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Showing questions

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mustangsaguaro:
I have 2 shows I am going to in Jan. One of my birds I plan on showing is a cockerel. However I have one big issue w/ him. Is he likes to bite. I am sure judges don't appreciate this. So my question is how can between now and the first show can I break him of this bad habit. I have a lot of birds and don't have time every day to spend w/ them. What I have found is the females seem to be a bit more friendly and less suspective than male birds. The males tend to be a little more standoffish and not as friendly as the females. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as to how to break this one male of his biting.

Thanks
Kim

Sharon Yorks:
Hi, Kim. I was really hoping someone else would jump on this because I seem to have a little biter right now, myself. Mine was hatched on October 2nd. I personally think it's just in some of their personalities. I have had some males that are extremely friendly and some not so friendly. I get rid of the ones that show any aggression at all. I don't care if they don't want messed with or don't come to me, but I won't breed to them if they are ill-mannered. The little biter I have now is probably not going to stay, but I am experimenting with him (because of who he's out of) to see if I can break him of it. I moved him into a smaller pen a few days ago and am handling him everyday to see if that helps. It is my guess that it WILL help somewhat, and maybe he won't be so quick to strike out, but I still think it is just part of the personality he was born with. I'm not sure what to tell you as far as showing yours. I guess that would depend on how often and how hard he bites. Maybe someone with more showing experience will jump on here with a better answer. I will let you know how it goes with mine. Maybe handling him a lot will help. 

Jean:
The only cocks/cockerels that I have ever had problems with are the ones that are handled too much.  They lose their fear and then they treat you as another cock bird in their harem and try to make sure you know they are the dominant male.

Even with my show birds, I try not to handle them very much - only when necessary.  Judges are used to getting a good peck every now and again and generally know how to get ahold of an aggressive bird.

dak:
I haven't had a problem with my Ameraucanas, but some of my bantam Brahma cockerels are stinkers about biting.  I have had the opposite experiance from Jean.  If I handle them and get them used to accepting treats from my hand/cage training them they turn right around.  The sweetest bird I own now is one of these nasty cockerels who is now a cock.  He has retained the name "stinkpot" though. 

mustangsaguaro:

--- Quote from: Jean on December 27, 2012, 11:08:16 AM ---The only cocks/cockerels that I have ever had problems with are the ones that are handled too much.  They lose their fear and then they treat you as another cock bird in their harem and try to make sure you know they are the dominant male.

Even with my show birds, I try not to handle them very much - only when necessary.  Judges are used to getting a good peck every now and again and generally know how to get ahold of an aggressive bird.

--- End quote ---

Interesting you have had problems w/ the one that are handled too much.

This guy of mine that is the biter was never handled. Up until about 2 mos ago he was free ranging w/ everyone else. So he never was handled. I have since had him locked up for the last 2 months to make sure his feathers stay nice for the shows I plan on going too. I really didn't handle him at all while he's been locked up and decided to start handling him the other day and got a bunch of good bites from him.

THanks for the input. It's appreciated.

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