20 week old cockerel attacked almost 3 year old daughter

[chickengeorgeto]

... As for CG's statement that the bad boy attacked b/c OP was messing with his ladies, therefore OP was at fault: I can openly do what ever I need to do with my hens in my roo's presence. He shows concern, yes... but he does not attack. If I pick up a hen, and she protests, and Goliath comes around to supervise, I will carry the subdued hen, and back Goliath off. He knows that I am in charge, even when I'm handling his girls.

This is all so very very true but a precious 3 year old child is (I am sure) unawares of this dynamic, and like people say, familiarity breeds contempt, or more accurately complacency.

 

[bobbi-j]

Get rid of him, generally the attacks will get worse, and he will begin to attack more people. They generally attack kids, then women, then men.

A lot depends on your set up, but I would be ready to cull the second rooster too. The second rooster is apt to become more aggressive, when the first one is removed. When you are 3 you are of a prime height to take an attack to the face. By the time a kid is 5-6 years old, they are bigger.

Roosters are a crap shoot, some work, some do not. The best way of keeping roosters is with a sharp knife, you need to go into roosters with a strong recognition that this bird might not fit in your flock and have to be culled.

There are nice roosters. If you are determined to have a rooster, find a nice one. Get rid of any that are not. There will be others that will post about retraining them, but once he attacked, and was the winner....they have a very small brain, and a huge amount of hormones. In my opinion, not worth risking a child’s eyes, or facial scares, or terror for a bird. I strongly recommend removing all the roosters until your child is older.

x2

It’s certainly a compromise I’m willing to suggest. We do also have another cockerel (same breed) that would still have a spot in our flock after we culled this one... I’m unaware as to why the need for this cockerel... he’s the first one to get on our dogs cases for play nipping the kids but let’s keep an unruly rooster that viscously attacked our baby girl

Not a bad compromise. I would keep an eye on that second cockerel after the first is gone.

Yes, since she is only 2 years old, she will most likely forget soon

Not necessarily. My cousin had a bird fly at her face when she was less than a year old. Has been terrified of them ever since.

OP, if this were my chicken attacking my child, it would be gone without hesitation. Tell DH that this bird is not worth your child's health and well being, or for her to be afraid of chickens for the rest of her life. Get rid of the attacker, watch the second one, and be ready to get rid of that one, too.