I had to kick some SERIOUS rooster a_ _ this morning. We had a little "come to jesus" meeting. - Page 5

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Originally Posted by theoldchick 

Every day, when I socialize with my chickens, I make a point to move Stan around.  I don't get snooty about it,  I simply harden my gaze, make eye contact, and move assertively toward him making my kissy noises. I call it 'coop training for roosters'-my fowl version of round pen training for chickens.  If he moves off I may follow him for a second or two.  If he doesn't move off he gets a free flying lesson.  99 % of the time he gets out of my way.  The 1 % he may think about showing off but quickly changes his tiny little mind when I keep coming for him.  If he ever tries the sneak attack he's supper for the family down the road.

 

I think its neat you have a church nearby which is willing to process the roosters for you!  If I had that available,  I'd raise meaties just for them!

 

I will say Stan did have early training by being placed on his side while I held his feet.  Again, no anger was involved, the activity was just a training maneuver to create a docile rooster.  No extended  trips upside down-I'm not sure how long his memory is.  Just part of his day for him!

NO, not Stan! 
 

 I have never had a mean roo until a month ago! I bought some young Barred Old English. I got a trio.They are young and the roo didn't have spurs yet. The minute my husband set him down in the pen he reared back and crowed as if to say"I'm here!" He would spar with anything that moved including the hens I got to go with him. If I made a quick movement outside his pen he would run and hit the side of the pen with his feet first and he would try to flogg anyone who reached into the pen.I opened the door to the pen which I should have told you is eye level and heard gravel crunch so I turned to see if it was my husband coming home.The very second I turned that little 1 pound jerk hit me right in the face with his feet.I slung him to the back of the pen and he just got up and asked for more! He was returned to the breeder the next day. The hens even looked relieved that he was gone. The second roo is just as sweet as can be and he is just a pleasure to pet or pick up. Don't get me wrong, he is no pansy and takes very good care of his hens. The sad thing about the whole situation is the breeder just through the mean roo in a pen with a bunch of older roosters. If he survives he will probably just be re-sold to some poor unsuspecting person. I am a grown woman and he almost got the best of me.What happens when someone with children get him?! 

Originally Posted by Kelly G 

Excellent points. When people see their chickens as pets equivalent to their dogs or cats they tend to personalize the rooster's behaviors as "mean". It's refreshing to see a perspective that recognizes roosters are behaving out of natural instincts. 

I do think some roosters could be naturally more aggressive/defensive than others but I also think so many people complain of "mean" roosters because their own behaviors are bringing out those defensive behaviors in their roosters. Some of these dominance strategies are enough to make any animal mean. I think the very reason you haven't had a mean rooster is because you understand and respect who a rooster is. 

Glad to hear it. My EE rooster struts alot , but I never thought much about it until he went after my 3yr old grandson the other day. He had bent down to pick something from the ground when the roo jumped at him feet first. Then I was doing something the next day and nelt down on one knee and he came up behind me and came under my leg. I carried him around by the feet for several min, while I decided what to do with him. Finally tossed him back in the yard but forced him to go in to the hen house while the hens stayed outside. So far he is watchful, but has behaved himself. I will keep moving him when I go in from now on, and make sure to watch the grandson closer. My BJG roo is sweet enough that he lets the grandson pet him while he eats the treats we brought, even with all the hens around. I love the JGs, my grandson dopesn't even think twice about them walking around him, tho they are nearly as tall as he is.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly G 

I'll post a full update tomorrow (on my tablet).  But today he he was back to his normal cordial self. 

 

I walked in and he moved away.  Every where I went he gave me space.

 

I will be keeping my eye on him.

 

I'm hopeful he will remain this way.

Mmmm. Some of them are just not nice, like dogs or people - they do have personalities like any other living creature, and some are nicer than others in my opinion. Some are a few beers short of a six pack!  I don't keep bad tempered animals around here, costs the same in money and emotion to keep a good one as a bad one. And if that's just the rooster being a rooster, well, he can go be himself all he wants someplace else - or in someone's sandwich. My hens would never injure anyone! And plenty of lovely roos about that wouldn't either. 

And dogs and cats and horses all have natural instincts too ;) if a dog attacks a person no-one is understanding of his pack instincts, he gets the green dream! 

  My Wyandotte rooster went at me once. I did have on different cloths. At least I always wear khaki pants and that day had on jeans. He came at me from behind hit my legs and he found out different pants, same right leg and foot. When he got his head back on straight he was find and since has been fine. Just that one time he was spooked. I don't understand the staying in the aggressive mode.

  In that case I would hold him upside down just long enough to get the machete on his neck.