Newbie issue, just figured out 4 week old Salmon Faverolle is a cockerel

[Maggieo0o0o0]

Hello all!

So I got 5 chicks a month ago, all are 4 weeks old. I posted here (so amazing to get so many helpful replies so quickly!) and then sent a message to my hatchery (mad props to Ann at Little Birdie Chicken Farm & Hatchery in Wake Forest NC, she is awesome!) Ann confirmed what I'd suspected, that our little Freya is a rooster (so now Frey). We can have roosters in the city limits where I am, as long as neighbors don't complain about the noise. Mine probably won't. My concern is that I only have 4 hens (hopefully all the rest are girls!) Also, Salmon Faverolle cockerels are supposed to be non-human aggressive, especially one raised from a chick, but Frey is already really obnoxious. Is keeping a rooster a good idea for a newbie chicken owner? I worry also that he will be mean - he already pecks me and my daughters. We try and spoil him, but he's cranky. I have time to decide, I can bring him back up to 20 weeks but I'd like to get any advice anyone has to offer!

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

Hello all!

So I got 5 chicks a month ago, all are 4 weeks old. I posted here (so amazing to get so many helpful replies so quickly!) and then sent a message to my hatchery (mad props to Ann at Little Birdie Chicken Farm & Hatchery in Wake Forest NC, she is awesome!) Ann confirmed what I'd suspected, that our little Freya is a rooster (so now Frey). We can have roosters in the city limits where I am, as long as neighbors don't complain about the noise. Mine probably won't. My concern is that I only have 4 hens (hopefully all the rest are girls!) Also, Salmon Faverolle cockerels are supposed to be non-human aggressive, especially one raised from a chick, but Frey is already really obnoxious. Is keeping a rooster a good idea for a newbie chicken owner? I worry also that he will be mean - he already pecks me and my daughters. We try and spoil him, but he's cranky. I have time to decide, I can bring him back up to 20 weeks but I'd like to get any advice anyone has to offer!

The recommended amount of hen to rooster ratio is 1:5. If he shows signs of aggression and you have young children, it is best to rehome him or send him to the freezer. Good luck!

 

[meglynnie]

Following! I got 10 RIRs as my first batch and one is a cockerel, He's about 4 weeks old too, he sometimes grabs my hand when I pick him up but I 'peck' him back from advice from other users and he's good but may do it a couple days later. But curious to know if this is just chick behavior or going to develop.

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

Following! I got 10 RIRs as my first batch and one is a cockerel, He's about 4 weeks old too, he sometimes grabs my hand when I pick him up but I 'peck' him back from advice from other users and he's good but may do it a couple days later. But curious to know if this is just chick behavior or going to develop.

RIR roos are usually aggressive towards humans. It just seems to be in their nature. Pecking him back and walking around with, or even 'mounting' him is a good idea to try and tame him down and show that you are the dominant one. I also wish you good luck.

 

[CannedMonster]

The cockerel chick is testing you and trying to become dominant over you.
As it grows this could become a problem.
Possibly even a big problem.
I would return the cockerel to the breeder since you have indicated that they are willing to take it back.
I only keep bantam males and/or males that are skittish as chicks and adults.
They must respect the humans.
I don’t want to breed more aggressive roosters.

 

[Redhead Rae]

@Chickassan can you give any advice on SF roosters. Didn't you have a meany at one point?

 

[Mrs. K]

If you have children under the age of 5, I strongly recommend sending him back ASAP. People in truly backyard situations, with out much experience that all ready has an aggressive chick, is a pretty good recipe for a wreck.

Many people vastly underestimate how violent a rooster attack can be to a small child or even a smaller woman. I recommend no roosters the first year, get some experience under your belt, IMO roosters take some experience. I recommend a hen only flock the first year.

Mrs K

 

[meglynnie]

RIR roos are usually aggressive towards humans. It just seems to be in their nature. Pecking him back and walking around with, or even 'mounting' him is a good idea to try and tame him down and show that you are the dominant one. I also wish you good luck.

Thank you! I have been doing the pecking back, but incase it doesn't work what does mounting exactly entail? I have heard this term but not what I actually do.

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

Thank you! I have been doing the pecking back, but incase it doesn't work what does mounting exactly entail? I have heard this term but not what I actually do.

Force him to sit/lay down. Apply pressure onto his back until he quits struggling and fighting you. Then let him up and if he runs away, then leave him be. If he doesn't run off and instead gives you a dirty look, do it again.

 

[TheAmundsons]

@meglynnie we have a one year old RIR rooster that hasn't been really aggressive. Until about 6 weeks ago, he'd never shown any signs of aggression. With the spring hormones, he has tried to spur me a few times, but I put him in his place and we're good. He's really great with our ladies, so I can't complain. If he starts to get more aggressive, it will be a different conversation, but at this point, he's worth working with the aggression to keep around.