what age will roosters turn MEAN?

[six_eclectic_chickens]

If you bring the rooster up so he imprints on you then he will be the friendliest in you flock. If its too late for that then treat him well. If you give him treats then he should behave. The reason some roosters turn 'mean' is because they think you are a roo. They then feel the need to try to be dominant.

 

[RHRanch]

Quote:
Beekissed, I also have not had aggressive roo problems, 25+ yrs of poultry and I've owned probably hundreds of roos of dozens of breeds, too. The only meanies I have ever had were ones I didn't raise. One of those I couldn't get him to stop, but the other, I figured out what his real problem was and he hasn't attacked me since. I wish there was some way to do some observational studies to see whats going on with all these aggressive roos. It seems theres a lot of conflicting info out there, but I tell you one thing, I never get into physical altercations to show my "dominance", nor do I assume that a roo is going to be agressive. It seems that u and I do employ a similar approach to rooster handling - That may be an important key in why you and I are having a different type of experiance with Roos than many others here.

Oh and another thing, I have many many roos and they are often housed together or live in my free range flock, and I don't have problems with my roos trying to kill eachother or seriously hurting one another either. I must be a weirdo or I am doing something right - or maybe I'm a weirdo doing something right.

 

[Beekissed]

I, too, would love to observe the raising of these monster roos to see if there are some similarities in the methodology at all. I agree with you that there doesn't have to be a big altercation, boot slingin', screaming or clubbing down of a typical roo....at least, not IME.

Maybe we could become Rooster Whisperers?

Travel around and train humans, calm down roos....get paid.

You know? Come to think of it, I've never had roos fight each other either....of course, I've always free ranged, so a roo has room to run and not fight.. if he's smart.

 

[RHRanch]

Maybe we are rooster whisperers - if anyone wants to pay me us to come to their place and try to sort things out, let us know! LOL Beekissed, I do both free-ranging and breeding pens. Basically I free range when no ones sorted for breeding pens. My birds get used to being put together, separated and them reintroduced to each other all the time. I even have roos of bantam size in with 10lb giant roos - no body has any problems. I just expect everyone to get along - We must be like the Ceasar Milan of Roosters, Beekissed!

 

[johnsons-r-us]

I love it! It's so refreshing to hear this kind of stuff because mostly you read about the problems. Here I am thinking that there's no way I will not have problems. Thank you!

 

[WendyGrama]

Yeah, I like the idea of 'Rooster Whisperers' how far are you from N AZ??? LOL We will sort it out one way or anothger. I have noticed with the dawg and horse whisperers that it takes time and conistency. Exactly what I don't have enuf of right now. But LOVE all your ideas! I have worked with young horses off the track being groomed for saddle and performance, milk heifers to milk cows, goats, ducks, geese, chickens... so yeah, I do get it.

It gets a bit hot here for wearing boots and drovers coats in the summer though. LOL

For now he gets to stay with plans to divide the pen so I can enjoy my hens and so can visiting kidz and he can have his side of the pen when needed. As long as he treats his ladies well, he will have a home for now. If he gets outa hand with them and there are injuries then he goes...

Thanx for all your info, nice to hear some real experience.

Still waiting for those first eggs, big, little, green, blue, chocolate brown, maybe even a nice little white one??? Everyone is rosying up and of course both Roo's have just about perfected their crows, now working on their dance. So far Little Roo is in great respect of Big Roo soooooo.... who knows.

Will try to get pic of them together this weekend crowing, they often stand side by side and take turns... very macho. Little Seabright and Big Welsummer at 5 months, I do have a picture of them at about 2 months side by side, maybe do a comparison.

Will keep you posted & Thanx Again!

 

[RHRanch]

Maybe Beekissed and I can make some videos showing technique. What do you think Beekissed? (Of course, someone with naughty roos will have to volunteer so I have something to work with.

 

[Beekissed]

That would be soooo cool! As for it taking time....each time you feed and water, gather eggs and clean out coops is the best time to train...just like you do your dogs. When you are in the vicinity of this bird, always be in training mode...I call it "farming on purpose".

Each day I walk out to my flocks, be they chickens, dogs, or sheep, I just watch all the behaviors, spot the ones I like and reinforce those, spot the ones I don't and do a little negative reinforcement or intervention for those. It takes very little time to do one training session...particularly if your animal has the brain the size of a hazelnut(chicken).

 

[skunknchatter]

When I figured out one of my hens was a Roo

I made up my mind that he was going to be a good boy. I have a toddler and no way was I going to have an agressive Roo around. So every day when I went out to feed I would give him a treat and pick him up. I would carry him around the yard with me too. He did try to fight my foot once or twice about the same time he learned to crow but we nipped that in the bud with a "nudge" with the side of my foot. Not a kick to cause pain but just enough to knock him back. I chalk that attitude up to hormones. Now he's the sweetest guy ever. When you pick up a hen he keeps a close eye on you but even my son can hold a hen without him attacking. It just takes time I think. And training like has already been said.

 

[Jay262]

Until recently i assumed roosters turned mean as a product of there environment. My most recent hatch has changed my mind on that i have one rooster that has been agressive towards me since the day he hatched. Now at 7 weeks old he pecks me hard enough to draw blood for no apparent reason whenever im in the coop he will attack me and he was like that from day one even in the brooder box. Needless to say in another few weeks he will be dinner.