First challenge by alpha rooster.

You have to stay one step ahead of roosters from the day they are hatched. That is just the way roosters are.

I just got rid of two roosters, one human aggressive, two just an extra that was aggressive to other roosters. What I learned from my years of experience with roosters is 1) when they start being aggressive,it only gets worse 2)Aggressive to humans does not mean the rooster is going to be a good flock master, it means you can never turn your back on that bird no matter what. 3) When he is gone, the stress in the flock will decrease emensely.

I knew I was going to have to get rid of the human aggressive roo. I seperated them from the rest of the flock thinking they would settle down. They didn't. The day rooster 1 grabbed skin on the side of my knee and twisted leaving a puncture wound and a bruise, I knew I was out of options and he was out of chances. Rooster 2 would be alright as a flock master in the right situation.

I was lucky in that I was able to pass them both on to an Amish neighbor who was glad for the free meal and new rooster to breed his hens for him.

Our remaining roosters so far are good boys. They may get a little attitudish with me but there is a line in the sand with them. If they get too close, I walk towards them with purpose. If they try to mount a hen in my presence, they get knocked off by me. (Funny story. One night I was putting water in the coop for them and the beta roo, a Buff O, mounted a hen right by my elbow. Without thinking, I asked him if he had a death wish and shoved him off of her like the alpha rooster would do. He spun around at me and his whole body language was a cross between "What'd I do wrong?" and "Whow, you are big for an Alpha rooster!" He squawked at me a couple of times just for appearance sake and walked away.)

Too many people try to make pets out of roosters. I try not to. I love our boys but I do not try to pet and cuddle them. The hens are around for that duty.

My best advice is, as hard as it will be, get rid of the alpha rooster before his behaviors have a chance to get worse.

I too have a RIR rooster, he's around 11 months now. He is a sod to put it bluntly....He's no trouble with me or OH as he knows we don't stand for his rubbish, he reluctantly lets us handle him and hand feeds well. My 11 year old daughter on the other hsnd, cannot go within an inch of him. However, he's a wonderful flock guard and has produced some super chicks this year. I'm fortunate to be able to separate my daughter from him as we have quite a bit of land. He won't be going in a pot, his position is safe here. The funniest thing is that he is scared of one of my drakes! He runs a mile from him! I guess it's an individual choice.

Just curious, could his wing drop be a way of flirting? I see it in his interaction with the hens.

BBStacker said:

Just curious, could his wing drop be a way of flirting? I see it in his interaction with the hens.

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Show of dominance...with hens, it's more of an invitation...... with humans and other roosters, it's the warning of an attack.

x2! Mary

Don't know if this post is considered old but there is an update: I quit manhandling the alpha (Tornado) and made up my own version of the wing dance to use every time he danced toward me. He has not attacked me since. Seems to get along charmingly with the Beta and the hens just fine.

I do have a friend (*frank*) who has a friend (*bob*) who needs a new roo. Bob's flock's coop and run was broke into by a mink. The entire flock and roo were killed except 3 hens. Tornado would have gone there immediately however he was only 2 months old at the time. I wanted him to be able to stand his ground. Long term, I was interested in observing the brothers grow together and the effects on the three hens for myself but reading the warnings against this, and seeing his aggressive side while young and knowing someone else's need, I decided now is the time to give him away.

At 5 am (darkness renders him defenseless), Tornado will go in a cardboard box with airholes (I don't have a quarantine/transport cage yet), be placed at the front door of my garage with a note including his name and my email, and be picked up by Frank to be transported to Bob's house. I hope Thunder takes over as a strong, well-behaved leader, and isn't the true tyrant kept in check by tornado.

I'll keep updating this if I do get updates on Tornado. Just don't want to see him end up in the pot. I may be too attached but he is a member and leader of my first flock. Hopefully I'll grow to be able to cull my own chickens. My first one will be the hardest for me. Thanks for the support and advice of byc members and leaders.

No thread is too old for the thread starter to update.

John Roth said:

Just because the rooster is aggressive. Doesn't mean it's a bad rooster. It's only doing its job. Protecting his position and his ladies. I once watched a falcon come flying by over my rooster and pounce on one of the hens. My "aggressive rooster" didn't flea and head for the hills. He ran towards the falcon rammed it! The falcon went flying off dazed what just happened. You guys need to stop fearing aggressive roosters like they are a threat to society. They are only doing their job. We need to remember chickens aren't just senseless animals, they are just like any other pet. It's like putting a guard dog down for biting a robber. Yeah they can scratch you. That's why you routinely clip their claws. If you have kids. Keep the rooster in an enclosure or keep an I on the child.

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I wish my bantam roo would do that. He's the only o e I have and when a hawk attacked he went for the hills! Luckily I was there to protect the hens. The hawk comes once every 6 months, it is weird.

I got word from my friend that Tornado (the alpha rooster)didn't hack it at his new home. The would be new family has three turkies along with the rest of his animals and chicken flock. Tornado kept picking a fight with them so my friend took him in to his flock of chickens. He hates his constant crowing but his girlfriend loves it. I offered to take him back if he wanted so we'll see what happens.

Tornado is now with a new flock. On the other side of the coin, one of my three hens is standing up as alpha and pecking at my husband and me. Thunder (former beta) will at most do the wing drop but back off as soon as I take the challenge and reach for him. Flower is actually the one starting the fight now. I just pick her up, put her and put her down.