Aggressive Rooster. HELP

[SIMZ]

People will hopefully give you some tips that may or not work with him. In my experience this behavior only gets worse. Sorry to not be more encouraging.

 

[SIMZ]

BTW - it's normal for a rooster that is going to be aggressive to start showing that behavior at his age. We get rid of roosters that show any aggression now, and it's usually around 20-25 weeks that they start showing aggression if they have that tendency.

 

[Mrs. K]

Let this one go..... you are just getting started, and a wicked rooster has ruined the whole chicken experience for lots of people.

Personally, I think that roosters that are raised with just flock mates, tend to get mean. Not always, but often, what happens is they quickly out grow their flock mates and get MUCH bigger than the pullets, and become bullies. People often spend a great deal of time with a small back yard flock, and roosters loose their fear of humans, so try and bully people too.

In a multigenerational flock, a rooster growing up is much smaller than the laying hens, those older girls are a lot bigger than he is and will whip some manners into him.

I often recommend when asked, just keep hens the first couple of years, get some experience under you, then raise up a rooster in the flock.

Mrs K

 

[ascott99]

Let this one go..... you are just getting started, and a wicked rooster has ruined the whole chicken experience for lots of people. 

Personally, I think that roosters that are raised with just flock mates, tend to get mean. Not always, but often, what happens is they quickly out grow their flock mates and get MUCH bigger than the pullets, and become bullies. People often spend a great deal of time with a small back yard flock, and roosters loose their fear of humans, so try and bully people too.

In a multigenerational flock, a rooster growing up is much smaller than the laying hens, those older girls are a lot bigger than he is and will whip some manners into him. 

I often recommend when asked, just keep hens the first couple of years, get some experience under you, then raise up a rooster in the flock.

Mrs K

 

[ascott99]

Thank you for the advice. And believe me, we did NOT want a rooster but the person we got them from had a few adorable white chicks in the bunch but had no clue what they were (breed) so he gave one to us for free. And low and behold... a rooster.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

If you're bent on keeping him, look up user Centrarchid here on the forum. He has a method that he uses to break aggressiveness in roosters.

He has a good thread going right now:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-reduce-rooster-aggression-directed-at-keeper

 

[SouthernFarmChick]

I have a 10 month old Dominique rooster who has taken to attacking just in the last month every time I go into the chicken pen to feed and water and collect eggs. He got me just above my boot twice a few days ago on one leg, and once on the other leg; all 3 below the knee and right through my Wranglers! I have quite a bump and bruise! He's flown high, above my waist (I'm 5'4) - he is just a butthead! I don't know what to do! I have 9 hens - should I sell him? Re-home him with someone with only 1-2 or so hens? Should I put him in my other pen (after we get the roof on it!) with just 1 or 2 hens? I dread going out there now and I've had chickens for years and never had a rooster this aggressive!

 

[SouthernFarmChick]

Thanks! Yes, I've already pretty much made the decision he's gone, it's just how/where. I've never processed any of the chickens I've had. I used to have about 60, but they were all free range, and I never had any problems with roosters or hens with aggression. This started out of the blue and I could care less what caused it - I'm the only one who sees them, and I haven't altered my routine, so whatever his problem is, he's probably best in the stew pot. How do I go about it, what's the best way, especially with his hyper/aggressiveness and not wanting a gamey flavor? I would love to raise my birds for dual purpose, which most of the chickens I have now are. I'm getting so many eggs, I've got standing orders at the local farmer's market in town each week! ~~ Jo

 

[prinellie]

agree - sorry to say but that boy needs to go and find a new one. It will only get worse.

 

[SouthernFarmChick]

Thanks! I'm the very same way about beef! I keep begging for another calf to bottle raise! I miss our cattle and want to start raising them again! After all, I was the only one who ever had to chase them if they got out! My other half's on the road 2-3 weeks at a time!