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Aggressive rooster idea

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Songster
Sep 2, 2022
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Central Alabama
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!
 
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.
 
He sure does sound like a feisty Ferrari. You do realize that he's competing with you for the hens, don't you? What would another rooster do with him when he acted this way with him? He would run him out of the yard. So, you need to start getting tough with the little brat as an older rooster would.

No, it will not scar him for life to spend time alone without the hens. In fact, a week long "time-out" could reset the dynamic working in your favor. If he is segregated where he can still see the hens, he will be content, and it will be a good lesson for him to watch you interact with your hens without his interference.

After a week in time out, let him back out for just an hour the first day. The minute he makes an aggressive move toward you, literally run him out of the yard. This is how an older roo would discipline him and teach him his role is second, not first in command.

The objective is to demonstrate you are the alpha. He is second and he may have the hens when you let him know it's okay. I've learned a lot about rooster hierarchy by watching my own two roosters. I appreciate the older roo so much since years ago I had two roos who could not settle on who was the alpha and just meant to settle it by whomever kills the other first. These two roos I have now each know their role in relation to each other and to me. You need to be clear in your mind what your own role is and convey it to your roo.

Most people would, and already have, recommend culling. But since it's just you and the husband, and if you're committed, your little guy could be trained if you're committed to it.
 
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.
 
azygous said:
He sure does sound like a feisty Ferrari. You do realize that he's competing with you for the hens, don't you? What would another rooster do with him when he acted this way with him? He would run him out of the yard. So, you need to start getting tough with the little brat as an older rooster would.

No, it will not scar him for life to spend time alone without the hens. In fact, a week long "time-out" could reset the dynamic working in your favor. If he is segregated where he can still see the hens, he will be content, and it will be a good lesson for him to watch you interact with your hens without his interference.

After a week in time out, let him back out for just an hour the first day. The minute he makes an aggressive move toward you, literally run him out of the yard. This is how an older roo would discipline him and teach him his role is second, not first in command.

The objective is to demonstrate you are the alpha. He is second and he may have the hens when you let him know it's okay. I've learned a lot about rooster hierarchy by watching my own two roosters. I appreciate the older roo so much since years ago I had two roos who could not settle on who was the alpha and just meant to settle it by whomever kills the other first. These two roos I have now each know their role in relation to each other and to me. You need to be clear in your mind what your own role is and convey it to your roo.

Most people would, and already have, recommend culling. But since it's just you and the husband, and if you're committed, your little guy could be trained if you're committed to it.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your ideas and such a well thought out reply. My husband thought it might be cruel to separate him, but I am thinking it would at least give me a chance to sit and enjoy the ladies. And I need to start being able to examine them for health checks anyway. I had planned to start with just a few hours a day of him in a separate coop, but if you think a full week is better to reset things, I can do that too. I know he will be calling out his alarm call to the hens, but i will just put in earplugs.😅
And he definitely is a fiesty little guy. He was the most affectionate of the chicks we got and so darn cute. So strange how the hormones change their perception of their caretakers. I had a feeling he was jealous, because he would glare at me when I fed the hens. And then cluck to them as if he found food, even if it was just a twig. Or if one was particularly affectionate with me (jumping on my lap and sitting) she would get a head peck when she returned to him. So i will up my alpha attitude (not my nature which probably confused him further) and show him i am the boss. He is hard to catch so will probably need to get him during the night. Thanks again.
 

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