Aggressive rooster idea

[Quarterhorses1]

Glad I am not the only one! Had no idea male turkeys aggressive too...makes me feel ridiculous for chasing my little 6 pound roo to pin him.

My Tom is just a turd. He was a stray fighting for his life, dog bites and mites and lice and respiratory issues. He’s ok now, just mean

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

Honestly, I wouldn't keep him. I know the feeling, that it's what a rooster does, that maybe he'll get better, maybe it's something I'm doing and not noticing.

It's not though. He's spending his time doing irresponsible things. He's not being a good male to you or the girls when he turns his attention on you instead if watching for real dangers.

And if you get chicks from him, it might pass down the line.

I know what you mean, and do see that logic. It's true that he is wasting time attacking me instead of guarding the hens.. When I got chicks, I knew we might get a roo by accident and thought if so, I would rehome him, no sweat. Didn't think i would get so attached to all of them. Plus, every time I glance outside and see his little bantam short legs perched on a tall stump and in full guard mode, I feel like he is trying hard to be a good roo. I am determined not to pass on the fiesty gene, and collect eggs daily. At least he let's me get the eggs no problem. Just doesn't want me around the hens. Thanks for your response, appreciate the input.

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

My Tom is just a turd. He was a stray fighting for his life, dog bites and mites and lice and respiratory issues. He’s ok now, just mean

Poor guy, he is lucky he found you! I guess the early tough times gave him a bit of an attitude. We have friends with hens, and a stray turkey tom found it's way to their yard, and adopted the flock. He guards the hens, and sleeps on top of the coop at night (since he is too big to fit in).

 

[Kanekoded]

I have an 8 month old bantam EE, that has been aggressive since around 5 months. I've tried various approaches (though admittedly none consistently). I've ignored attacks (til he started flying up head level), picked him up and carried him around, pinned him to ground, given him treats to feed hens, even sprayed him with a water hose when he attacked. He is a great roo to the hens, always looking out for them, finding food, protective. He used to only attack when i picked up a hen (and hen would shriek), but also just if I sat down to feed hens, etc. I'm not sure if he was being protective of them or jealous. When they gather around me, he makes the clucking noise as if he has found food so they go to him instead.
My latest idea, so that i can interact with the hens more is to have a certain part of the day where he is locked in a smaller coop (probably will put in our garage, as when i once tried locking him in the run, he raised such a fuss the hens were alarmed). Does this seem cruel to separate the roo from his flock for a few hours each day, as he obviously is devoted to them? At this point, I dont think he will ever see me as a benevolent flock overseer, as I have chased him before and pinned him (embarrassed that i got so angry at a bantam roo, but the attacks can be startling). It honestly seems like he despises me. My children are grown, it is just my husband and I who enter the fenced in area. So he isn't a danger to anyone. Thanks for any input!

Awwww, it sounds like you've grown attached to the mean little bugger. Chicken harnesses are very inexpensive, leash him to a stake in the ground just out of reach so that he can't attack you, that way you can spend quality time with him and the hens... and you're giving him a chance to grow to like you.

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

I'd cull him. He has what I'd call the "Mean Gene." It's bad genetics.
A human aggressive rooster, or hen bred somewhere in his ancestry, is more likely the reason.

I have a 6-7 week Buff Orpington cockerel that's human aggressive, he's on the butcher list. He follows me around, bites, & pecks my shoe. He's a bad seed. No curing it.

Thank you for your response.. I know most would recommend that, and that advice comes from years of experience.. and it is the logical thing to do. But I am going to give it a bit longer, and try separating him from the flock for a bit. I called the hatchery where i got him, and they said if i could stand it a year, sometimes the hormones fade. They said he is the result of a cross between a faverolle and blue layer, both known for gentle personalities. But... a friend of ours who used to farm said he looks just like a fighting breed he is familiar with.

 

[McChooky]

A good rooster that teaches the chicks to respect the hierarchy and pecking order is hard to find. Sadly the mean ones usually get meaner the older they get.

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

Awwww, it sounds like you've grown attached to the mean little bugger. Chicken harnesses are very inexpensive, leash him to a stake in the ground just out of reach so that he can't attack you, that way you can spend quality time with him and the hens... and you're giving him a chance to grow to like you.

Oh that's a good idea, i hadn't thought of that! Course, he is such a drama queen. I know he will be screaming constantly until I let him free. But I will bring earplugs for me and treats for him. And yes, I am a softie, and despite his little spiteful heart and constant glare, I got attached Thank you!☺

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

A good rooster that teaches the chicks to respect the hierarchy and pecking order is hard to find. Sadly the mean ones usually get meaner the older they get.

It appears to be going in that direction, but I'm hoping not. I keep thinking surely he will get slower as he gets older, if anything. I'm trying not to do anything that worsens his behavior.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you for your response.. I know most would recommend that, and that advice comes from years of experience.. and it is the logical thing to do. But I am going to give it a bit longer, and try separating him from the flock for a bit. I called the hatchery where i got him, and they said if i could stand it a year, sometimes the hormones fade. They said he is the result of a cross between a faverolle and blue layer, both known for gentle personalities. But... a friend of ours who used to farm said he looks just like a fighting breed he is familiar with.

You could try the seperation method, see if it works.
Usually all my hormonal teenage cockerels, harrass the ladies, or gives the Alpha a hard time, & never target me. They usually get manners smacked into them by the older hens.

The ones that I get occasionally, that attack me, are Human aggressive, which are none curable. My Boy Demon, a Black Sumatra rooster, he's 1yr, & hates my guts. I've tried to fix him while young, but it's in his genetics. Gonna cull him this year, & replace him.


Can you post a picture of him?

Gamefowl are human friendly, those who attack their keeper are called Man Fighters, & are often culled from the bloodline. But I doubt he's a Game breed.

 

[azygous]

My two roosters are segregated from the eighteen hens most of the time. They do see the hens and can talk to them, but it's much more peaceful for all concerned to keep the hens and roos separate. The two roos fight when they have access to the hens, and when they don't the two roos are best friends and do everything together.

When humans, especially men, express concern that keeping a rooster from having access to the hens is going to harm him, they are projecting. Roosters have an elementary drive to fertilize hens, much of it driven and directed by the hens themselves. This drive is nothing like the complex emotions that can drive human males to mate.

You will see that your young man is content and calm in his isolation without hens making demands on his attentions. But do set it up so he can still see and talk to them. He still needs the comfort of being in proximity to his flock.