Aggressive Rooster, Help With Decision?

[Mrs. K]

Culling is not easy for me, but I do it. Frankly anything being mean to me, looses any sentimental appeal. The day he puffed up at my niece, I thought, what am I waiting for? Him to attack her? When I decide to do it, I just mentally move away from him. I don't watch the ones I am going to cull. I feed them and let them be. They have had very good lives, I try and be efficient, and I keep a peaceful flock. It is not easy, but...

 

[bobbi-j]

You are the only one who can decide what you're willing to put up with. Something to take into consideration, though, is if you have kids - especially little ones - running around. If that were my cockerel, and I had little kids, there would be no question. He'd be gone. Kids and cockerels/roosters can be a bad combination. Kids are loud and jerky in their movements. That can make a protective cockerel/rooster nervous and possibly prone to attack. Now think about the height of a young child in relation to where he's going to be when he comes at that kid spurs first. Those spurs could be right in line with a child's face.

Another thing to consider is potential infection from getting spurred. There have been threads here about people who have ended up being hospitalized from that.

If it were my bird, I'd cull him ("cull" simply means to remove from the flock - whether you put him in the freezer, lock him in his own little coop, or find him a new home). I would put him in the freezer. It's not worth it to me to keep one that's already that aggressive. Now, if he were just "being a bit of a jerk" and just challenging me, that I might put up with a little better. But since he's already outright attacked you... Nope, he wouldn't be staying here.

We all manage our flocks differently, and we all have different levels of tolerance.

 

[aart]

Depends on your goals.
Do you really need 2 males?

Are you going to be hatching out more birds?
Better get the slaughter to freezer plan set up and ready to employ.

What are your facilities like...lots of space and some separate enclosures for birds that need to be isolated??

Separation of problem birds can give you time to think.
I've found especially that separating cocky young cockerels can make for instantaneous changes in demeanor. Multiple males can make for a competitive environment, remove all but one male and the remaining one may calm down immediately.

 

[ILuvMyFlock]

I absolutely under no circumstances advocate culling. I have gosh 20+ Roos, some I raised since babies others I have taken in. None of my Roos are problem Roos, I'm a firm believer in it's all how they're raised.

 

[Mrs. K]

A lot depends on your space. Many people have acres and many people have a backyard in the city. How birds interact and how they behave will be different in each situation.One should not make blanket statements how birds will act. We all have different set ups and space issues. People with a lot of birds, large flocks are going to have different issues and solutions than people with just a couple of chickens in the corner of the yard.

I have had good roosters, ok roosters, and mean roosters. I raised them the same, just like people, some have traits I like, some have traits I don't. So I firmly believe that genetics have an influence on how they will behave, as well as sufficient space, enough hens, adequate housing, and a bit of luck.

They are your birds, make sure that they are keeping you and your flock happy, and don't let someone guilt you into keeping a rotten bird.

Mrs K

 

[Lokibinian]

A lot depends on your space. Many people have acres and many people have a backyard in the city. How birds interact and how they behave will be different in each situation.One should not make blanket statements how birds will act. We all have different set ups and space issues. People with a lot of birds, large flocks are going to have different issues and solutions than people with just a couple of chickens in the corner of the yard.

I have had good roosters, ok roosters, and mean roosters. I raised them the same, just like people, some have traits I like, some have traits I don't. So I firmly believe that genetics have an influence on how they will behave, as well as sufficient space, enough hens, adequate housing, and a bit of luck.

They are your birds, make sure that they are keeping you and your flock happy, and don't let someone guilt you into keeping a rotten bird.

Mrs K

Thank you for the great advice. I appreciate it so much.

 

[Lokibinian]

About my space, the run is big enough for about twenty-five standard, adult chickens, and I currently have less than that, for everyone who asked.

 

[mcmom48]

Heyo. Recently, I posted a thread asking why my rooster was acting so aggressive. (I still appreciate answers on that thread as well). Many people responded, the majority advising me to get rid of it. If I do get rid of it, I'll have to cull it, because I don't want to put an aggressive rooster in the hands of a possible rookie who has no idea how to deal with it.

I'm thinking long and hard about culling it, and it's no easy task for me to summon up my willpower to cull a chicken I raised from hand. Cornish X are easier for me, since I know from the beginning I'm going to butcher them. I try not to get too attached to my meat chickens, and I make sure they have a good and happy life, unlike the ones in those horrid factory farms. But this rooster in particular, well, I would hate to do it. For one, he's so beautiful. I've never seen a rooster with such shiny and fine plumage. The second, the one that really is getting me, is that I hand raised it, and it was part of my first ten unsexed chicks I ever raised about six months ago. I have a sentimental attachment to this six month old rooster, especially because I saw it grow as a small, three day old chick to this pretty rooster, not knowing if it would be a rooster or hen, not planning to butcher it AT ALL. I thought, with a glimmer of hope, all our roosters would be a bit docile. The rest are, but this exceptionally beautiful bird is not. Like I said, when I saw my first ten chicks, the thought of butchering one of them never crossed my mind.

Have any of you been in this decision? What would you advise me to do? The hardest part for me, is that I got attached this rooster without knowing I would butcher it one day, unlike my Cornish. Thanks for all answers. (By the way, I know this is something chicken keepers have to deal with eventually, it's just that I would love to know your experiences and/or advice. Thanks).

What does he do exactly. How is he aggressive towards you or children?

 

[Lokibinian]

I'll have to copy and paste from my other thread started on June 9th:

Today, I was about to dump some water into the bucket they drink from, but it came at me, ruffled feathers, and its talons were about to connect with my skin when I reacted and kicked it, albeit very gently, away from me. I had researched chickens very thoroughly before purchasing my first ten unsexed chicks, and I knew that roosters were prone to get aggressive, and I had my suspicions about this rooster. I had always kept an eye on him whenever I went to feed them some grains or scraps.

It kept coming at me, and I kept kicking it away gently, and it managed to get a sharp peck on my ankle, tearing the skin. I kicked it away harder after that, and it fell on the ground, getting up again to attack me once more. Finally, it stopped, eyeing me, then wandered away. I carefully left the run, staring at him to make sure he didn't run at me again, then limped away to put something on my torn skin.

I know I should have grabbed him and pinned him to the ground, but my hands were full of water containers, and I couldn't exactly grab him.

Luckily, his spurs are not grown yet, otherwise my leg would be bleeding right now. There's plenty of room, plenty of food, and plenty of water. I didn't provoke him, he just came after me with murder in his eyes.

 

[wamtazlady]

Last rooster was aggressive and over a year old so not teenage hormones. Separated him into a small coop and run of his own. Fed and watered him twice a day so that he'd learn I was a good guy. Did that for 6 weeks. Let him out. Next day he attacked me, my neighbor, my grandson. Twenty two to the head took care of the problem. Except...5 weeks later when a hen I thought had been caught by a fox showed up with 6 of his chicks. They were all definitely his as they all had a small crest. Rooster was a Polish. Luckily only one of the chicks was male. He was nice but just seeing those birds reminded me of the scum. Sold them all at 6 months old.