Aggressive Rooster

[dogkahuna]

@PattJ

You defended yourself and made a point--I've got no problems with it. Now that you have turned the tables, just reinforce it regularly by stalking him around the run so he knows who's in charge.

I had to kick a rooster twice who flogged me and the second time, it was hard enough that I expected to hear that Mexican soccer announcer's voice in the background--"Goooooooooaaaaaaaalllllll!" However, there was no serious injury and the rooster didn't try any more shenanigans with me.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Some of you may not like this answer, but I recently experienced an attack from my year-old, RIR roo. He was handled alot as a chick, because he was supposed to be female. I got him from a friend that raised him in a tub in her house. He was about 2 months old when I got him and not long after figured he was male. I'm a live and let live person, so decided to hang onto him unless he got nasty. He has never been aggressive until this first attack. He flew at me with my back turned. So I kicked him, he flew at me again, so I kicked him a second time and then chased him around for 30 seconds or so. The next day I immediately chased him after letting him out of the coop. Since the second day I have seen no agression from him. I give him the stink eye and he takes off.

When I give my bad boy the stink eye... he quickly starts doing busy work.

Even after a few good whollups... he knows my territory and leaves it. But sneaks back in every time he get's the chance. When I enter, he hustles over to the gate to get back in the stag pen.

I don't dislike him... but the peace that comes to the flock after eliminating excess is issues is always worth it!

Some of the girls like him... but they will find a new friend!

 

[dekel18042]

I did not want a rooster, did not order him, he was wrongly ID'd as a hen.

Unfortunately you have found yourself in the position that in my humble opinion creates some of the most aggressive or bratty roosters. If you get a group of pullets and only one turns out to be an accidental rooster he's usually at the top of the pecking order from the get go. The world is his oyster and he is top dog and it carries over to his behavior with people. Cockerels mature faster than pullets and they can terrorize them trying to breed them before they are ready.
A more mellow rooster is often raised within a flock that contains different age birds and he must work his way up.
Sometimes if you recognize the problem you can work to mitigate. If you have other older birds, throw him in with them. Once you suspect he is a rooster, distance yourself so he is no longer a "pet" to be coddled. If you must separate him for a bit until the pullets mature to give them some peace of mind do it. Some roosters can be rehabbed. Many can't.
Good luck whatever course you try.

 

[LMVB]

I hate to admit this, but I've started taking a squirt bottle into the run area with me. If he looks at me funny, or seems to be getting ready to come at me, I send one quick squirt to his face. He does not like it at all. I wish we could just get along, but, hey, he started this...he attacked my husband this weekend. If I were able to, I'd get rid of him in a minute. I'm not the type of person to kill him myself, and really don't want him to die just because he doesn't like me. And no one wants a mean roo! <sigh>

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I hate to admit this, but I've started taking a squirt bottle into the run area with me. If he looks at me funny, or seems to be getting ready to come at me, I send one quick squirt to his face. He does not like it at all. I wish we could just get along, but, hey, he started this...he attacked my husband this weekend. If I were able to, I'd get rid of him in a minute. I'm not the type of person to kill him myself, and really don't want him to die just because he doesn't like me. And no one wants a mean roo!

Keep at it, he may eventually leave you alone. I'm the type to take it personally, as well as such behaviors ruin my enjoyment of my birds, so he would have to go one way or another. Hopefully he starts behaving better for you.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Keep at it, he may eventually leave you alone. I'm the type to take it personally, as well as such behaviors ruin my enjoyment of my birds, so he would have to go one way or another. Hopefully he starts behaving better for you.

Yes... it steals my joy when I get attacked and feel like retaliating... Life is too short for mean roosters!

 

[LMVB]

I only have 5 hens plus him and they are all the same age, bought at the same time (2 days old) and were all raised together. I have separated him for short periods, but after he hurt one of the best layers (and one of his 2 'favorites'), I separated the 2 favs for a while. The hurt hen isn't limping anymore but I'll keep them separate a little longer. I hate to hear that about aggressive roosters. I'd like to try and work with him until THE END. But if he starts again or escalates, I'll have to do something. Sigh...

