Aggressive Rooster? Can he be tamed?

[Salixx]

Update:
I had wanted to try and re-home him. He unfortunately flogged my 5 year old daughter today while she was outside with my husband. Scratched up the back of her legs. My husband said he is going to kill him now so I guess we are having chicken stew.

That's so sad, I'm sorry. It hasn't happened to me yet, but I would be so bummed out if one of my favorite boys suddenly became aggressive after being sweet.

Jefferson likely already had aggressive tendencies - most animals fall on the "fight, flight or freeze" spectrum. I think there's a good chance the leaf blower was a catalyst for the "fight" coming to the forefront. There are certain, nearly universal, things in animal behavior and one of them is that aggression can beget aggression. Your mother unintentionally made herself and, by proxy, other humans a potential threat to the flock and he responded in a natural (but highly undesirable) way.

I think your husband made the right call. Jefferson had an undesirable and innate trait. It would have been highly valuable in another setting (i.e. chasing off a cat) but humans should be off limits. A bird that can make the distinction would make a better flock protector and father, should you choose to add another Roo.

The only other option I see if if you can find a rooster sanctuary. They exist, some of them even specialize in rehabbing aggressive roos including birds previously used in cock fighting. Unfortunately, they are also usually overwhelmed with unwanted roos so it might be a crap shoot.

It would also help if you could find an alternative for your mother. Positive reinforcement works wonders on all sorts of animals(sometimes with undesirable results). Give them their treats when they aren't on the porch. Don't ever give them treats while they are on a porch or from the porch. If the porch equals food, they'll be all over it. If the porch is a boring place devoid of food, it's much less appealing.

I don't have children so I can be a little more tolerant of my aggressive boys and let them get to butchering size. I am the only one that tends the flock as well. I have use the restraint method - either gently pinning or picking up and holding them against my body for a while. It's made them afraid of me but not complete terror. They will come to me for food but if I approach them they run away in terror.

 

[OzarkChooks]

That's so sad, I'm sorry. It hasn't happened to me yet, but I would be so bummed out if one of my favorite boys suddenly became aggressive after being sweet.

Jefferson likely already had aggressive tendencies - most animals fall on the "fight, flight or freeze" spectrum. I think there's a good chance the leaf blower was a catalyst for the "fight" coming to the forefront. There are certain, nearly universal, things in animal behavior and one of them is that aggression can beget aggression. Your mother unintentionally made herself and, by proxy, other humans a potential threat to the flock and he responded in a natural (but highly undesirable) way.

I think your husband made the right call. Jefferson had an undesirable and innate trait. It would have been highly valuable in another setting (i.e. chasing off a cat) but humans should be off limits. A bird that can make the distinction would make a better flock protector and father, should you choose to add another Roo.

The only other option I see if if you can find a rooster sanctuary. They exist, some of them even specialize in rehabbing aggressive roos including birds previously used in cock fighting. Unfortunately, they are also usually overwhelmed with unwanted roos so it might be a crap shoot.

It would also help if you could find an alternative for your mother. Positive reinforcement works wonders on all sorts of animals(sometimes with undesirable results). Give them their treats when they aren't on the porch. Don't ever give them treats while they are on a porch or from the porch. If the porch equals food, they'll be all over it. If the porch is a boring place devoid of food, it's much less appealing.

I don't have children so I can be a little more tolerant of my aggressive boys and let them get to butchering size. I am the only one that tends the flock as well. I have use the restraint method - either gently pinning or picking up and holding them against my body for a while. It's made them afraid of me but not complete terror. They will come to me for food but if I approach them they run away in terror.

It is certainly disappointing. I had hoped he would be a good rooster for the flock. He was never a sweet boy, in fact I always had my worries about his temperament because of the way he treated the hens. I had another thread talking about him. He was quite rough and sometimes down right mean to the hens. I figured it was his teenage enthusiasm.

Any hopes of rehoming went out the window when he drew blood on my little girl right in front of her daddy. My husband was pretty livid.

