Aggressive rooster attacked my sister! What should I do?

[nuthatched]

I hope your sister is up on her tetanus shots, if not, you need to get to a doctor asap. Blood poisoning cam get deadly, quickly.
Cull the roo, not rehome. Aggression is genetic. Soup him and get a nice roo off Craigslist from someone who has a nice one but can't keep him.
To keep him now is foolish.

 

[nuthatched]

Many of you know I've only had chooks for 1 year now...

One year, you're still in chicken grade school.
I'm not being mean here but from
20+ years here, being able to read roos is learned ability that takes time.
Some here have tenure, I've atleast graduated chicken high. This is this toos third offense, and it drew blood. If this was a dog, it would without doubt be put down.

 

[Brooks_]

Respect is earned, not taken

Considering I am many times his size and that I bring the food and that other cockerels/roosters have had no problem respecting humans, I think my demand is warranted.

 

[calychicken]

No. He will respect me (and other humans) regardless of how I look or smell. Or he will die.

You can't just "make" him respect you. You can't force respect.

 

[Brooks_]

You can't just "make" him respect you. You can't force respect.

That is correct. They will naturally do it, or never will.

 

[McChooky]

When you've been around chickens all your life you learn to read their body language. You can bet he thought about it before he got up enough nerve to actually do it. Lock him up in a pen with some hens and don't let him loose again if you have to keep him

 

[calychicken]

That is correct. They will naturally do it, or never will.

I think you are aware that is not what I meant.

 

[calychicken]

Sorry for laughing at this, but I've been there got the scars to prove it... I know it's not funny and I hope she's not too bad. Stick some Betadine on it and a band-aid but seriously, they're easier to understand than everyone thinks! Kicking them just hurts them, of course he's not going to attack you until you're least expecting it, their bones are small, you probably cracked something..

Many of you know I've only had chooks for 1 year now for the first time in my life and I've had to learn fast... So far I've seen a lot of, stand tall show them who's boss, chase them, kick them, put hand on their back to submit... WRONG!!!!!

From personal experience, it's all about what you're wearing, that includes body sprays, perfume, fresh out of the shower, smokers, drinkers... instead of asking why are they aggressive, start asking, what am I doing to piss them off...

My roo is super cuddly and friendly to Me.. no one else, just me.

I'm amazed at how many people just don't get to know their roosters likes an dislikes, they're extremely particular... And they have a lifetime memory so when you kick.. just be aware he will Never forget it...

When I go out to Rhodey I wear the Same jeggings and gumboots, all year round, I am so sick of gumboots!!! Obviously not the same pair of jeggings, I've got 6 in shades of grey and denim.
Whenever I wear my bootcut jeans, he attacks me. To him it's another bird trying to attack him. There's no point telling him off cos he just hates the smell and look of denim. I've tried 3 different colours and it's always the same result but when I change to the normal and go back out, he's like melted butter, all over me for treats and cuddles.
One day I wore my joddy boots with jeggings, he attacked my legs . He'd never seen short boots before so if course they were a threat until I crouched down and spoke to him. To my animals, I'm called "it's only me" because they've never heard anyone say my name. So I told him, it's only me, gave him his treats and he relaxed.
Another thing is sunglasses, that goes for all animals but particularly chickens/Roo's, dogs and horses, they Have to see your eyes, not something reflecting back scarily at them. I learnt that 30 yrs ago.. Raincoats, the hood is a threat so unless you're afraid of the rain, slip it back until they realise who it is. If you go in pairs, crouch down, armed with treats and talk to them, but roosters like 1 person. That one becomes their human, everyone else is surplus to requirements in their eyes.

My animals have a carer when I do markets but he hates her smell. She's a smoker, I've noticed that everytime she's around he gets upset, noisy and stands back waiting to see if she's going near him. She's been bitten, yeah they all draw blood, she still feeds him, with a barrier. He just doesn't understand what the smell is, or why she wears red. Roosters hate red, and it seems, brown.. he's ok when she's outside his fence, but he watches her. I've told her he's not a mind reader so when she doesn't speak to him like she does the girls, he has no idea if she's friend or foe.

I've been studying Rhodey since I got (her) him at 2 months old. He was supposed to be a girl.. eh, wrong... I know Exactly what he likes and hates, foods, the way I act, stand, talk..
Most people only spend a small amount of time with their roosters, and don't take time to understand them.. if your sister wants to be able to go in with the roosters, you both need to learn what they'll accept and what they won't.

Try being 'armed' with treats.. sunflower seeds, rice, bread bits (not chunks or slices) dried mealy worms, Rhodey goes nuts over those! Sit outside the fence, whatcha them, speak their language, mimicking the sounds they make.
Anyone who owns roosters should be making time to learn who they are as individuals, not just a bird to throw feed to.

I've been raising chickens my whole life, and I can back this. I totally agree that the "kick them and hurt them" cure is not right (or humane). My rooster is aggressive. But I think it always comes from somewhere. For him, he was a great roo until my grandpa kicked him. After that, he hated boots. He also hates red pants. And the last point you made, that is absolutely correct! Many folks just see that they are mean or attack and kill them. If you take the time to be with them, and know them, maybe it won't be as much as a problem.

 

[calychicken]

I agree. Can you tell me how to help my sister earn his respect?

It takes time. Hang out with him, offer him treats, figure out what he likes and dislike, and over time he should become more accepting to you and your sister.

 

[Brooks_]

But honestly I put the chickens over the people when it comes to this.

You lost any credibility right here.