 

[Coop de Grass]

Here is what Beekissed said--I think this is the post bobbi-j is referring to.

"I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything to him.  If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant ones and subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation.  There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down and giving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck.  No holding him down and nothing else.  That's a rooster on a hen maneuver, not rooster on rooster. 

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate in this picture.  You are getting dominated by your bird simply because you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to be walking when a dominant is in the area.  What you never see is a dominant rooster getting attacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose.  So far you are losing and not even challenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive.  He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner.  Some people never have to go on the offensive because their movements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked your husband.  Most men move more decisively than do women and children and they rarely step around a bird, but walk through them.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all.  His environment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language he understands.  Because they are quick on their feet and can evade you, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that will lengthen your reach by 5 ft. really helps in this.  Don't use a rake or broom because they are too clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when you don't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements and walk directly towards your rooster.  Move him away from the feeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leaves the coop.  The stick will help you guide him.  Then...wait patiently while he gets his bird mind around what just happened.  He will try to come back in the coop...let him.  When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim it well.  If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs and keep at it until he leaves the coop once again.  Repeat this process until he is too wary to come back in the coop.  

Feed your hens.  When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack the wall by the pop door just as he tries to enter.  If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stick either smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry.  Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching your hens eat.  Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him.  Don't worry about the hens running and getting excited when this is happening...they will get over it.  This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.  

When the hens have had a good tucker....leave the coop and let him come back in.  Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...top roosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock.  You shouldn't either.  Take your stick and startle him with a smack on the floor next to him when he is least expecting it...make that bird jump and RUN.  Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder and trying to get out of your way.  THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together.  Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands.  You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need to establish that when you move, he moves...away.  When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.  

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster.  If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop.  Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.  

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate.  They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space.  If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him.  At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door.  If he feels the need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.  

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops.  He doesn't get to crow while you are there.  He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along.  And it can be fun if you venture into it with the right attitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly.  This can work on strange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn.  You rule the coop...now act like it.  Carrying is for babies...you have a full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby." 

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

I've been going crazy because my year old Crested Cream Legbar roo has become incredibly aggressive toward me. I hatched the little bugger, but he has suddenly started attacking me. I've actually resorted to kicking him (I can't believe that I do it) but that doesn't stop him. Yesterday, I used a thin bamboo rod, but he keeps coming. Hitting the ground does not deter him. I've tried charging him which holds him off briefly.

I am going to try the technique that you mentioned and begin the day showing him who is boss.

Blue is the 2nd oldest roo of 4. THe oldest is a Bielefelder who is 18 months and very mellow. Then the CCL, Then I have a FBCM that is 7 months old, and lastly a Whiting True Blue who is 4 months old. All hatched here except the FBCM.

The CCL roo is sub to the Bielefelder, but exerting his dominance over the younger roos. Is it possible that his aggression is tied to the new comers? I am in the process of setting up breeding pens, so he will not be competing for hens anymore, but might that be why he is so crazy?

 

[Folly's place]

I only keep and breed cocks who are NOT human aggressive! I don't make pets of my cockerels, walk 'through' them, and act like I'm in charge. If one is thinking bad thoughts or challenges me in any way, I will try corrective measures. Maybe three times, and if he persists, he's out. Keeping dangerous cocks and breeding them on is a bad plan; only good ones get to reproduce! Mary

 

[Coop de Grass]

So far, so good. I just came back in after confronting my CCL roo. He seemed to be avoiding me, but then he suddenly decided to brazen it out. I kept pushing his head down with the bamboo cane but he kept wiggling backwards and getting out, so I finally got him down with the cane, and then got him by the scruff and the back and put him into a submissive position and held him there for a minute or two. I made sure that I kept his head down on the ground and the rest of his body was down as well. When I let him up, I continued to walk purposefully at him so that he was trying to avoid me.

I think that this will work.

Thank you!