Young Roo

[3standardbreds]

Back in June I ordered 11 chicks, of which 6 are Whiting True Blue pullets; well at least I thought! One of them turned out to be a rooster. I handled them quite a bit when I first got them and the pullet chicks are very tame; the roo is to a certain extent but today when going in the coop to gather eggs from my older hens I reached down to pet him and he pecked my hand! He's always been a nice guy but now I fear that he will get more aggressive with me. Any ideas how I can nip this before it gets out of hand??

 

[thecatumbrella]

Did it hurt?

I ask because almost all of my younger birds will nip at my hands. Not aggressively, but because they know I sometimes hold high value items (like treats) and don't quite understand how to be gentle. If he drew blood, bit you (and you'd know, it friggin' hurts!), or continues to do it, I'd start putting him on probation for bad behavior. You do not want an aggressive roo.

I've seen different advice on how to make it work with cockerels, but I'm of the mindset that if you're aggressive, you're out.

 

[3standardbreds]

Did it hurt?

I ask because almost all of my younger birds will nip at my hands. Not aggressively, but because they know I sometimes hold high value items (like treats) and don't quite understand how to be gentle. If he drew blood, bit you (and you'd know, it friggin' hurts!), or continues to do it, I'd start putting him on probation for bad behavior. You do not want an aggressive roo.

I've seen different advice on how to make it work with cockerels, but I'm of the mindset that if you're aggressive, you're out.

It was a quick peck and no blood or mark. Just surprised me because he is usually quite sweet. Had a roo a long time ago and he was the absolutely sweetest boy, sure do miss him.

 

[AshVau22]

Sounds like he responded out of surprise/curiosity by pecking your hand. Do you give treats from your hand? Since chickens don't have hands they use their beak to interact with with everything. Chicks, hen and rooster have pecked my hands and feet if I'm out without shoes simply out of curiosity. Now if he pecked you and held onto your skin and was pulling/twisting to hurt you that would be a different story as that would be aggression. But a simply peck I personally wouldn't find alarming.

 

[kcan2]

The best advice is probably not to pet him. His mindset is probably changing and when that happens the hens are “his” and pets are probably perceived as threats. I had to start treating mine this way once he grew out of baby stage and he has been a great boy 5+ years now.