Rooster Chat

I have two brahma roo's 16 weeks old, we don't want to breed yet so the boys will be moving into a bachelor pad this week. Our flock is mixed, 18 brahma hens, 6 isa brown hens and 5 new Hampshire reds all 16 weeks, got one hen laying so far, these past 4 months have been a riot.

oldhenlikesdogs said:

You could try, but more than likely the mixed rooster will want back with his hens. Personally I would get rid of the polish, than free range both groups with the hope the mixed rooster will want the other hens too, and eventually he tends to all of them. My two flocks free range in the same area but don't interact too much

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Okay, I kind of thought that might be the best.Thank you.

I've been around BYC for a while now, but haven't posted in the rooster chats in years. I have a problem and am hoping I can get some advice/ideas/feedback. We have a flock of 9 EE hens and 1 purebred Americauna rooster in the blue color. When I first got this rooster, he was taking the place of a rooster we'd had to give away because he was attacking us and drawing blood and getting worse and worse, despite all my efforts, seriously injuring my hand as the last straw. So I searched out an adult rooster that was known to be sweet and paid good money for our current guy, who was named "Dred" for "dredlocks" by the previous owner's children. Dred was very sweet, not cuddly but not at all threatening for the first year or more we had him, and he was already a 1.5 years old when we got him, so he's 4 years old now. In the last year or so he's become more and more territorial and threatening, requiring me to carry a big stick with me when I go to the barn. He also sometimes threatens my husb, and our handyman/workman won't work out in the yard without a bodyguard because he's afraid to turn his back on the rooster, who has attacked him a number of times, and he has been attacking our two pet potbelly pigs who have never constituted a threat to the hens. I have continued to make excuses for Dred's aggression but I now accept that he's not going to stop it, it's not going to get better even if it sometimes eases up a bit.

I hatched out eggs this spring from our flock because we want more pullets, using our incubator the first time. A number of them, the majority of them, look to be cockerels (still only 7 weeks old). I've been told by multiple BYC folks that since these cockerels have grown up together, they very well might get along in a multi-rooster barnyard. I love these chicks and they are wonderfully cuddly and friendly with me. Dred was very sweet for a long time and only became aggressive when he was much older. I have hope his offspring won't be, or won't all be human aggressive, though I understand it is genetic-- if the younger cockerels turn out to go human-aggressive, then we would end that bloodline and bring in a new rooster entirely.

My questions:

1. The hen/mothers are not related to each other, but all the chicks have the same male parent. Will Dred's offspring cockerels be okay to breed with the older hens and the newer pullets/hens-to-be? Meaning, is that too genetically inbred, or is it ok? We would like to have a few more pullets but then don't need anymore for a while.

2. We want to rehome/send to freezer camp our current rooster and keep a group of the cockerels. If that would be okay genetically, what would be a good process for taking out the older rooster? Our birds free-range within the fenced curtilage around our house and barn and our current rooster has been great about keeping everyone safe (part of hesitation of letting him go despite his human aggression). Anyway, when would be a good time for letting him go in favor of the younger set? What age of the younger set? Other considerations?

Thanks for any help, will be glad to answer any questions. We don't find it at all easy to contemplate deciding our current rooster can't stay, we've only ever taken eggs from our chicken flock, not any birds. Again, any feedback is welcome.

Most often after a rooster reaches a year old he smart enough to know that people and chickens are different and shouldn't see their keeper as a threat. I personally would be rid of him and keep the group of young roosters and make my choices from them. I would use them for breeding and wouldn't worry unless you are seeing some defects in the offspring, I have bred closely related birds and haven't seen any problems.

When folks have people aggressive roosters it's often from the keeper interacting or moving about the flock in an insecure manner. When I walk amongst my birds I often think I'm top rooster and I move like I own the place, which I do. My roosters move and give me respect. Most of the time I don't even think about them. I do know once an attack happens it can cause a person to be wary and a bit fearful which the rooster will pick up on and use against you, so always be confident, if a rooster scares you in any way get rid of it.

