Doing Our Best for Animals: Doing Our Best for Roosters and Chickens
- Shel Graves
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
At Shel Graves Animal Consulting we talk a lot about dogs and cats. These are the animals most of us have closest to us in our homes -- and there is much more to learn about them and how to live happier lives with them.
However, Doing Our Best for Animals applies to other species, too — from other animals who may live with us to wildlife who inhabit our shared habitats.
Recently, a friend heard about a rooster in need in an unsafe place. She wanted to help and took it upon herself to seek out the help of Rooster Haus Rescue – and take the lead on getting him to safety.
She, myself, a Rooster Haus volunteer, and a concerned homeowner all came together in what turned into a dark night in a patch of bramble to secure his safety.
By showing compassion, my friend turned this "nuisance" noisy, crowing rooster into an individual being worthy of concern and effort. The rooster was then adopted and has now become part of a family of care. It took a community of care to help.
His rescue coincided nicely with the arrival of the book Click With Your Chick: A Complete Chicken Training Course Using the Clicker by Giene Keyes at my home. This one has been on my to-read list for awhile.
What a fabulous book! It not only gives an excellent run down of chicken training and enrichment, but also contains a great list of clicker training terms. I’d recommend this for people interested in chickens and roosters as well as those interested in learning more about clicker training (originated by Karen Pryor).
The clicker is a training aid which helps with timing —yes, that, THAT, is exactly the behavior that earns you a reward. Please repeat it for another reward!
Since chickens move quickly, working with fast chickens can be a great way to improve timing for all animal trainers. That’s why chicken training camps (originated with Bob Bailey) remain popular. Terry Ryan's Chicken Camp offered in partnership with Kitsap Animal Rescue and and Education (KARE) is definitely on my bucket list!
Can you really train a chicken? Or a rooster? Absolutely you can!
Teaching them to go into and be comfortable in a crate (for transport to vet appointments) would be an excellent skill to teach chickens. Click with Your Chick also offers tips on chicken socialization and target training.
Questions about working with Shel Graves Animals Consulting and species other than dogs or cats? Book a free call.
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