Advise to keep my rooster

[lilofthestars]

Hello all
We have a astrolope rooster
My neighbor gave to me because he had too many roosters and I just found out the rooster hurt his little boy. Because I guess the little boy tried to pick him up, they should’ve been paying more attention Well. I wanted the rooster to protect the hens. we had a problem with the hawk and we had a problem with cats.. The rooster makes me nervous. He’s already attacked at my husband when he tried to give him some mealworms. He was just bending down seeing if he would take the mealworms out of his hand. I think that was a big mistake. Then sometimes he charges at me I turn around, put my finger up and say, don’t you even think about it. He backs down. I got a water blaster gun with water. I had to go into the coop and he stood up and I blasted him in the face with the water blaster didn’t hurt him. It just shocked him. He stopped doing the charging towards me, but I’m still nervous around him so I know what I don’t know really what to do. Keep the rooster and be nervous or protect the hens. I heard this breed is pretty calm. Maybe it’s because what he went through at the neighbors he seen all his ladies killed by some dogs. That was a terrible thing now they keep their Chickens penned up. People’s told me Just cut his spurs. Number one I think that’s Mean and difficult and how will he protect the hens. Then somebody else said just pick them up walk them around the yard. How in the world am I gonna do that without getting hurt maybe in the face. I’m not afraid to check on my girls. I pick them up cause I’m afraid he’ll go after me. There is one in particular that I have Nurse back to Health after a raccoon got her lasted about a year and a half ago and I always like to keep a check on her. Her cone looks a little light she’s staying away from the other chickens she’s eating she’s scratching on the ground and we did get four chickens that they won’t even let me hardly near them. They come closer now because I’m feeding them but they’re still scared. They’re three years old. It’s it’s the way they was raised the last three years I guess This lady put these chickens upside down to give them to me. I bought had a heart attack. I couldn’t stand it. I grabbed one and I put the right side up and petted her to put her in the box. The other ones I couldn’t then I have a neighbor that I’ve been trying to help. She said she has two roosters and one hand in that poor hen doesn’t have any feathers. I told her that’s not right you should never have two roosters of one hen. I tried so hard to help them to either get some more hens or find homes for the roosters. I told her at least separate him so she doesn’t die all the work I did now she figured out well there’s a neighbor that’s hatching some chickens and then she’s gonna get some hens there and she’s gonna give one of the roosters away. I’m sorry I’m ranting on. I just need some advice. I would really appreciate it.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

Do not keep a rooster that attacks people. Humanely kill him, preferably do it at night when you can get him off the roost. It will be less stressful to him, you, and the rest of the flock if you don't have to chase him or cause a big commotion.

When you want a new rooster, wait for one of your hens to go broody and order her some male chicks. Hen-raised roosters are better behaved towards people than human-raised roosters.

 

[FrostRanger]

He needs to be culled. Human aggression is very often genetic. Could something have happened at his previous home to trigger it? Sure, but just as likely he is simply predisposed to human aggression. This behavior is seldom fixable as well. Also, roosters provide minimal predator protection, they mostly just sound the alarm. Sure, you occasionally hear about a rooster taking out a hawk or raccoon but those are the exceptions and not the rule. What usually happens is he'll sound the alarm and leads everyone to safety. If he has to actually fight he'll either run off himself or he'll just get killed himself first. You can keep predators away far better than any rooster by predator proofing your coop and run. If you just want a rooster, I would get some straight run chicks in spring, and have the flock raise them (either have a broody raise them or integrate them when the chicks are of age) and keep the best one. Usually cockerels who get put in their place by mature hens are more polite (not always, but it helps). Either way keeping this rooster will only lead to someone getting hurt

 

[Anon112]

You need to be VERY careful with a rooster who has shown aggression. He may need some time to adapt to you and your husband being the "alphas", and while that happens I would really encourage you to be super cautious about turning your back on him or bending down near him.

 

[Anon112]

I know that the majority advice is going to be to cull. And if that's the route you want to go, that's fine.

I will say that from my own experience, the issues I had with my roosters had more to do with my not managing them correctly. I would check out some articles about rooster behavior and be very careful while you try to put everyone in the best possible position.

If the aggression does continue, you either need to cull him OR make sure that your management keeps you and anyone else on your property safe.

 

[DemeterAD9]

You should never have to live in fear of your roosters. Sounds like your neighbor got rid of his problem by making it your problem.

I don’t bother keeping a rooster who acts even a little aggressive towards people, it is hard to break them of it and even then you can’t trust them. I try not to get attached to my birds so if/when I have to butcher them I don’t feel so bad about it. Roosters are a dime a dozen as everyone wants to get rid of them. You should be able to find one that is a better fit and if you can’t then raise some straight run (mixed gender) chicks and let your hens teach them a thing or two about manners when you introduce them to the flock.

For the record, you don’t need a rooster to protect the hens. The only thing they are good for is making babies. Even without a rooster the head hen in the flock will sound the alarm when she sees a predator, just like a rooster would. Not often will a rooster fight off an attacking predator either, from what I’ve seen they sound the alarm and run for cover with the rest of the flock. Even if he does fight back it usually ends with him getting killed.

Having a bleeding heart for living creatures isn’t a bad thing but it is soooo stressful. I was like that when I was a kid, it wasn’t fun. I’ve learned to think a bit more logically instead of letting my heart make the decisions. Is this rooster really worth the stress? Is he going to thank you for the trouble of keeping him? No so better to say off with his head. I find it easier to know what needs to be done and just do it rather than think about it too much. This usually requires a pep talk to myself the day before the deed. Of course I intend to eat my birds so it doesn’t feel like a wasted life to me.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My neighbor gave to me because he had too many roosters and I just found out the rooster hurt his little boy.......The rooster makes me nervous. He’s already attacked at my husband when he tried to give him some mealworms. ....... Then sometimes he charges at me

That rooster is human aggressive. You may be able to train him to not attack you, maybe, but no one else is safe. You may not be safe either.

you either need to cull him OR make sure that your management keeps you and anyone else on your property safe.

I totally agree with this. I believe people are more important than any animal. My #1 goal would be to protect people.

I heard this breed is pretty calm.

Some roosters of any breed are pretty calm. Some roosters of the same breed are total terrors. Don't look at breed, look at the individual.

Just cut his spurs.

What good would that do? His claws are still very sharp and can inflict a severe wound. His beak can cut a mouse into bits. He still have plenty of dangerous weapons.

I just need some advice. I would really appreciate it.

There are too many good roosters out there to keep a bad one. You and your husband should not have to feel in danger when taking care of the chickens. If you feel you have to have a rooster, get rid of him and get another one. Others have suggested raising one with the flock. You can also try to find one about a year old and introduce him to your hens. As long as he is mature, that type of integration usually goes pretty well.

Good luck!

 

[Mrs. K]

Often times inexperienced people make excuses for roosters. Most of us have kept the first rotten rooster too long, as we, like you resisted the idea of culling him, in hopes he would get better.

I too recommend letting him go, roosters come in three categories, rotten (which you have) fair, some good traits, lacking some. Flock masters which people remember for years fondly.

The best way to get a good rooster is not to keep a rotten one.
Mrs K

 

[McChooky]

My rooster had a change of heart after I started spraying him in the face with a vinegar and water solution .It works better than water.I don't care if my rooster likes me or not as long as he doesn't attack me. Don't let a rooster get close enough to attack you and you'll never have to worry about one hurting you.