Rooster's As Pets: Most Asked Questions & Answers

Rooster's As Pets: Questions & Answer's

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Buttercup (our Punk (c) 2013.ChickenHeavenOnEarth
Roosters make Great Pets if you don't mind crowing-early in the morning, and if you have the time and patience to give them attention and training. Roosters have larger combs, wattles and tail feathers than their female counterparts, and are well known for protecting their hens and crowing in the wee hours of the morning. The following are a list of questions our viewers have asked about roosters as pets and our answers. Hopefully this will help answer some of your questions too.
Do Rooster's make good pets?
Answer
 Yes they do! Roosters of most breeds, if raised from a baby chick, have been handled regularly,  and roosters isolated from hens tend to be very affectionate and intelligent and make good pets.Wild, unhandled, and older roosters can be tamed and make good pets too. It is not a good idea to play fight with your rooster. It may be cute when they are young but you will have a problem when they grow spurs as they grow older and want to challenge you every time you step outdoors. It is good to discourage this behavior at an early age. If they start to become aggressive, tell them NO very firmly and if they do not stop cage the rooster for a few hours. Every time they try to fight, cage him. If he still does not get the message, cage him for several days. He will figure it out and the next time you let him out he won't mess with you.
Do Pet Rooster's need hens?
Answer
Rooster's prefer hen companions so if you want to keep one as a personal pet you will need to let him have his free time with his lady hens. If you raised him from a chick and he has never been around hens before then he will learn what you teach him easier. However, rooster's tend to get somewhat aggressive when they reach puberty, so it is a good idea to have a few hens around for him. Scroll down to see more questions and answers about roosters as pets

Do I need to de-worm my rooster?

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Answer: Yes you need to deworm your rooster and other chickens (chooks) regularly, just as you would your dog or cat.However be sure to use a dewormer that is meant for poultry, chickens, chooks and follow the directions carefully.
See 7 Ways to Prevent Worms from Infesting Your ChickensTypes of Worms that Infest Chickens and How to Stop Them

Questions & Answers about rooster loyalty and owner protection

Will my pet rooster follow me around like a dog?
Your pet rooster will follow you around in much the same way as a pet dog would if you allow him to do so and develop a relationship with him by talking to him, hand feeding him, and petting him. Check out Chicks can do tricks to find out how smart pet chickens are:
Go to Chicks can do tricks
How are roosters like an alarm system?
Roosters will alert their owners if someone or a predator comes to your home and have been known to aggressively protect their owners if they feel that their owner is being threatened or in danger and have developed a trusting relationship with them.
Go to How Roosters can warn off prowlers

