Too many roosters

[nuthatched]

Explain the ignores you. All my chickens come running when they hear me coming. I handle babies as much as I can to socialize them. None of them enjoy being picked up but some tolerate it and are easier to catch than others.

You don't want the males to come running to you. You don't want to handle males very much once you realize they're male, you want them to ignore you or move out of your area. They need to respect you early before hormones start running.

 

[Crazy chicken lady 77]

You don't want the males to come running to you. You don't want to handle males very much once you realize they're male, you want them to ignore you or move out of your area. They need to respect you early before hormones start running.

Thank you for this information. I've only had chickens a few years so im definitely learning

 

[CoBeeChicks]

While trying to socialize puppies and kittens, it can backfire with cockerels. In chicken society every bird has a place, and will either peck or give way. When they give way, that is respect. It can look like fear of you. And that is what they mean.

Now you don’t want panicked fear, you just want a calm walking away from you, giving you about 5 feet of space all around you. That is respect.

Often times people want a pet. They want them to approach, taking that as being friendly. It is a misinterpretation, it is a lack of fear, lack of respect. Very often these cockerels can become more and more aggressive towards humans.

This forum is filled with posts where the darling becomes the nightmare in an instant. Not probably true, but inexperienced people miss the cues.

It is nearly impossible to believe that the darling stage does not last forever. Or that today’s behavior does not indicates next weeks. As a cockerel comes into his own, it is very common that they become aggressive. Some do, some don’t.

Mrs K

I have had a different experience. My present Rooster is almost 4 I raised him from a chick, hand-fed him and petted him. He is still nice to me and to my hens. He still comes to eat out of my hand. I think it has more to do with their inherent personality, I have done the same to all my cockerels, over 30 during the years. Some remain friendly, some not so much.

 

[PoodleChick62]

Explain the ignores you. All my chickens come running when they hear me coming. I handle babies as much as I can to socialize them. None of them enjoy being picked up but some tolerate it and are easier to catch than others.

One of my roosters has attacked me repeatedly. I have three holes in my leg with lumps and bruises. I can't go into their area without being weaponized. My husband didn't believe me until he saw it in person. They tolerate him. One time it was so bad that another rooster actually came to my defense. I have three, not enough hens, and I can't kill any of these guys. One is gorgeous and calm and takes great care of the hens, the other two I would like to leave. I'll try again on Facebook to see if anyone wants a rooster, either for soup, or for hens

 

[redinator]

Do this in stages. People agonize over this as in you might pick wrong. You really will never know.

Divided the flock in half. Remove half. Clear the forest to see the trees. Wait a couple of weeks and repeat.

Removing cockerels changes the behavior of the remaining ones. Now you should be down to 2-3 and generally one will suit you much more so than the others. Once in a while, you will have two. Put one with the hens and wait a week. If they love him, decision made. If not try the other one.

But realize that there is a good chance none of these will male a flock master. Cockerels are a crap shoot. The best way to get a great rooster is not to keep a rotten one.

^^^ This

I culled a male that was too aggressive with me when a broody was raising chicks in the yard. I thought my troubles were over, but nope!

The second male started attacking me. He was never a problem before I culled the first and he always kept a respectable distance. In the last few weeks (3-4 weeks since I culled the first) he's attacked me twice and my small Maltese dog just for being there when he was in a mood.

Cull the worst behaved ones wait a few weeks and decide who's next. Rehome some if they're well behaved but you just have too many.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I have a male and he’s so mean to my geese never seen a rooster chase a full goose. His brother isn’t like that and I handled both allot as chicks. As handling doesn’t make them aggressive, genetics do.

 

[Jo Jos Flock]

I'm in a similar situation. I have one older roo I've had over a year and six hatched this year. I'm making a Batchelor flock. I've been ready to butcher one on certain days and a different one a few days later. Right now they're all behaving. Their hormones can get them into trouble. Give it time and really see which one or ones you want to keep before taking a life.