Another problem can come from being friendly and handling young roosters. It teaches them disrespectful manners such as coming forward and feeding out of hand teaches them they can take food from you which a dominant bird does to a submissive one. So I like a hands off approach to my roosters. They mostly ignore me. When they start sexually maturing and harassing the hens, I will chase them off if they do it in my presence as a gentle reminder that I am dominant.

Victoria-nola said:

I've been around BYC for a while now, but haven't posted in the rooster chats in years. I have a problem and am hoping I can get some advice/ideas/feedback. We have a flock of 9 EE hens and 1 purebred Americauna rooster in the blue color. When I first got this rooster, he was taking the place of a rooster we'd had to give away because he was attacking us and drawing blood and getting worse and worse, despite all my efforts, seriously injuring my hand as the last straw. So I searched out an adult rooster that was known to be sweet and paid good money for our current guy, who was named "Dred" for "dredlocks" by the previous owner's children. Dred was very sweet, not cuddly but not at all threatening for the first year or more we had him, and he was already a 1.5 years old when we got him, so he's 4 years old now. In the last year or so he's become more and more territorial and threatening, requiring me to carry a big stick with me when I go to the barn. He also sometimes threatens my husb, and our handyman/workman won't work out in the yard without a bodyguard because he's afraid to turn his back on the rooster, who has attacked him a number of times, and he has been attacking our two pet potbelly pigs who have never constituted a threat to the hens. I have continued to make excuses for Dred's aggression but I now accept that he's not going to stop it, it's not going to get better even if it sometimes eases up a bit. I hatched out eggs this spring from our flock because we want more pullets, using our incubator the first time. A number of them, the majority of them, look to be cockerels (still only 7 weeks old). I've been told by multiple BYC folks that since these cockerels have grown up together, they very well might get along in a multi-rooster barnyard. I love these chicks and they are wonderfully cuddly and friendly with me. Dred was very sweet for a long time and only became aggressive when he was much older. I have hope his offspring won't be, or won't all be human aggressive, though I understand it is genetic-- if the younger cockerels turn out to go human-aggressive, then we would end that bloodline and bring in a new rooster entirely. My questions: 1. The hen/mothers are not related to each other, but all the chicks have the same male parent. Will Dred's offspring cockerels be okay to breed with the older hens and the newer pullets/hens-to-be? Meaning, is that too genetically inbred, or is it ok? We would like to have a few more pullets but then don't need anymore for a while. 2. We want to rehome/send to freezer camp our current rooster and keep a group of the cockerels. If that would be okay genetically, what would be a good process for taking out the older rooster? Our birds free-range within the fenced curtilage around our house and barn and our current rooster has been great about keeping everyone safe (part of hesitation of letting him go despite his human aggression). Anyway, when would be a good time for letting him go in favor of the younger set? What age of the younger set? Other considerations? Thanks for any help, will be glad to answer any questions. We don't find it at all easy to contemplate deciding our current rooster can't stay, we've only ever taken eggs from our chicken flock, not any birds. Again, any feedback is welcome.

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He's a beautiful boy....but in my experience, once he goes aggressive, you will not be able to change his behavior...my EE roo earned the name "The Cobra" due to his constant and overly aggressive behavior....he went into the neighbors freezer after he almost nailed me in the eye when I bent down to pick up a watering pan inside the run. The attack was sudden and unprovoked. He came at me from 15 ft away and once he started he kept it up. After my initial surprise....I went after him...he didn't run at first....just kept up the attack. I finally cornered him and pinned him down. Stuffed him into a feed sack and gave him to the neighbors. Roosters are and in some ways behave like stallions....no matter how sweet and gentle they behave. You must always keep in mind, what they Are! And behave accordingly. My big white rock rooster is a wonderful boy....but under the right circumstances even he can forget himself and act up. Did this behaviour start after the youngsters started to show their sex? That alone could have triggered his aggressive behavior...was he a lone roo beforehand? Anyway I'm sure he won't change...so you could isolate him with his own girls...or get rid of him....he will hurt someone eventually....and he isn't just after people...I say OFF WITH HIS HEAD! The sooner the better.

