Yet another rooster dilemma

[Mrs. K]

There is no perfect cure, but there are things that work better. Part of the temperament is genetic, and part is environment.

I think multi- generational flocks grow up the best roosters. Older hens do not tolerate a young roo just being a pain. And are big enough to thump him as he is growing up. He learns respect for them as a small chick, and that thought lingers. Older roosters too, don't allow a lot of breeding by the younger, and are big enough to enforce that at least for a while.

Personally, I don't handle my roosters, and they need to be aware of where I am, and keep about 5 feet between us. I don't make pets as in picking them up and petting them. Do they run around my feet, oh yes, and I do bring them treats. But I don't handle either hens or roosters unless I need to. It does make them hard to catch, but it does not interfere with the flock dynamics. Often times if you are handling hens, they are distressing, and that can bring confusion to the males. Flocks with mature roosters in them, are not as pet like as flocks with only hens.

If you want cuddly pets, only keep hens. It will work better and is safer that way.

If you want flock protection, then don't be the predator in the roosters eyes, and don't be a hen in the roosters eyes.

Personally, I am a big believer in a multi-generational flock, and it takes years to get that established. I like to have older birds, 2 -3 years old, middle age birds 1-2 years, and young birds under a 1, and chicks. I have been keeping a flock for 7 years, and this year, I have nearly my ideal idea of flock going on. Something is nearly always laying, something is nearly always ready to eat, and something is about to start laying pretty soon, and something is growing to replace what is leaving the flock.

Sounds easy enough, but it is trickery than it sounds. My chicks are raised under a broody hen right in the flock. Birds growing up in this flock learn a lot about how to be a chicken successfully in the flock. They learn about the environment of our ranch, of predators, of places of protection. It is the best flock I have ever put together in terms of dynamics.

Mrs K

 

[lazy gardener]

Walk through them. Never go around a rooster. Make him move out of your way. You can also keep him away from the treats until the girls have had their share. Use a stick to "herd him around" by lightly tapping his heiney to get him to go in the direction you want him to go. You don't hit him with the stick, just use it to direct his path. If several weeks of this training with the one roo you've kept doesn't reform him, turn him into stew. Or as Mrs K so aptly pointed out, get a mature well mannered roo from someone else's flock. Some folks will keep 2 roos through the winter, then get rid of the older one, or the least favored one in the spring before breeding season.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Many people have problems with cock birds they raised and handled too much. I think someone earlier said it blurred the line of human and bird and that is exactly what it is. Then you've a bird that is trying to use dominance on people and if the smallest amount is tolerated snowballs into an extreme annoyance and potential hazard.

Then there are simply bad birds and those need to be culled without question. But a large majority is mismanagement. Young cocks when hitting sexual peak will start to test the waters with people and if your not use to it, flinch and are scared, will compel far worse behavior. They settle down by a year old and the more experience people have with roosters the less they have problem birds.

Herding birds with a stick is easy, whistling when giving treats is also great way to train them to come when you call. When they come they are happy to see you and waiting for treats. Other than that I let the chickens be chickens. Never afraid to pick one up but don't coddle them. Never turn my back on a rooster though don't tip toe around them either. I'm the flock master and the birds know it, they also know I'm not a bird. The lines are clear and my roosters knew them. Did have one aggressive rooster that made great stew. Another was not fully aggressive but you did keep an eye on him and he'd flog anyone he felt was messing with his flock. My partner picked up a chick that was brooded by mother hen and started walking away with it. It chirped up a storm, in my mind her fault the rooster ran after and started to bump and wing flog her legs. He quiclly bacame stew too. All other cockerels or cock birds were great birds. I'd forget to pay attention to them and never was charged.

 

[bobbi-j]

There is no perfect cure, but there are things that work better. Part of the temperament is genetic, and part is environment.

I think multi- generational flocks grow up the best roosters. Older hens do not tolerate a young roo just being a pain. And are big enough to thump him as he is growing up. He learns respect for them as a small chick, and that thought lingers. Older roosters too, don't allow a lot of breeding by the younger, and are big enough to enforce that at least for a while.

Personally, I don't handle my roosters, and they need to be aware of where I am, and keep about 5 feet between us. I don't make pets as in picking them up and petting them. Do they run around my feet, oh yes, and I do bring them treats. But I don't handle either hens or roosters unless I need to. It does make them hard to catch, but it does not interfere with the flock dynamics. Often times if you are handling hens, they are distressing, and that can bring confusion to the males. Flocks with mature roosters in them, are not as pet like as flocks with only hens.

If you want cuddly pets, only keep hens. It will work better and is safer that way.

If you want flock protection, then don't be the predator in the roosters eyes, and don't be a hen in the roosters eyes.

Personally, I am a big believer in a multi-generational flock, and it takes years to get that established. I like to have older birds, 2 -3 years old, middle age birds 1-2 years, and young birds under a 1, and chicks. I have been keeping a flock for 7 years, and this year, I have nearly my ideal idea of flock going on. Something is nearly always laying, something is nearly always ready to eat, and something is about to start laying pretty soon, and something is growing to replace what is leaving the flock.

Sounds easy enough, but it is trickery than it sounds. My chicks are raised under a broody hen right in the flock. Birds growing up in this flock learn a lot about how to be a chicken successfully in the flock. They learn about the environment of our ranch, of predators, of places of protection. It is the best flock I have ever put together in terms of dynamics.

Mrs K

The thing to keep in mind when raising a multi-generational flock is, when you hatch chicks there will be extra roosters. You need to have a plan for them. You need to have this plan in place before you start raising them.

I also have a multi-genrational flock. I have a coop of 2 1/2 year old hens that will be processed soon, a couple of 1-year olds, and several that I hatched out this year. Six of those are cockerels and they, too, will be processed in a couple of weeks. My flock is just getting started. I had bad hatches last year, even though I was using broodies (I set over 60 eggs and ended up with 5 chicks) This year I only had 2 broody hens. The first one hatched out 5 chicks in May. Out of that batch, I got 2 cockerels and 2 pullets (one disappeared). The second one hatched out 8. Five cockerels, 3 pullets. Hoping for more broodies and more pullets next year.

 

[Akrnaf2]

Eat them!!