How to Raise a Rooster

Roosters are adult male chickens; young roosters under one year of age are called cockerels. After a year they are called cocks. The role of the male in chicken society is manifold, ranging from peacekeeper and disciplinarian to protector and food provider. Roosters will live together and create their own hierarchy with some jostling and sparring involved. Understanding their nature is central to raising the cockeral into a "solid" citizen. Chicken society is highly complex and nuanced, sothe handler must remain the dominant figure when instructing young roosters.

Things You'll Need

  • Rooster
  • Chickens (hens and other roosters)
  • Shake can
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Handle the chicks several times a day. Continue handling the cock fledglings, offering them treats (bugs, fruit, nuts and corn) while you hold and pet them. Continue the desensitization training by handling the baby rooster's feet, tail, head and all parts of his body. Do not isolate the cockeral. Allow him to live with the other young male and female chickens. Sparring is natural and will be exhibited by and between both sexes (this rarely gets too rough, but intervene if it does). Do not place the very young cockeral with adult birds of either sex as he may be chased and injured.

    • 2

      Teach the young rooster socializing skills and manners. Never allow a cockeral to mate a hen in your presence as this is a dominance display. Remove him from the hen immediately by gently picking him up. Never be rough, yell or be aggressive to him. Continue with the desensitization training. Pick up the cockeral daily and give him treats and praise. Do not put him down if he kicks, squawks or fidgets as this will reward him for undesirable behavior. Put him down only when he is quiet and calm. Train the rooster to trust and respect you as someone that keeps him safe and brings good things for the flock.

    • 3

      Discipline the cockeral for undesirable behavior such as aggression towards older chickens of both sexes, mounting hens, overly rough play with siblings and displays of dominance towards you. Discipline must be immediate but never meted out in anger or violence. Catch the cockeral and tell him to "sit" by gently pressing his shoulders. Say "no" in a stern, commanding voice. Hold the bird in the sitting position until he calms down. Discipline at a distance by using a shake can -- a can filled with beans or pebbles.

    • 4

      Introduce the cockerals to the flock gradually. Place the young rooster in a run near the flock. Watch the integration carefully as there will be dominance sparring. Intervene if necessary by disciplining any hens, established roosters or the young cockeral. Understand that some sparring is necessary as the chickens establish a new hierarchy.

    • 5

      Handle dominance towards humans firmly. Watch for signs of chicken aggressive "language" -- a pair of dropped wings (one dropped wing is a sign of affection), raised hackles neck feathers and low growling are expressions of anger. Catch the aggressive rooster and make him sit as illustrated in Step 3. Repeat this consistently each time he shows any aggression. Never allow the rooster to show dominance towards you.