]

First, just understand that even the "nicest" roosters start out with that obnoxious testosterone poisoning when they are adolescents. They try to jump all the hens, have no manners or finesse, and in their sex crazed weeks they may very well challenge you "just because."

With that said, I can tell you I do not coddle my roosters. They have their jobs, I respect it and understand Carl (my dominant roo) will get a little jiggy if I make a hen squawk when reaching under her for eggs, or I pick one up to inspect her vent or feathers or something.

I make the flock - and roosters - understand *I* am the flock Boss. I will snatch a rooster up and carry him around like a football under my arm if he flares his crest/neck feathers at me. I have also "walked" a rooster backwards until HE gives up challenging me. (search for "training a rooster" threads on BYC for more information).

In five years, and over thirty roosters, I have had only two which needed to be culled due to aggressiveness. Some were processed for meat by friends, and therefore don't count as attempts to be gentled, but I currently keep a bachelor pen of fifteen roosters right now. They all respect me.

Hand feeding them treats on a daily basis really helps them to know you are The Giver Of Goodies.

Do NOT chase, run after, or kick or beat a challenging rooster with a broom or stick. That will trigger aggression!

 

[Michael OShay]

I have three Easter Egger hens. They are gentle birds, but quite skittish. If I manage to catch one in an egg squat, then I can pick them up. Otherwise? Forget it! lol!

X2. We have always had EEs because my children and now my granddaughter love the colored eggs. None of our EEs have been aggressive, but like yours, they are somewhat skittish. The children were never able to make the pets out of them that they were able to make out of the breeds that I mentioned in my earlier post.