7-week old Roo Attacking Me

[bcorps]

10-12 hens per roo is a good ratio. Over breeding and harassment from the the roos can cause stress and damaged hens. I'd defiantly save to "Kindest" roo when deciding who to keep.

Yeah, I'm not exactly "torn" about which rooster to keep, although I do recognize my alpha rooster "Hulk" definitely has some good qualities. He's obviously an early bloomer, not scared of anything (except my parrot climbing out of her cage....BAWK!), has boundless energy, and has the best plumage...starting to get that big tail already. His comb is already flopping over a bit though. On the other hand, he jumps around, trying to intimidate everyone constantly and is a bit annoying. He will "tolerate" a cuddle, but has to get back to rampaging within a minute or two.

On the other hand, my sweet boy "Abomination" has a shorter, stumpy tail (but a perfect, upright comb!). He whines a LOT, because he's so attached to me, and quite spoiled rotten. When he wants a treat, he starts with this wheezy whine sound. When he jumps up on the edge of the cage, he starts talking to me immediately, which the others don't do at all. He will right off walk onto my hands for a long, relaxing cuddle. He's not a couch potato like my pullets by any means, but he is a LOT more laid back than Hulk. Hulk tries to pick on him. Most of the time he doesn't fight, he just ducks and walks away. It's like he's not even afraid, but just sick of Hulk. BTW, he loves being baby-talked, and clearly responds to me calling "Bom-Bom".

The third rooster "The Thing" (the one who attacked me) is pretty much not (so far at least) impressing me in anyway. Physically, he's not the tops, and his behavior is a real issue. While he is usually docile and even sort of off the other too roo's radar, surprise attacks are a deal breaker for me.

I'm most likely going to keep the rooster that is the nicest. If I needed a super tough guy to protect a free-range flock, I'd probably go with Hulk. But my chicks are going to be somewhat pampered, so I'm 99% going to keep The Abomination. I don't think I could live with letting even someone else eat him, much less myself.

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

Yeah, I'm not exactly "torn" about which rooster to keep, although I do recognize my alpha rooster "Hulk" definitely has some good qualities. He's obviously an early bloomer, not scared of anything (except my parrot climbing out of her cage....BAWK!), has boundless energy, and has the best plumage...starting to get that big tail already. His comb is already flopping over a bit though. On the other hand, he jumps around, trying to intimidate everyone constantly and is a bit annoying. He will "tolerate" a cuddle, but has to get back to rampaging within a minute or two.

On the other hand, my sweet boy "Abomination" has a shorter, stumpy tail (but a perfect, upright comb!). He whines a LOT, because he's so attached to me, and quite spoiled rotten. When he wants a treat, he starts with this wheezy whine sound. When he jumps up on the edge of the cage, he starts talking to me immediately, which the others don't do at all. He will right off walk onto my hands for a long, relaxing cuddle. He's not a couch potato like my pullets by any means, but he is a LOT more laid back than Hulk. Hulk tries to pick on him. Most of the time he doesn't fight, he just ducks and walks away. It's like he's not even afraid, but just sick of Hulk. BTW, he loves being baby-talked, and clearly responds to me calling "Bom-Bom".

The third rooster "The Thing" (the one who attacked me) is pretty much not (so far at least) impressing me in anyway. Physically, he's not the tops, and his behavior is a real issue. While he is usually docile and even sort of off the other too roo's radar, surprise attacks are a deal breaker for me.

I'm most likely going to keep the rooster that is the nicest. If I needed a super tough guy to protect a free-range flock, I'd probably go with Hulk. But my chicks are going to be somewhat pampered, so I'm 99% going to keep The Abomination. I don't think I could live with letting even someone else eat him, much less myself.

I think they are just trying to live up to the names you gave them!!! LOL!
"Abomination" OMG! Love it!
Maybe next time name your roosters Sweetie, Gentleman and Polite!

 

[centrarchid]

At age this is taking place, the rooster (juvenile male) is being rewarded intentionally or otherwise for be aggressive. Base what OP offered as evidence, it is the form where the bird gets more food as a reward. I said my little piece and will move on.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Just curious what breed the little guys are.

 

[kcan2]

I had this same problem with my guy and food last winter/early spring. In his case, he was going after the sound of the rustling bag and/or food hitting the pan, not me. I started filling up away from him or outside his pen, and the problem went away. Also, his hormones probably calmed down a bit after spring. We have a great understanding now.

If it helps to read any of my struggle, here is the original post:
Rooster struck at husband, now me, what can I do?

 

[bcorps]

At age this is taking place, the rooster (juvenile male) is being rewarded intentionally or otherwise for be aggressive. Base what OP offered as evidence, it is the form where the bird gets more food as a reward. I said my little piece and will move on.

I'm not sure what you're referring to. Seems to me the only "reward" he got was being pinned down for 2 minutes.

 

[bcorps]

Just curious what breed the little guys are.

Buff Orpingtons if you can believe that.

 

[neo71665]

He the lowest on the totem pole and trying to place himself above you. I'm sure the butthurt will flow but one swift kick next time he tries will show him your above him and he will stop it. My grandma always carried a stick with her for just that reason. She had some mean roosters when I was little but none of them would get any closer than 5 ft of her.

 

[bcorps]

I think they are just trying to live up to the names you gave them!!! LOL!
"Abomination" OMG! Love it!
Maybe next time name your roosters Sweetie, Gentleman and Polite!

LOL, yeah, when they started epic brawling at 2 weeks old, I gave them Marvel Comic names. The ones who turned out to have better manners ended up being girls, and got the nice names...

Sissy (she cried a lot as a hatchling)
Rosie (she's "pleasantly plump", like the woman in AC-DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie")
Little Miss (she's not a big as Rosie)

 

[centrarchid]

I'm not sure what you're referring to. Seems to me the only "reward" he got was being pinned down for 2 minutes.

His behavior somehow, from his perspective, got him better eats as behavior is associated with feeding time. Your pinning him down likely has no impact on his behavior. Your bird, with your current approach is going to be a man-fighter.