9 month Rooster is showing signs of aggression

[Mayflower09]

Hi all!
My 9 month old rooster is showing signs of aggression towards me. It’ll be sudden or when I have my back turned. He has 6 ladies that he’s a total gentleman for. I have more younger chicks in the nursery still and aren’t ready to be introduced. He is a Rhode Island/ Buff Orpington mix. Should I get rid of him? Or is this just a hormonal stage? I’ve never had troubles with any of our past roosters. He was hand raised since a baby.

 

[nuthatched]

Cull him, he's unlikely to get worse. Hand raising can often encourage aggressive behavior in birds that are prone to it.

 

[Mrs. K]

I used to have a lot of theories about cockerels and roosters. Now, I don't. Some are fabulous, some are fair, and some are awful. It is a roll of the dice. Really does not depend much on human behavior. Training from chicks on, might have limited help, but really once they have become mean, training is pretty ineffective.

But the theory that I believe the most strongly is, the best way to get a wonderful rooster, is to NOT KEEP A ROTTEN ONE.

If you want a rooster, and I have had them for years. Take a look at the feed store bulletin board. Ask about 4-H groups, or local poultry groups. What you really want is a rooster, that has been

• raised in a multi - generational flock, flock mate roosters have a huge tendency to be rotten, they get bigger quicker than the pullets, and use that to bully birds
• in similar country, climate and predators as to your own
• that is so nice, that he has not been culled by a person that would have culled him if he wasn't
• And as close to a year old as you can get.

Mrs K

 

[McChooky]

When my rooster blocks my path and picks a fight he gets a good squirt in the face from a spray bottle full of apple cider vinegar + water

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is possible to train some roosters to not attack you. But they are situational learners, you might be safe but they could still go after strangers or other people, including children. To me it is not worth the risk, if one goes aggressive he generally doesn't last long around here. I have grandkids.

If you read enough threads on here you'll find that roosters either hand raised or pretty much ignored when raised can become aggressive or be the sweetest thing ever. There is no right way or wrong way for all of us. Some are just hatched mean. With some it is a learned behavior. Since you've had success with your previous roosters I would not change what you are doing.

I'll tell a story on learned behavior. A family had a flock with a great rooster until one day the rooster started attacking the 5-year-old son. Then if he saw that boy way across the yard he'd go after him, that rooster had to be removed. The parents thought it was cute the way the boy would chase after the hens, but the rooster thought his hens were in danger and protected them. The rooster was just doing what he was supposed to do, protect his hens. But it cost him his life.

I don't know why that cockerel is going after you. But for some reason he is so I would not keep him.

Good luck!