Topic of the Week - Aggressive Roosters: What is the best way to handle them?

[newhamplover]

I definitely agree and you said it wonderfully! For the first few years I just thought my dog was stubborn or lazy (which admittedly he can be lol) but then I realized I was just boring, repeating many of the same tricks over and over and not that good of rewards, so then as I learned more I started adding new stuff to teach as well as higher value treats and sometimes I get more excited when he does it right, I was really boring before and he got bored versus getting more excited about it. I also realized in some cases play motivated him more, getting to play after, etc. But sometimes he's not interested or it gets him too riled up. I've been bad about training lately but I'm going to start getting back into it and he's great at obedience now. Heck, I've even taught the cat some tricks lol it's definitely fun when you get it right.

I am so glad to hear that. For people who enjoy animals seeing the training you do work is such a high. I was lucky in my Grandpa taught me. Animals & kids adored him & he could get animals to do anything he wanted. Kids too. I grew up with horses & was competing at 5. If anyone ever abused an animal they would have my Grandpa to deal with. I adored him. One of the biggest things I have learned is an animal must have confidence to do what you want it to do. I always instill all of the confidence I can in every animal I have owned. People, animals, we are all the same....you have to be confident to perform whatever it is you are asked to do. Some have said that my horses, dogs were overly confident but that was fine with me. They were full of themselves & I loved it. I knew when my dog was out showing with the handler he would be fine & he would be happy & he was. He was confident to take on whatever challenge came his way. I could get started on this topic & not shut up. Animals have always been one of my greatest joys.

 

[centrarchid]

You may be right - which is why it's good that people who haven't been around chickens all their lives can come here to learn. Maybe an explanation of what "natural chicken behavior" is, would be helpful. 

I have been putting some effort in describing ontogeny of male chicken behavior but trajectory of thread is such that I feel effort will be wasted to post.

 

[Folly's place]

The conversation has shifted, hasn't it? Mary

 

[bobbi-j]

It has definitely taken a turn. I appreciate your efforts, though, Centrarchid.

 

[AKChickenGal]

I have a five month old Blue Andalusian rooster. He is gorgeous, good to the hens, and even tolerates the Silver-spangled Hamburg rooster well. My husband and I held him as a chick but gave him space as he got older. Now he is the biggest chicken in the flock and is developing large spurs. He usually looks at me as I walk through the run or coop to make sure I am not causing trouble, but he usually keeps his distance and stays calm. This morning he tried challenging me and almost head-butted my leg. Is it typical for roosters to become aggressive gradually when nothing has changed in the coop (that I know of)? Should I be worried that he might attack? I have no problem making him dinner if he gets mean, but I am hoping it won't come to that.

My rooster was acting nervous when I was in the coop and run refilling water and food dishes today so I used a tip I found on this thread. I carry a small cup of water with me while I am figuring out how aggressive my rooster is, and when he came up to me acting like he was about to challenge me I splashed water in front of him. Even though he didn't get wet (I meant to get him wet, but I missed) he got the point. He was a lot more calm around me for the rest of the day. A couple more times and I don't think there will be any more problems. I guess we just had to sort out who is dominant and I am winning!

 

[rita10]

Hi I have breeding light Sussex and RIR cockerels over the years I find that when they start jumping at you the thing I do is i pick them up and carry them around with me as I let the rest of the hens out then put him down in his run and I always walk through him never go around him make him move out the way.
I find that if you fight with them it becomes a contest to see who is the best and I have the scar's on my legs to prove it

 

[kysilkies]

We've had to give up a few roosters that we really loved because we couldn't get them to chill out. It's the nature of the beast, every bird won't be compatible in every flock. If you love them, you'll do all you can, but it comes down to safety for the majority over the individual(how socialist of me, I will go rinse my mouth out with soap ASAP lol). We've even given away hens we loved to make sure the rooster we had to give away has a friend with him.

Speaking of roosters, we had a coop with 12 of them, leftovers from sales, a couple showed up yesterday and bought the entire group! Ya just never know!!!

 

[leafhopperfarm]

I always wonder about our human perceptions reflected onto the birds. It's hard to be completely unbiased, as we only have our own experiences to go from. However, animal behavior and complex human thought are not even close. Animals work on pure instincts, where as people use emotion and our stories to understand the world. When I catch myself anthropomorphizing onto the birds, I have to laugh, as the birds are only thinking of food, shelter, water, and biological function. They don't have the same kind of experience we people have, and are much more simplified.

 

[newhamplover]

I always wonder about our human perceptions reflected onto the birds. It's hard to be completely unbiased, as we only have our own experiences to go from. However, animal behavior and complex human thought are not even close. Animals work on pure instincts, where as people use emotion and our stories to understand the world. When I catch myself anthropomorphizing onto the birds, I have to laugh, as the birds are only thinking of food, shelter, water, and biological function. They don't have the same kind of experience we people have, and are much more simplified.

I completely agree & IMO you have to learn to adapt with them on their terms because they won't adapt to ours. They have been who they are for 8000 years. I love my big, beautiful, strutting Harry roo. When I look out at him or am outside with them I just marvel at them. He is a big, full of himself guy & I wouldn't think of diminishing his role as head of his flock. We co-exist great together. He is a pleasure, I get no threats from him & he gives no threats to me. Last week I gave away the last 3 of his sons & I cried for 2 days. They were beautiful, sweet, full of it guys.
I miss them so much. I miss hearing them thunder across the front porch, getting up on the chairs to look in the windows, running to me every time I went outside.

 

[islandgirl82]

Quote:
Quite possibly so would you consider writing an article instead of posting in the thread (maybe with a link posted in the thread)? I for one would love to see it all in one place.