Wing It Ranch

[WingItRanch]

I feel like cockerels getting into squabbles with the older girls is one of the best ways for them to learn some manners. As long as they don’t corner him and hurt him I would just let it play out. Chasing him away is good for him.

Great! I'm really hoping to keep this guy and the only way he gets to stay is if he doesn't attack.

 

[Tstraub]

Great! I'm really hoping to keep this guy and the only way he gets to stay is if he doesn't attack.

That’s definitely fair. Everyone has to decide how much aggression they are willing to accept. Axl has spurred me twice. Both times were my fault I walked up behind him and surprised him. As long as I talk to him while approaching he usually ignores me.

He does bite my hands somewhat regularly but that’s only because I feed him from my hand. Most of the girls do the same he just does it harder because he is larger and stronger. I don’t consider it as aggressive behavior but my wife avoids him because of this behavior.

 

[WingItRanch]

That’s definitely fair. Everyone has to decide how much aggression they are willing to accept. Axl has spurred me twice. Both times were my fault I walked up behind him and surprised him. As long as I talk to him while approaching he usually ignores me.

He does bite my hands somewhat regularly but that’s only because I feed him from my hand. Most of the girls do the same he just does it harder because he is larger and stronger. I don’t consider it as aggressive behavior but my wife avoids him because of this behavior.

Yeah I gave my first cockerel 4 chances. He repeatedly charged and struck me. The final straw was when he snuck up behind me while I was tossing black soldier fly larva in the grass as a treat. He got me real good that time and was in the fridge the next day.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

So I've been out of commission for a bit and my partner has been tending the chickens, goats, and LGD. He told me that the cockerel crowed twice when he was out there. I haven't heard him crow at all since he was really young so that's great! I love the crowing.

Then my partner told me that when he went to herd in the stragglers for the evening, he heard a commotion and he said 2 hens were beating up the cockerel. He got away unscathed.

I'm assuming this is normal and they were putting him in his place? Poor guy is usually pushed off the roost bars too.

This is a good thing, they are teaching him what will and what won't fly.