Rooster attacked 2-year old - Page 2

It is definitely NOT a breed trait. My BR roosters were wonderful roosters. It's not at all due to the breed--it's due to any rooster's reaction to the way children act. Let's be clear on that. Even a dustmop Silkie rooster might do the same thing if a toddler was making him jumpy and he can do just as much damage to a child's eyes as a big rooster can.

 

We do not want folks asking about what breed rooster is safe around children. NONE are. It's just the way it is. Never trust any rooster around a small child.

 

Can you explain why every BR I've had, has been mean, aggressive and feather pluckers? I've had no issues with other breeds.

 

I would venture to say it was due to particular stock of that breed.

 

All breeds tend to have certain traits (good and bad), but not every individual of that breed will exhibit them.  And we're talking roosters, not breeds...though the same line of thought still applies; most roosters will do X under Y conditions, but not all.

Sheer coincidence (even though I do not believe in coincidences ), the strain that you have worked with, or the manner in which they were raised.  In my experience they were neither more or less aggressive than any other breed.  Feather plucking is generally a result of something in the environment or way they are fed.

My dog would've stepped in. He barely lets the rooster mate!

When I had full sized roosters as a teen I made it very very clear what the rules were and I never had any trouble. Even my geese knew they were not allowed to touch humans. If I had a rooster I was even doubtful of, and you could tell because they had to be calm around running screaming kids and allow being picked of and played with by everyone, I'd send the smallest kid I could find out with a stick to chase that guy around until he showed absolutely no signs of agression. This was was not cruel, this was letting him know in chicken language that all humans are above him in the pecking order.

Can you explain why my BR roosters have been calm and easygoing for the most part? Of course not. Depends on many factors. BRs are my favorite breed and if the roosters were all nasty and human aggressive, they most assuredly not be my favorite breed/variety.

 

It's entirely individual as far as human aggressiveness, though some hatcheries have bred aggressive strains of several breeds, including Delawares, which are known to be usually friendly and sweet tempered.

 

What is a universal truth with roosters is that toddlers do not belong around them without a barrier between the child and the rooster.

Edited by speckledhen - 5/17/12 at 1:57pm

Totally agree here.

Only two words-crock pot.

I'm glad I saw this thread just now.  Yesterday I had my first rooster attack (http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/666149/first-rooster-attack/0_100) - and my solution was to immediately put a listing on Craigslist for a free rooster.  I got lots of responses - and that rooster will go to a new home later today.  I saw him coming at me - so I was able to keep kicking him away until I could get out of the run.  He was relentless, though.  Each time I kicked him away, he regrouped and came right back at me.  Once out of the run,  I got my net and went right back in and caught him and put him in an empty brooder pen.  I have three young granddaughters, and I don't want a rooster around who has shown aggression.  After reading your story, I know I did the right thing to get rid of him.  Mine was an EE, by the way.

 

Many prayers for your son's recovery - both physical and emotional.  That had to be so scary for him.
 

Edited by CarolJ - 5/18/12 at 8:09am