Sooo much pooping

[LittleOwl]

We have 6 girls and Rico the cockerel, who are all 33 weeks old and have been with us since they were 18 weeks. This morning Rico attacked my leg and it really hurt! I was letting them out of their pen and getting the eggs as normal, nothing different to the usual routine, and it happened as I was walking away. I didn't see it so I don't know if it was a nasty peck or he was using his feet.

 

Although he will make a noise and come toward us if we are trying to pick up or herd one of the girls and they make a fuss, he has never pecked at us before. He comes running for treats as soon as we appear, and when free ranging he walks straight up to our front door to see us, and will eat out of our hand (though his beak is getting too sharp now for it!). We installed an electric net yesterday and I know he got stung by it yesterday as we saw it, so I don't know if maybe he was being a bit defensive about that?

 

I would obviously like to nip this in the bud right away as we really would like him to not be overly aggressive, and as he continues to grow larger I guess it would hurt more! Does anyone know what we can do to stop it escalating?

 

Thank you

[Egluntyne]

Pick him up and carry him around a lot so that he see you as the boss and not himself.

 

Wear trousers and long wellies when in the run too.

[Patricia W]

I echo Egluntyne's advice. Picking him up emphasises that you are stronger then him. If you're worried about picking him up, do it in the evening when he's sleepy to start with. Phillip was a bit stroppy till he became ill and we had to handle him a lot.

 

Also, as well as wearing trousers and boots, try not to get between him and his girls. He attacks you if he thinks you are liable to attack them!

 

Whatever you do, don't retaliate by being aggressive back- he'll just keep trying to beat you! Remember, a good cockerel is brave enough to try to take on a fox if his girls are being threatened.

 

Tricia