Any farmer or veteran backyard chicken enthusiast knows itB次元官网网址檚 not uncommon to have an unruly rooster.

Instead of accepting this troubling problem, a solution can be sought by calling on MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 chicken whisperer.

Cy Hemus and his wife, Linda, have kept chickens at their home for nearly a year, but itB次元官网网址檚 only in the last few months that CyB次元官网网址檚 chicken whispering talent emerged.

B次元官网网址淲e had too many roosters,B次元官网网址� he said.

With only nine hens, they needed to get rid of five of their seven roosters, leaving Big Red and Goldy.

Two males was still too many for the small flock, especially with Big Red causing some problems for the hens. The Hemuses offered him to Ragley Farm in East Sooke, where the resident rooster died.

B次元官网网址淚t was a perfect setup because then heB次元官网网址檇 have his own girls,B次元官网网址� said Linda. She figured Big RedB次元官网网址檚 aggressiveness might go away without another rooster to compete with.

Within a couple weeks, however, the couple got a call saying their former rooster was causing problems.

B次元官网网址淗e was terrorizing the egg man,B次元官网网址� Cy said. B次元官网网址淗e was being very protective over the hens.B次元官网网址�

Ragley Farm also hosted a Saturday farmerB次元官网网址檚 market and Big Red wasnB次元官网网址檛 very welcoming to the customers.

Without a plan, Cy told the farmer heB次元官网网址檇 come by and sort things out with Big Red.

He went into the coop and grabbed the problem bird. It was challenge, but once Big Red was in his arms, he went to work.

B次元官网网址淚 petted him and told him what a pretty rooster he was, then I got the egg man to pet him,B次元官网网址� said Cy, adding the farm worker was reluctant.

After about five people petted the rooster and passed him around, Cy put the bird on the ground and pushed it into a squat. He did this to demonstrate dominance. B次元官网网址淲hen he stood up I pressed him back down.B次元官网网址�

Then he tied a string around Big RedB次元官网网址檚 foot. HeB次元官网网址檇 let the rooster walk away, then pulled him back.

B次元官网网址淚 did this so heB次元官网网址檇 get used to being caught. The whole process took about 30 or 40 minutes.B次元官网网址�

The group went inside for coffee then came out and repeated the steps again.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like a dog who thinks heB次元官网网址檚 the alpha,B次元官网网址� Cy said. B次元官网网址淭he rooster needs to know who the boss is. He has to respect you. HeB次元官网网址檚 the alpha for his hens, not for people.B次元官网网址�

Cy adapted some techniques he'd read are useful on dogs. He read a technique to control chickens was to grab them by the feet and hang them upside down.

"I didn't want the rooster to be scared of me, I just didn't want him to be rough," he said.

B次元官网网址淐y was fabulous,B次元官网网址� said Ragley Farm operator Josephine Hill, who wound up giving her aging hens and a calmer Big Red to another farmer.

Involving staff in the process also helped solidify the relationship between her employees, she added.

Chicken whispering part of services auction

Cy HemusB次元官网网址� talents are among the items up for auction in the annual Metchosin Services Auction. Bidding continues online at and a live auction happens at Metchosin Community House, 4430 Happy Valley Rd. this Friday (March 28), from 7 to 9 p.m.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com