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This is probably going to be a long post. I want to address a lot of issues before I close out this project. First, the rooster is gone. I found him another home, and lots of ladies. I made full disclosure about the aggression. There are a number of reasons. Although he hasn't attacked me for...

I don't. I haven't been keeping records as I do this research, and it was some time ago. Look up rooster rescue and rooster rehabilitation. The process is very simple. They keep the rooster caged where he can see the other birds but not interact. When the rooster calms down they let him out...

I see your point. I would also say (compressing what could turn into a 20 page rant) that genetics is complicated. Genes are often linked, cross linked, they turn each other off and on in what seems random combinations. By selecting for one thing, you're almost certainly selecting for other...

I had an odd thought. And people who don't like odds are just going to have to deal. That's the way my brain works. I see a lot of discussion over aggressive roosters, and most people are in the cull-first camp. In my opinion this is self-defeating, since by culling any rooster that shows signs...

I'm finding that there's an emotional aspect to the situation as well. He's calmed down again and I'm working out the best way to train him, but I find I resent him at the same time. I resent what feels like being held hostage by a bird. I free range them all day, which means I need to be...

Just think of this post as brainstorming, and skip past it if not interested. I have no place to isolate him for training, so this will almost have to be in his place--the coop, or the run. I'll need to figure out a way to isolate him from his girls, which is NOT going to make him happy. The...

I spoke too soon. I got careless. Went out there unarmored at the wrong time of day, stared him straight in the face, put my head down, and capped it all by walking around him. I walked into him until he turned away, but I can tell there will be a repeat. Because I did that all wrong too...

No problems. I still stay wary, don't get down on his level when he's close, and keep an eye on him. But as mentioned before, he hasn't attacked me since the beginning of April. With no changes. I haven't continued to update. When I walk through the flock he ducks out of my way. He still growls...

Interesting what a difference small changes make. As always, I went out armored (3 pairs of pants) but the pair I usually have on the outside was dirty so I wore a different color. I opened the door to let the chickens out (they free range each afternoon) and they were scared to pass me.

Yes, they do. But if we weren't nuts already, would we have this kind of pass time? 🙃

Progress report, in a sense. He hasn't tried to attack me since the beginning of April, but I haven't had a chance to do much training either. He's wary when I let them out in the morning and will sometimes duck back into the coop until I leave the run. Other than that he keeps out of my way...

I think the move upset him, yes, but I think being hungry upset him more. I don't blame myself for his behavior, but I was trying to figure out how feed bucket aggression could end up with an all-out war, and this is one possible connection. Maybe I won't be able to help him. If that is the...

Something occurred to me that I hadn't considered before. Taking into account, first, that the family I got the rooster from said there was no human aggression when they had him. Plenty of rooster aggression, which is why they wanted to get rid of him. Like many here, they have a 0 tolerance...

It just occurred to me that I wasn't clear on one of my earlier posts. I mentioned that "things are shifting," but I didn't clarify. When training, anyone and anything, for any reason, it is either to instill new habits (initial training) or to overcome existing habits that aren't acceptable...

Very possible, which is why I still go out there armored and I stay alert. I do expect that this will be a process, not an event.

It might be. I don't know. Today he crowed while I was outside (hasn't done that in a while) and charged me when my back was turned. He backed off rather comically and didn't make contact. I suspect he's getting his nerve up for another tiff. Still, the last few attacks have been without...

I had thought of that, but I don't usually feed them when they're present. I put their food in the run before I open the pop door, and put down the leftovers before I let them out to free range. Until this last few weeks they haven't even gotten treats. I have never fed them by hand. Although...

Might be, and I'm keeping an eye on it. To this point, however, he has never attacked me from an upright position. Always crouched or pecking, usually but not always eyeing me sideways. His attitude is very different with this following. I see this from the pullets all the time, it seems to...

No problems this week. I did realize something, though. My hair is quite long, so I always keep it tied up in what some might :) call a rooster tail. Combed up in back and wrapped together so it sticks over the top of my head. I pulled my hair down when I went out there this week, JIC. I wonder...

He's a Bielefelder, about a year and a half old. None of his brothers show human aggression. The behavior has moderated at this point, apparentlydue to changes in my own behavior. I suspect this will be an ongoing project.