What to do to defuse my rooster?

[farmyardchic]

I've been letting my chickens free-range. I've got a rooster that objects to my putting them in the coop at night. He's only 8 weeks and wants to have them bed down under my rose bush outside. He's already pecked me a couple times. It's the only thing that seems to eat at him. I'm careful not to startle them and walk very slowly behind them to herd them in and I wait til it's about 15 minutes to dusk. Not sure how to handle this. Any thoughts would be appreciated. (Chickens and rooster are Australorps)

 

[azygous]

You don't have a rooster if he's just eight weeks old, or did you mean eight months? Still, he's not a rooster until after a year old.

A better way to get the chickens inside when you want them to go in is to train them to come on signal. It's fast and easy. Just use treats and use an audible cue each time you give out a treat. I use a clicker, and I can get all 20 of my chickens into the run in about five seconds just by clicking the clicker. You should see twenty chickens all at a dead run at the very same time. It still impresses the heck out of me.

If your cockerel is being difficult, he may need training and discipline. There are lots of tutorials here explaining how to do that.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

Weird lol, mabey have a rose bush in a pot to sleep under in the coop? I have no idea why he would do that unless it feels safer there?

 

[LizzzyJo]

Are they all 8 weeks old? Did they ever go into the coop?

 

[farmyardchic]

You don't have a rooster if he's just eight weeks old, or did you mean eight months? Still, he's not a rooster until after a year old.

A better way to get the chickens inside when you want them to go in is to train them to come on signal. It's fast and easy. Just use treats and use an audible cue each time you give out a treat. I use a clicker, and I can get all 20 of my chickens into the run in about five seconds just by clicking the clicker. You should see twenty chickens all at a dead run at the very same time. It still impresses the heck out of me.

If your cockerel is being difficult, he may need training and discipline. There are lots of tutorials here explaining how to do that.

He's just 8 weeks. His first crow was this morning. Thanks for the information and tip! I will try this suggestion! If he's not a rooster til he's a year does that mean they don't start to breed until they're a year?

 

[farmyardchic]

Are they all 8 weeks old? Did they ever go into the coop?

Yes. They are all 8 weeks. They were in the coop steady up to 6 weeks. Then the pen during the day and coop at night. Now free range and coop at night.

 

[LizzzyJo]

If he’s already showing any tiny sign of aggression at 8 weeks... well let’s just say you should start planning for his bon voyage party. He may stay sweet and that would be wonderful! But have a plan B.

 

[azygous]

A precocious cockerel! You will need to stay out ahead of his hormones. Get ready by educating yourself on how to deal with a hormonal cockerel. They can be a challenge. Around age sixteen weeks, he can change practically overnight.

 

[farmyardchic]

Weird lol, mabey have a rose bush in a pot to sleep under in the coop? I have no idea why he would do that unless it feels safer there?

They do seem to feel safe there for some strange reason. Every time something startles them (like the dog next door barks) they all run to the rose bush (which isn't a thicket by any means)

 

[farmyardchic]

If he’s already showing any tiny sign of aggression at 8 weeks... well let’s just say you should start planning for his bon voyage party. He may stay sweet and that would be wonderful! But have a plan B.

I was worried about that. It seems kinda young. He's also already letting the chicks know who's boss by pecking at them when one crosses in front of him or running over and taking things out of their beaks that he decides he wants. The chicks too are responding to him but putting their heads down.