Can My Pet Rooster be Potty Trained?-Answered

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Answer:
Some roosters can be paper-potty trained or house broke but it takes time and patience-not discipline. They can be potty trained or housebroke but not by traditional methods used to train a dog or cat. Potty training takes longer if you slack on your training. To potty train them you have to catch them in the act and loudly tell them "NO! Bad boy! NO!" and then put them outside or on a puppy pad or even a toilet. They will be scared the first few times you do this. Be patient and repeat this pattern. When your rooster potties in the right place be sure to give him plenty of praise for doing a good thing.  Rooster's are rather arrogant and do not like to be pushed around but they also like to get your approval and affection. Before you know it your rooster will go to the door and crow when he wants to go potty or go outside to play. While some Roosters will not house break because their natural instincts are very strong others will cooperate just because they can tell you are pleased with them. Use word association just as you would train your dog or cat. Tell the rooster to go potty when you take him outdoors. If he goes potty indoors tell him NO, NO bad chicken potty inside and take him and his poop outside. Place the poop where you want your rooster to poop and tell him good boys potty outside. Use the word potty or one you associate with it and use it every time your rooster poops. If you go to work or someplace where you cannot take your pet chicken or you do not want to take the time to train your chicken you can always use a chicken diaper but remember you also have to change the diaper.
Check out these sites about potty training and diapers for your pet chicken:
House training your chooks: The Chicken GuyChicken diapersScroll down to see more questions and answers about pet roosters.
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Do Rooster's like to be petted?
Answer
Most rooster's hand-raised from chicks like to be held, petted, and talked to but even roosters who seem to be wild or unhandled can be tamed if you have patience. Teach your rooster to trust you by isolating it from other birds, making you his only contact. Offer him treats from your hand and pick him up daily to pet him. Be very careful as wild roosters can become very aggressive. Wear protective glasses and gloves until he gets used to you.
Rooster's who have not been tamed domestically and allowed to run wild on a farm will probably not make a good pets for urban pet owners unless they have been tamed. The rooster will be miserable and may even try to escape in an effort to regain his freedom unless he learns to trust you. If you have hens he is more likely to become a good yard bird that will protect your hens with his life.
Is it okay to play fight with my rooster?
Answer
Even very tame roosters can become aggressive if handled roughly. Play fighting may be cute when they are young but it is not advised because when the rooster gets older he will play rougher and he may wish to play when you do not want to or he may become aggressive toward you or other pets if you play fight with him because this will bring out his natural protective and aggressive instincts.
Are chickens smarter than dogs?
Recent studies indicate that chickens may be smarter than dogs and have the intelligence level equivalent to small children.
Chicken intelligence: Dogs vs chickens as pets report: Can I get a rooster if I do not have any hens?
Answer
Yes. You can have a rooster with no hens but keep in mind that rooster's are known for their prowess with the ladies. If you can provide him with two to six hens he will be one very happy boy. If you can only have one chicken and want a rooster you can provide him with an imitation mate. We have found that stuffed teddy bears and other stuffed toys work well for larger breeds and a balled up sock or smaller stuffed toy will work for bantam roosters. Make sure the toys are washed in anti-bacterial soap at least once a week and make sure their imitation mates do not get rained on or wet from spilled water or feces. If they do wash their imitation play mates and return them as soon as possible as your pet rooster will get upset when he can not find his fake mate. Roosters raised from chicks who have never had a mate tend to make the best pets. Once they actually mate some roo's become aggressive and no longer want to be a beloved pet but show a distinct preference for their natural instincts and want to be with hens.
Can rooster's get along with other pets?
Answer
Rooster's generally get along well with other pets that they are raised around or have been slowly introduced to. When introducing your rooster to other backyard pets make sure he is caged until they get used to each other. You don't want your Roo' to get hurt nor do you want to see your other pets get their eye pecked out. If you see your dog alert, drooling or even too excited around your rooster-separate them immediately. Dogs will sometimes wrestle or play with roosters and the rooster will play the game but dogs can snap a rooster's neck unintentionally in a matter of seconds.Keep cats separated from your rooster unless they have been raised around chickens and until they have been properly introduced via cages for a few day
Can I physically discipline my rooster without activating his aggressive instincts?
Answer
Never ever slap or physically discipline your chicken or any other bird. They have very fragile bones and you can cause internal damage to vital organs and death with just a light slap. Hitting your bird is abuse and it is illegal to abuse your pet.
Can I teach my rooster to do tricks?
Answer
Rooster's learn very quickly and are eager to please their owners but sometimes they just want to do their own thing. When they are cooperative you can teach them to do tricks. It is best to start training them when they are baby chicks but older roo's learn quickly what pleases you and what does not.
Chicks can do tricks: Chicken intelligence

Is it okay to let my rooster cockfight (fight other roosters)?

Answer
It is inhumane to allow roosters to fight one another and it is illegal. Rooster's will fight to the death. If you are thinking of getting more than one rooster you had better have a lot of hens or put each rooster in a large penned area with his own hens and coop. 
ASPCA Cockfighting laws:

What Do Rooster's Eat?--Answered

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You should feed your rooster a balanced chicken feed, scratch, cracked corn for bantams, or whole corn for regular and larger breeds. If he does not have access to grass and dirt you will need to provide Grit, fresh dirt, vegetables, meal worms and grass for him to eat in addition to his regular feed. Make sure he has a constant supply of feed and fresh, clean water. Put his food in sealed rodent proof containers at night and return it too him first thing in the morning. 
How and What to Feed ChickensWhat should my bird eat if he is a showbird?
If you intend to take your pet chicken to poultry shows you may need to give them an extra boost by giving them show bird feed which will make their feathers brighter and shinier, promote stronger legs, less fat, and helps them digest their food better. You can give your pet rooster show poultry feed additives to make him healthier.

Find out more about roosters!