Aggressive Barred Rock Rooster

[byounghusband]

Ok... Need some advise here. WE have 12 chickens, 10 hens of different breeds and two roosters. Caitlin is an EE and is fine. Rocky is the Barred Rock Rooster (20 weeks old) and has an aggression problem when my wife is around.
Our birds free range in our property. If my wife is out doing yard work, weeding, etc, Rocky will attack her when her back is turned. Lately he has been more aggressive to her at any time and not just when her back is turned. She has clobbered him with empty milk jugs in the past to set him back, but Saturday, he ran up to her and attacked her ankles. I intercepted him and chased him away.
Today, she went out to open the coop. We have them closed in their 12x12 yard and the coop to get the hens used to the nesting boxes. Our coop is raised up about 18", so I build a ramp that we move when we closed the main door. She opened the door and was placing the ramp where it needs to go and Rocky jumped on her back and began pecking her. She got him off of her, but he kept attacking. She fought back, but it wasn't until the other Rooster, Caitlin, went after him that she could get out of the run.
Needless to say, She isn't happy and is thinking about Rooster soup!!
With only 10 hens right now, I think two roosters is too much anyway.
Any ideas on how to make him back down, or does Rocky need to go bye-bye?

 

[sourland]

One rooster is more than enough for your flock. There are methods which sometimes work in rooster attitude adjustment. The one for sure method is coq au vin or rooster and dumplings. Generally such human aggression is an escalating behavior. If he were mine, I would eat him.

 

[byounghusband]

Thanks!! I pretty much figured that would be the direction we would end up going... Yum!! Rooster Soup!!

One rooster is more than enough for your flock. There are methods which sometimes work in rooster attitude adjustment. The one for sure method is coq au vin or rooster and dumplings. Generally such human aggression is an escalating behavior. If he were mine, I would eat him.

 

[Chickassan]

A little sas is okay but once one goes up your back it's pretty much decided. Rocky is obviously a very sassy boy, hopefully sassy equals delicious.

 

[byounghusband]

A little sas is okay but once one goes up your back it's pretty much decided. Rocky is obviously a very sassy boy, hopefully sassy equals delicious.

 

[speckledhen]

Not behavior that should ever be tolerated. And he would pass on aggression to his sons as well, so on to another one who will be smart enough to understand not to attack the hand that feeds him. I have three wonderful large fowl roosters, two of them Barred Plymouth Rocks from two different heritage lines, plus a huge Blue Partridge Brahma rooster who would be a problem if he chose to attack with his size, but he's a sweetheart. There are too many great ones to tolerate the mean ones-those are destined to be soup, I'm afraid. Two are too many with that number of hens anyway.

 

[Parront]

Answer to annoying (delicious) Barred Rock Rooster:

Step one: boil a pot of water, a water bath canner is a good size. Find a 5-gal bucket and a wire coat hanger. Cut the coat hanger on the bottom side so that you can tie it to the bucket handle, leave the hooked end for the beak. Put water or dirt in the bucket, or if you have dogs, put kibble in the bucket. You want it heavy enough to hold the rooster still, ~5 lbs is fine. If you have a cooler, put some ice and water in it 1/2 full. If not the fridge is OK.
Step two: Hang a rope over a rafter in the garage, one end a slip knot one end tied down.

(20 minutes prep time).​

Step three: Rooster feet in slip knot noose, hook the coat hanger to the inside of the lower beak.

Step four: Cut the side of the neck of the rooster, right next to the beak. (Use the sharpest knife you have. If you do not have a sharp steak knife, use an exacto blade). Let bleed until no more blood is flowing. Painless to the bird, wont even squawk. ~Five minutes.

Step Five: Dunk the bird in the hot water, holding it by the feet. The water should be just starting to show bubbles on the side of the pot, not boiling yet. Swish him up and down a little. (If you want to be fancy, a thermometer should read ~140).
Step six: Pull off the feathers -- dunk again if the feathers aren't easy to pull. Another 5 minutes.
Your bird is now ready to go in a cooler with some ice. After a couple of hours, it is time to gut him. If you have gutted a fish, you know what to do. The only difference is that a bird has an oil gland on the top of the tail to cut off. Just cut down the center, and pull out the guts. Don't cut too deep and knick the intestine with your knife. Some people use scissors this, but I use my little knife for everything. If you have ever bought a whole chicken at the store, you know how to cut it up from here; if not then I hear YouTube is the answer to the question! The point is that this is simple, just do it!
If you do not want to eat the skin, it is a lot easier, stop at step #4 and skin him. He is young enough to fry, KFC style, but I like them baked in a small roaster. With the skin on, it gets nice and crispy! YUM!
Here is a photo of my chicken killing knife. I have a small one with a rounded tip for skinning, but this one is all you need to do a good job. Simple, do not make it harder by over thinking! It will only take about an hour for your first time butchering your delicious cockerel.

 

[cppeace]

Yeah rocks should be pretty good natured. I wouldn't want that aggressive line to carry on. Were it me Rocky would be stew, soup or slow cooker bound.

 

[Parront]

Rocks are nice with dumplings, southern style.

 

[byounghusband]

Thanks all for your advise!! Rocky is no more. Skinned him as I processed him. In a Salt Brine in the fridge right now for a couple days. Then I'll figure out how to cook him.