When my kids are older and not at risk, I will probably try some of your tricks with naughty roosters!

We have another rooster who has always been much more gentle and calmer than Jefferson. So hopefully he stays that way!

 

[Folly's place]

Sorry for your disappointment, but he sounds like he was obnoxious to everyone, chickens and humans. Hope your other cockerel does well!
Once you have good roosters, the other ones won't seem worth it at all, and definitely not with children or visitors around!
J. could have really injured a visiting child! Hope you have good liability insurance, and that your policy covers livestock (chickens!).
Mary

 

[FabledFeatherFarm]

The best way to gentle a rooster is to pick him up. If your mother is the one he goes after, she should put work gloves and long sleeves on and pick him up and hold him for a minute every time he comes over that way. They quickly learn that you’re in charge, but not a threat.

 

[Stablecoop]

Oh I don't doubt that for a second. I was so worried he would think she is a threat because of it. The chickens love coming to the back porch because my kids feed them treats there. So they are getting very mixed messages.

I am new to chickens and I have heard things about roosters....so I am hoping he is not permanently affected.

We have a rooster that is EXCELLENT with his flock of hens. He maintains order, gets them roosted, protects them, and is constantly finding and presenting tidbits to them. He is vigilant and his vigilance includes keeping an eye on us. (Hawks and coyotes are always his priority over keeping an eye on us though) I make him give me space when working with the girls and when I am in the coop, but he is always watching for perceived threats and will occasionally perceive us as threats and flog us. I catch him and carry him after each flogging and he gives space for days after. But roosters are very smart and have long memories, especially if they or their flock were threatened. Your mom might never have a positive relationship with him but I firmly believe that with positive training, giving the rooster his space and really respecting/understanding what that means, the relationship could be molded into one of mutual tolerance. But we don’t have kids either and I don’t ever let kids into the flock when the rooster is present. If you can keep your kids and rooster separate that would probably be safest. Good luck to you!

 

[Vgcmd1962]

Oh I don't doubt that for a second. I was so worried he would think she is a threat because of it. The chickens love coming to the back porch because my kids feed them treats there. So they are getting very mixed messages.

I am new to chickens and I have heard things about roosters....so I am hoping he is not permanently affected.

I had one that behaved like that and I won him over with love and kindness. Hug him every day, caress and talk to him. Feed him with your hand. He will come around.

 

[LaFleche]

Oh I don't doubt that for a second. I was so worried he would think she is a threat because of it. The chickens love coming to the back porch because my kids feed them treats there. So they are getting very mixed messages.

I am new to chickens and I have heard things about roosters....so I am hoping he is not permanently affected.

Although the use of the leaf blower probably caused the cockerel to attack, with children around I would not take any chances, as just one attack could leave them badly injured (eyes/face!!) and scarred for life.

Any hopes of rehoming went out the window when he drew blood on my little girl right in front of her daddy. My husband was pretty livid.

I am sorry he had the chance to hurt your little girl, hope that she will be better soon.

 

[OzarkChooks]

Because of this situation, we have decided that a free ranging flock with a rooster and kids don't mix. So my husband is fencing in a large area around their coop. This way our kids are safe, the porch is clean and our remaining rooster doesn't get spooked by kids screaming and running around outside.

 

[cundare]

I agree with everybody else. The roo is just doing his job, trying to be a good citizen to try to chase this scary person away from his charges. It would be sad to "punish" an animal for doing what he's supposed to do. The leaf blower is a really bad idea. Keeping birds out of an area by scaring them to death will often have unexpected consequences as the bird community reacts in a way that makes sense to them.

In other words, the rooster attacks may just be an example "the chickens coming home to roost..." <sorry!>

 

[LaFleche]

Because of this situation, we have decided that a free ranging flock with a rooster and kids don't mix. So my husband is fencing in a large area around their coop. This way our kids are safe, the porch is clean and our remaining rooster doesn't get spooked by kids screaming and running around outside.

The best decision for everyone.