6 month old rooster- new raging hormones or true signs of an aggressive bird...

[MoeBug]

Well, I took a switch out to the run with me after reading BeeKissed's advice. He came at me, I stood tall and smacked the ground. He jumped and RAN right under the coop. He came out from under the coop and I just walked toward him and right back under the coop he went. Didn't have to tap him or warn him again. Gave the hens some scratch, he thought about coming out to snack but didn't. I tossed him and my other roo some scratch cause my hens are pigs and ate it all. I am hanging the switch by the run door! It was so easy and took no time at all! We will give him some time to get used to it and see if he will be allowed to stick around. Now that I know my other roo won't crow or mate while the top roo is around, I have a lot to think about. I really want my BLRW, Runt, to shine and he may not get the chance. Winston is a handsome chicken though too. Oh, the dilemma... BUT you all have helped to solve my main problem so THANK YOU! If I could give you all trophies, I would!

 

[Folly's place]

I'm in the 'three strikes and you're out' camp. And by this, I mean three episodes of any kind of challenge, not actual attacks! I'm watching attitudes and behaviors in my cockerels from early on, and I'm not interested in an idiot that needs to be reformed, when he's been managed very well from hatching. Very few cockerels need to stay in the flock!
Mary

 

[MoeBug]

I'm in the 'three strikes and you're out' camp. And by this, I mean three episodes of any kind of challenge, not actual attacks! I'm watching attitudes and behaviors in my cockerels from early on, and I'm not interested in an idiot that needs to be reformed, when he's been managed very well from hatching. Very few cockerels need to stay in the flock!
Mary

This is becoming more clear to me. Is there a way to know if Runt would make a good rooster from your experience? He has never crowed and I have never seen him dance for the ladies. He just runs around constantly trying to stay out of Winston way and is always the last to eat. I try to give him food when Winston isn't looking.

 

[Chickassan]

I'm going to tell you in my dealings with roo's the underdog has always made the best leader. You're not seeing it now because he's intimidated by Winston but he's perfectly capable. My little roo was the underdog, i rehomed his bigger more dominant hatchmate and kept him and he's perfect for my girls.

This is becoming more clear to me. Is there a way to know if Runt would make a good rooster from your experience? He has never crowed and I have never seen him dance for the ladies. He just runs around constantly trying to stay out of Winston way and is always the last to eat. I try to give him food when Winston isn't looking.

 

[bobbi-j]

This is becoming more clear to me. Is there a way to know if Runt would make a good rooster from your experience? He has never crowed and I have never seen him dance for the ladies. He just runs around constantly trying to stay out of Winston way and is always the last to eat. I try to give him food when Winston isn't looking.

The best way to find out - in my opinion - would be to separate Winston from the flock and see how the other one does.

 

[MoeBug]

I'm going to tell you in my dealings with roo's the underdog has always made the best leader. You're not seeing it now because he's intimidated by Winston but he's perfectly capable. My little roo was the underdog, i rehomed his bigger more dominant hatchmate and kept him and he's perfect for my girls.

The best way to find out - in my opinion - would be to separate Winston from the flock and see how the other one does.

Thank you, again, for the advice! I went back out to check on the chickens after the switch tango with Winston and he went straight back under the coop. That is positive and fantastic! I will talk to the DH about trying to find a way to separate Winston and in order to see how Runt does and we may be having the big decision discussion about Winston. Just happy he is reacting correctly now when I walk into the coop.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

wonderful new Moe way to go, I have been lucky and never had the issues with either my toms or my roosters challenging me but I tried to help my best friend who did and sadly that didn't end as well as for you and Winston. Best of luck and I'm sure Runt will be a wonderful addition...another thought for you said that you have two set of chickens if you have the room and want to you could easily move Runt into the other girls area and keep Wilson with the current girls this would then allow you to keep both roosters and to get both their offspring into your flocks. However it would also mean keeping two separate flocks but is an idea if you have the space and really want to keep both.

 

[MoeBug]

wonderful new Moe way to go, I have been lucky and never had the issues with either my toms or my roosters challenging me but I tried to help my best friend who did and sadly that didn't end as well as for you and Winston. Best of luck and I'm sure Runt will be a wonderful addition...another thought for you said that you have two set of chickens if you have the room and want to you could easily move Runt into the other girls area and keep Wilson with the current girls this would then allow you to keep both roosters and to get both their offspring into your flocks. However it would also mean keeping two separate flocks but is an idea if you have the space and really want to keep both.

Though starting on this chicken adventure was solely the DH's idea, he will not want to have to build another enclosure. I have tried bringing that topic up before. Lol! With the new additions, we only have 6 hens and that probably wouldn't be enough for Runt. In that group, I also have yet another rooster to deal with... I would prefer to integrate if they allow it and, though I dearly want to keep both of my big boys, one will probably have to go. Though this is new to us, I really wanted a BLRW roo so I got a few straight run BLRW chicks and ended up with 3 roos and no BLRW hens. I kept Runt cause I just couldn't part with him. Winston was a sexed pullet that turned out to be a roo. He is handsome and definitely the protector of the flock but a roo was not what I expected. I have bad luck with chicks and certainly end up with a lot of roosters after paying the extra money for sexed chicks. I guess that is how the cookie crumbles. Chickens are certainly fun though!

 

[Folly's place]

It's about that learning curve, and you are on the way!
Mary

 

[Shorty22366]

Here's a post written by Beekissed regarding dealing with problem birds of any gender.

I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything to him. If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant ones and subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation. There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down and giving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck. No holding him down and nothing else. That's a rooster on a hen maneuver, not rooster on rooster.

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate in this picture. You are getting dominated by your bird simply because you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to be walking when a dominant is in the area. What you never see is a dominant rooster getting attacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose. So far you are losing and not even challenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive. He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner. Some people never have to go on the offensive because their movements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked your husband. Most men move more decisively than do women and children and they rarely step around a bird, but walk through them.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all. His environment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language he understands. Because they are quick on their feet and can evade you, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that will lengthen your reach by 5 ft. really helps in this. Don't use a rake or broom because they are too clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when you don't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements and walk directly towards your rooster. Move him away from the feeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leaves the coop. The stick will help you guide him. Then...wait patiently while he gets his bird mind around what just happened. He will try to come back in the coop...let him. When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim it well. If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs and keep at it until he leaves the coop once again. Repeat this process until he is too wary to come back in the coop.

Feed your hens. When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack the wall by the pop door just as he tries to enter. If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stick either smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry. Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching your hens eat. Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him. Don't worry about the hens running and getting excited when this is happening...they will get over it. This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.

When the hens have had a good tucker....leave the coop and let him come back in. Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...top roosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock. You shouldn't either. Take your stick and startle him with a smack on the floor next to him when he is least expecting it...make that bird jump and RUN. Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder and trying to get out of your way. THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together. Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands. You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need to establish that when you move, he moves...away. When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster. If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop. Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate. They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space. If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him. At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door. If he feels the need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops. He doesn't get to crow while you are there. He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along. And it can be fun if you venture into it with the right attitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly. This can work on strange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn. You rule the coop...now act like it. Carrying is for babies...you have a full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby.

Thanks great article. Let the lessons begin.