Aggressive rooster and small children, really need some answers asap

[Lilalienangel]

Their always the sweetest...
Until their not.
[/QUOTE]
My boy was the sweetest ever. Untill the little jerk bit me. I'm just glad he is bonded with my family or it could be alot worse.. Its kinda my fault though. I live in town and I bring him in at night so he doesn't disturb my neighbors. He only bites after 5. Everyone now knows; don't touch the roo after 5 pm.. Before 5 my 5 year old can carry him around no problem. After 5 though....

 

[Folly's place]

Your behavior matters, and small children tend to do all the wrong things out there, which will trigger aggression in some roosters.
This boy is dangerous and needs to be gone!
I don't try to make pets out of my cockerels, they need to respect my space and move out of my way. I am the giant who brings food, not a flockmate, not part of their pecking order. I'm calm, and talk, and don't chase the boys, but never back up either. I handle them off their roosts at night unless there's an emergency. I can handle/ pick up hens with no problem from the roosters either.
Only polite roosters are worth having!
Mary

 

[IamRainey]

I had a flat out gorgeous Black Copper Marans rooster. I mean The. Iconic. Rooster. When he hit his stride he got aggressive. Occasionally at first. Then more regularly. When I went into the coop I had to carry a long stick to announce my dominance.

I tried Ev. Er. EE. Thing. everyone here recommended because I was committed to keeping him to admire and to have that chocolate egg genetics. Nothing worked for long and in the end it was just a risk I wasn't willing to endure. I had a 9yo grandson whose safety I had to be concerned about. And even my 6'2" husband was uncomfortable going into the coop. I as the only one willing to be around old M. Maurice.

We put him down. My husband and I together. We both hated doing it and having to do it but it was the right decision. Still miss him!

Our current roo is one of his by a Cream Legbar. Some folks will say that you don't want the cockerel of an aggressive roo. Not our experience. Rocky is totally mellow. I'd trust him around a toddler.

You get to enjoy your chickens! When you get rid of the risk they'll be a joy again.

 

[Lilalienangel]

I would say if you are going to "pat" them to show dominance make sure that body moves a little with impact.. If not the roo make be taking it as an attack but you are obviously weak. Think like a 3 year old. I pet not pat my chickens. For punishment I prefer to push (not kick) them with my boot. That way if they are super uppity they only get my boot or levis.. Although for most offences (like curiously pecking at my eye) I find picking them up and giving them a love overload works.

 

[Andi-N-drew]

I had a flat out gorgeous Black Copper Marans rooster. I mean The. Iconic. Rooster. When he hit his stride he got aggressive. Occasionally at first. Then more regularly. When I went into the coop I had to carry a long stick to announce my dominance.

I tried Ev. Er. EE. Thing. everyone here recommended because I was committed to keeping him to admire and to have that chocolate egg genetics. Nothing worked for long and in the end it was just a risk I wasn't willing to endure. I had a 9yo grandson whose safety I had to be concerned about. And even my 6'2" husband was uncomfortable going into the coop. I as the only one willing to be around old M. Maurice.

We put him down. My husband and I together. We both hated doing it and having to do it but it was the right decision. Still miss him!

Our current roo is one of his by a Cream Legbar. Some folks will say that you don't want the cockerel of an aggressive roo. Not our experience. Rocky is totally mellow. I'd trust him around a toddler.

You get to enjoy your chickens! When you get rid of the risk they'll be a joy again.

This guy is a black copper maranas mix. Wondering if it will be similar to your experience.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I was able to train a rooster to not attack me. I was not able to train him to not attack my wife or other people. If your kids were old enough they could probably train him to not attack them. I don't think they are. And what if your kids had visitors over?

I understand the desire to hatch your own eggs. You can always try another rooster, many do work out. But if you get a broody hen why not just get hatching eggs form that farmer? There is more than one way to solve a problem.

would you say that my responses to him are what caused the aggression?

Impossible to know. Each one is different. Like Mary I believe part of that is heredity, part environment. How much of which can vary from one rooster to another. Some just seem to hatch that way. Some are fine until some event kicks hem over to the dark side.

You say he attacked your three year old first. That kid may have done something to set him off. Maybe not. In either case he is not a threat to her. To me the why doesn't matter, that he is a threat does.

Don't beat yourself up, it's not your fault. If you try it again I'm sure you'll watch the little kids closer. This kind of thing can happen whether you raise the rooster with the flock or bring one in. You always need to be aware. And I've found that breed does not matter.

 

[Folly's place]

Our first rooster, a tiny bantam beast, attacked everyone every day. We put up with him way too long! Since then we've had a very few miserable cockerels, and two adult rooster who decided to turn into attack birds, and we've learned that it's just not worth it!
I have from three to six cock birds in my flock, all polite individuals. Love having them!
Mary

 

[Andi-N-drew]

I would say if you are going to "pat" them to show dominance make sure that body moves a little with impact.. If not the roo make be taking it as an attack but you are obviously weak. Think like a 3 year old. I pet not pat my chickens. For punishment I prefer to push (not kick) them with my boot. That way if they are super uppity they only get my boot or levis.. Although for most offences (like curiously pecking at my eye) I find picking them up and giving them a love overload works.

Yea, it was more or less like a small toddler over the diaper hey cut that out kind of pat. So that may be how he felt about it. It was more like an automatic reaction than a thought out response to be honest sobpossibly did more harm then good. Because it wasnt until AFTER that he attacked me. I could pick him up, pet him, walk after him, and he was fine. But when he jumped on the 3 year old I went on mama bear mode.

 

[Folly's place]

Your toddler could loose an eye over this guy! You were doing right, and there's no way he's safe around this child, and apparently he's decided to go after all of you now.
His job is NOT to attack the folks who bring food! His job is now to be invited to dinner himself...
Mary

 

[IamRainey]

You cant give him your back either because he'll jump you.

TOTALLY true! Until you get rid of him count on the fact that he will attack anytime you don't maintain eye contact.

I carried a long stick into the run. My husband carried a golf club. I tapped the ground around his feet to declare my intention to be dominant. I never touched him with it -- no need to. Just don't turn your back, wave the stick in a circle near his chest or eye level to establish the perimeter of the area that's "yours", do your business and then leave. If he crows while you're in there, tap the ground in front of him again. Don't let him crow while you're in the run.

If you establish this habit he'll defer to you and keep his distance as long as you're facing him. As soon as you leave he's going to crow to repair his little poultry ego. It's kinda funny. But also too much of a PITA for me to have put up with.