Victoria-nola said:

I've been around BYC for a while now, but haven't posted in the rooster chats in years. I have a problem and am hoping I can get some advice/ideas/feedback. We have a flock of 9 EE hens and 1 purebred Americauna rooster in the blue color. When I first got this rooster, he was taking the place of a rooster we'd had to give away because he was attacking us and drawing blood and getting worse and worse, despite all my efforts, seriously injuring my hand as the last straw. So I searched out an adult rooster that was known to be sweet and paid good money for our current guy, who was named "Dred" for "dredlocks" by the previous owner's children. Dred was very sweet, not cuddly but not at all threatening for the first year or more we had him, and he was already a 1.5 years old when we got him, so he's 4 years old now. In the last year or so he's become more and more territorial and threatening, requiring me to carry a big stick with me when I go to the barn. He also sometimes threatens my husb, and our handyman/workman won't work out in the yard without a bodyguard because he's afraid to turn his back on the rooster, who has attacked him a number of times, and he has been attacking our two pet potbelly pigs who have never constituted a threat to the hens. I have continued to make excuses for Dred's aggression but I now accept that he's not going to stop it, it's not going to get better even if it sometimes eases up a bit. I hatched out eggs this spring from our flock because we want more pullets, using our incubator the first time. A number of them, the majority of them, look to be cockerels (still only 7 weeks old). I've been told by multiple BYC folks that since these cockerels have grown up together, they very well might get along in a multi-rooster barnyard. I love these chicks and they are wonderfully cuddly and friendly with me. Dred was very sweet for a long time and only became aggressive when he was much older. I have hope his offspring won't be, or won't all be human aggressive, though I understand it is genetic-- if the younger cockerels turn out to go human-aggressive, then we would end that bloodline and bring in a new rooster entirely. My questions: 1. The hen/mothers are not related to each other, but all the chicks have the same male parent. Will Dred's offspring cockerels be okay to breed with the older hens and the newer pullets/hens-to-be? Meaning, is that too genetically inbred, or is it ok? We would like to have a few more pullets but then don't need anymore for a while. 2. We want to rehome/send to freezer camp our current rooster and keep a group of the cockerels. If that would be okay genetically, what would be a good process for taking out the older rooster? Our birds free-range within the fenced curtilage around our house and barn and our current rooster has been great about keeping everyone safe (part of hesitation of letting him go despite his human aggression). Anyway, when would be a good time for letting him go in favor of the younger set? What age of the younger set? Other considerations? Thanks for any help, will be glad to answer any questions. We don't find it at all easy to contemplate deciding our current rooster can't stay, we've only ever taken eggs from our chicken flock, not any birds. Again, any feedback is welcome.

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It is only considered inbreeding when a mother hen and son mate....

oldhenlikesdogs said:

Most often after a rooster reaches a year old he smart enough to know that people and chickens are different and shouldn't see their keeper as a threat. I personally would be rid of him and keep the group of young roosters and make my choices from them. I would use them for breeding and wouldn't worry unless you are seeing some defects in the offspring, I have bred closely related birds and haven't seen any problems.

When folks have people aggressive roosters it's often from the keeper interacting or moving about the flock in an insecure manner. When I walk amongst my birds I often think I'm top rooster and I move like I own the place, which I do. My roosters move and give me respect. Most of the time I don't even think about them. I do know once an attack happens it can cause a person to be wary and a bit fearful which the rooster will pick up on and use against you, so always be confident, if a rooster scares you in any way get rid of it.

Another problem can come from being friendly and handling young roosters. It teaches them disrespectful manners such as coming forward and feeding out of hand teaches them they can take food from you which a dominant bird does to a submissive one. So I like a hands off approach to my roosters. They mostly ignore me. When they start sexually maturing and harassing the hens, I will chase them off if they do it in my presence as a gentle reminder that I am dominant.

