Tips on Roosters

[Maleficent265]

I have a white leghorn rooster named Branch. He was a bit of an impulse grab since he game from my aunts backyard flock. In her area, she’s not permitted to keep roosters and she was upset because she hated the idea of putting him in the freezer if she couldn’t rehome him.

I had the space so I took him. We’ve lived together for three years and he HATES me! I don’t exactly want him cuddly, but if I could get advice on how to maintain a good working relationship with him.

I’ve been told to handle him and I’ve been told to ignore him... I’m beginning to think he just has it out for me. I’m not even allowed to offer treats without him raising his hackle.

 

[DobieLover]

I have a white leghorn rooster named Branch. He was a bit of an impulse grab since he game from my aunts backyard flock. In her area, she’s not permitted to keep roosters and she was upset because she hated the idea of putting him in the freezer if she couldn’t rehome him.

I had the space so I took him. We’ve lived together for three years and he HATES me! I don’t exactly want him cuddly, but if I could get advice on how to maintain a good working relationship with him.

I’ve been told to handle him and I’ve been told to ignore him... I’m beginning to think he just has it out for me. I’m not even allowed to offer treats without him raising his hackle.

You offering him treats to his hens will raise his hackles every time.

You've got a long row to ho if this has been going on for three years. He's come to see you as a threat to his flock and it will take a long time to get him to change his mind.

I also have a rooster who dislikes me. Hate would be a strong word for our relationship.
He only acts out with me, the primary care taker. He allows others into the pen and just watches them. I'm the one that brings the food so I'm the threat. That is his job. He wants to show his girls what a great provider he is and I waltz in with a tub of grub and they come running to me and leave him in the dust. It's a major blow to his roosterly ego.

So what I do now is to go into the pen and wait until the entire mob gets to me then slow and deliberately walk straight to him and ignore the hens. I offer HIM the food. The hens still mob me but he looks me right in the eye and realizes I was feeding HIM not them. He will try to grab some food out of my hand and tid bit the girls with it.

I will then encourage him to lead us to the feed troughs. This way, he feels like he is the one bringing his hens to the food.

I have also gotten pretty great results hand feeding him raisins. Again, the hens will come tearing in for them but we've got our little routine. My rooster is always right there waiting for his raisin. He actually let me pet him several days ago without acting defensive. He was very calm.

 

[Maleficent265]

You offering him treats to his hens will raise his hackles every time.

You've got a long row to ho if this has been going on for three years. He's come to see you as a threat to his flock and it will take a long time to get him to change his mind.

I also have a rooster who dislikes me. Hate would be a strong word for our relationship.
He only acts out with me, the primary care taker. He allows others into the pen and just watches them. I'm the one that brings the food so I'm the threat. That is his job. He wants to show his girls what a great provider he is and I waltz in with a tub of grub and they come running to me and leave him in the dust. It's a major blow to his roosterly ego.

So what I do now is to go into the pen and wait until the entire mob gets to me then slow and deliberately walk straight to him and ignore the hens. I offer HIM the food. The hens still mob me but he looks me right in the eye and realizes I was feeding HIM not them. He will try to grab some food out of my hand and tid bit the girls with it.

I will then encourage him to lead us to the feed troughs. This way, he feels like he is the one bringing his hens to the food.

I have also gotten pretty great results hand feeding him raisins. Again, the hens will come tearing in for them but we've got our little routine. My rooster is always right there waiting for his raisin. He actually let me pet him several days ago without acting defensive. He was very calm.

So all the things I’m doing to make him like me is having the opposite effect! Even when I try to specifically give him special treatment, he doesn’t want the treats and bites me instead. I don’t even know how to go about correcting him at this point. I can’t get close enough to do any of the things you’ve mentioned...

And if I give him treats when the hens are away, he acts like he wants to eat it, and then the second I turn around, I’m flying he’s. He’s kind of the worst.