Biting chicken

[BigNan]

I’d raised a rooster name Bruce along with his 3 other brothers, they were mostly pets and always really got along. But for some reason lately they have been ganging up on him and have hurt him. So I’ve gotten rid of the two that bothered him the most, and that leaves just two. And they seem to be doing fine. But he’s developed a bad habit of biting and it’s really annoying and sad that this once sweet chicken is now latching onto my hand. I’m figuring it’s becauset he others have scared him, but is their a way to correct this?

 

[azygous]

If Bruce is biting you, then it's you that he has an issue with, not the other chickens. Unfortunately, biting is a behavior that takes a long time to train out of a cockerel.

I'm assuming these are cockerels under one year we're talking about. The behavior usually begins when their hormones flood their systems and color their world in a new way that confuses and confounds them.

If their human handler is uncertain as to what their role is with the flock, then the cockerel becomes confused, also, resulting in aggressive behavior as he tries to bring some control and order to his new world.

If you've ever trained a dog, you would know that establishing boundaries is the first rule. So it goes with cockerels. You will need to discipline him when he bites but show him you trust him by leaving him alone the rest of the time.

I had to train biting out of a Buff Brahma cockerel I had some years ago. It took a full year. Part of his problem was me. I noticed he would bite me if I made sudden and erratic moves close to him, startling him, and he would then slash at me with his beak.

While immobilizing him when he bit me, I also tried to moderate my own behavior by slowing down and being more precise when near him. It takes commitment and consistency and regular discipline, but you can change this behavior.

 

[BigNan]

If Bruce is biting you, then it's you that he has an issue with, not the other chickens. Unfortunately, biting is a behavior that takes a long time to train out of a cockerel.

I'm assuming these are cockerels under one year we're talking about. The behavior usually begins when their hormones flood their systems and color their world in a new way that confuses and confounds them.

If their human handler is uncertain as to what their role is with the flock, then the cockerel becomes confused, also, resulting in aggressive behavior as he tries to bring some control and order to his new world.

If you've ever trained a dog, you would know that establishing boundaries is the first rule. So it goes with cockerels. You will need to discipline him when he bites but show him you trust him by leaving him alone the rest of the time.

I had to train biting out of a Buff Brahma cockerel I had some years ago. It took a full year. Part of his problem was me. I noticed he would bite me if I made sudden and erratic moves close to him, startling him, and he would then slash at me with his beak.

While immobilizing him when he bit me, I also tried to moderate my own behavior by slowing down and being more precise when near him. It takes commitment and consistency and regular discipline, but you can change this behavior.

Ah okay that makes sense, I also noticed he didn’t like my fast movements. I’ll work on it and how I am around him. I’m new to chickens so some things I’m not sure how to approach.