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I know that when I stupidly "tamed" our very first rooster and got him to take pomegranate seeds from my hand, he became aggressive after that. And I know that with our second, currently aggressive rooster when I don't "gird my loins" when I go out to the barn that he senses it and takes advantage. So I know better than that now. The current batch of chicks, though, are 7.5 weeks old and they are all pretty friendly with me. Can't help that, they were incubated here and imprinted on me. But I hear what you're saying, thank you. Also thanks for info about breeding.

the poppster said:

Quote: I agree with you, from experience now, once a rooster gets aggressive there is no way to change the behavior. I tried all kinds of things with our first rooster, a snow-white EE. Picking him up and carrying him around, etc etc. It changed his behavior for maybe a few days (and I reported here on BYC that I was successful in changing him), but then he reverted to even worse behavior.

Yes, our current roo (pictured) has been the only roo and this aggressive behavior has been going on for at least a year, long before there were any chicks on the scene. The chicks are right now 7.5 weeks old and I guess the roos are about to become sexually mature. So I guess my question is, do we go ahead and send away the older rooster before the chicks even mature as roosters, or would it be better for the younger birds to spend more time with the older rooster before that happens? And when we do send him away, will the older hens just naturally engage with the younger rooster(s)?

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I would get rid of your older rooster before your young ones pick up on his behavior towards people. I spend time looking at my young birds, talking to them, and picking them up to move them. All run from me but not far, and come towards me when I'm bringing treats.

They should all move out of you way when you walk. I'm not mean to my young roosters and I'm not afraid of them. As they reach sexual maturity and start making my pullets scream they may be chased off as I defend the pullet or they may get a plastic can tossed in their direction, otherwise I don't interfere too much. They grow up knowing I'm dominant but not necessarily a part of the flock. I have only had one aggressive rooster and he was handled and petted.

Hopefully your boys grow up respectful. You will need to not be afraid. I would actually get angry and chase down any rooster foolish enough to try an attack, but haven't had any since I stopped petting them.

I have a nice fishing net that I use to catch chickens, they all know it and fear it even if I never caught them. I find it can work well to correct young roosters to chase corner and net them temporarily, it's similar to what a dominant rooster will do to young ones. I certainly don't do it often and not for every rooster. It is a good way to mentally dominate without hurting them.

My older roosters come greet me in the morning to see if I have treats and will often follow me around while I do the feeding, but they will move out of the way if I walk in their direction. It can be quite easy to raise a respectful rooster but the keeper has to be confident and unafraid. I'm really rooting for you to get yourself a nice rooster or two. I have 3 large breed adults and about 7 young ones, as well as 11 adult bantam roosters and 3 young ones. All are nice boys.

My wonderful Buff O rooster Red died overnight after a 6 week long illness. We never found out what he was suffering from. No avian vet around us. We treated him with wormers, antibiotics, por-biotics, vitamins, you name it we tried it. The lack of veterinary care for poultry around us really amazes me.I have no doubts that if we could have had a vet involved, he may have survived. I spent days on the internet trying to match symptoms with conditions and never could match things up.

You couldn't ask for a better rooster than Red was. I am so glad he left me with three full blooded Buff O cockerels and 3 Welsummer/Buff O cross boys.

Rest in peace little man and thank you for being a part of my life for 16 months.

microchick said:

My wonderful Buff O rooster Red died overnight after a 6 week long illness. We never found out what he was suffering from. No avian vet around us. We treated him with wormers, antibiotics, por-biotics, vitamins, you name it we tried it. The lack of veterinary care for poultry around us really amazes me.I have no doubts that if we could have had a vet involved, he may have survived. I spent days on the internet trying to match symptoms with conditions and never could match things up. You couldn't ask for a better rooster than Red was. I am so glad he left me with three full blooded Buff O cockerels and 3 Welsummer/Buff O cross boys. Rest in peace little man and thank you for being a part of my life for 16 months.

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RIP Red I'm sorry for your loss.