Aggressive rooster

[Coops Dad]

There's no good reason to keep an aggressive rooster around. Butcher him and put him in the pot.

 

[CoopBoots]

Never trust a rooster. Definitely not with kids; it takes respect for the bird and awareness of its behavior to be really sure how you stand with one at any given time. Kids just don't have the experience necessary to truly assess the risk or to read the rooster's behavior to spot an incoming attack. They telegraph fear and vulnerability and they ARE quite vulnerable in size, speed, and ability to defend themselves effectively. Roosters can be quite unpredictable and I really think sometimes they see a vulnerable target as welcome practice for their skills.

Source: my favorite pet as a kid was a rooster, but I've also been scourged across the back by one. I'm lucky it wasn't my face and he didn't have big man-spurs yet... I still love roosters, but try my best not to lose my awareness or respect out of familiarity. I keep my little kids completely separate from them and problems get harvested.

 

[McChooky]

Roosters are a dime a dozen.Get one that doesn't hurt your children

 

[McChooky]

Thank you to everyone who responded! I agree he is a danger and is not making raising chickens fun for my kids when they are afraid of him. We didn't know we had a rooster until he was more mature so we raised him just like the hens and handled them all so i was hoping it would make for a good rooster.. We did want a rooster because we have wildlife that comes on the property (coyotes, foxes, birds of prey, other dogs from town) and he has protected his flock on several occasions as well as myself chasing animals off! I also figured if the economy gets worse then we could sell fertilized eggs and or have them for ourselves. We have already had people ask if we had fertilized eggs to sell. But even with all that in mind.. yes I want my kids safety and health above those reasons and I guess I was thinking he has scratched and pecked us but nothing serious but I shouldn't wait for something serious to happen before I do something about it. I will talk with my husband and figure out our best options for him. I did name him Stew so that if he ended up being too mean he would be in our stew!

His only good points will be appreciated the day you eat him.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

I have always had zero fear of domestic birds of any kind so am always the guy to take care of a mean rooster or gander. Usually, knocking them into the middle of next week with a shovel or something they won't mess with you again, if they do then get rid of thdm. A child old enough to go collect eggs is old enough to know how to carry a stick for defense, once a rooster gets his bluff in on the women and children, he pretty much rules the roost then. In all my nearly 70 years I"v never known of anyone to be seriously injured by a domestic rooster. My Bienfelder and Wyandott roosters have been the nicest fellas. My local farm supply store has a special designated unwanted bird pen for unwanted roosters and drakes, anybody who wants them can have them. Check your area farm supply stores, they might have a similiar set-up.

On BYC some kid's little sister got lashed across the face really bad about a month ago after ignoring everyone's advice to not keep bad roosters

Spurs can get seriously long and sharp, like knives

 

[Altairsky]

I work with cattle, and cattle are dangerous (we don't dehorn). Due to professional habits, I train my flock the same way I train cattle.
Roosters are not cuddly pets. Roosters are dangerous animals that must know their place.
If a rooster attacks you, you say "no" and give him treats, you're training him to attack you again.
If a rooster attacks you, kick him, or hit him with a stick, catch him and hold him for a while (15 min) in an uncomfortable way, while telling him how soft he's gonna be after boiling a few hours inside a pot.
My roosters know what the fish net is, and as soon as I get it they sound the fox alarm from across the property.
And no, the roosters are not afraid of me, they're afraid when they know they made me ANGRY.
Also never leave things halfway done. If you want to catch a rooster, chase him until you catch him: you must finish what you start. If you don't, the rooster wins, and you lose. And the rooster will remember that you lost. This is valid for all livestock. If you want an animal to do something, whenever you start, finish the job or don't start it at all. If you give up you will show submission and you can't show submission to an animal who wants to dominate you.

Also, the more you cuddle and spoil a rooster, higher the chances he will try one day to dominate you. Don't feed him treats if he just attacked you. Kick him and let the girls eat first. Don't let him eat.
Only let him have the treats if he does NOT attack. So he learns that if he attacks you he will get nothing.

 

[Blue Andalusian]

So I have a flock of 22 hens and 1 rooster that were all raised together since this spring 2024. They have a big coop and enclosed run and 2 acres to roam about. Our rooster is usually fine with all the hens, he is good around our cats and dog but he has been aggressive to my kids and my husband and myself. It's not all the time so it hasn't been a huge concern yet. He has flogged my 2 youngest kids and has pecked me from behind. I read about what to do and read that you should always know where your rooster is and make contact to see if he is in protection mode when he sees you and walk slow and if he comes at you looking to do his dance and fight take one step toward him not run or fight and that he should back down but to carry a stick just incase and to build trust by offering food and treats also. So I told my kids this and to have them only go to the barn/ coop with one of us. Well things were good for about a month or 2 and my 2 oldest kids were taking care of everything with the chickens (letting them out in the morning, food and water, collecting eggs and taking scraps and treats out in the evening to put them away) and I would check on everything and refill water as necessary. Then yesterday my youngest and I went out to collect eggs and the rooster started running at my kid so I stepped up to him and he stopped. I gave treats out and then we collected eggs. Few minutes later I went out to refill water alone and I saw the rooster running as all the hens were running to me and I stopped and looked at him told him I saw him and was just getting them water and he stopped and walked with me but when I went to pick up the water he got down low and came at me so of course I kicked at him to protect myself and told him to stop and he came at me again so I kicked he dodged again and came at me again i kicked again and did hit him and I picked up a small stick and told him to stop again and pointed the stick at him and he finally stopped. I didn't want to kick but I was scared and didn't understand why he was still coming at me. Is he mad that we take the eggs? Is he overwhelmed with too many hens? I read that ideally there should be 6-8 hens per rooster does he have too many to protect?

Try to pick him up, and push his body on the ground. then make a V with your fingers (Upside down peace sign), and put it on top of his neck

 

[Blue Andalusian]

If you need a Reference, here is a picture

 

[Blue Andalusian]

keep him on the ground for 30 seconds, then let him go. Keep Repeating, it may not work. I have tried it for my aggressive rooster, but my friend tried it and she said she thought it worked

 

[Altairsky]

I don't recommend violence to roosters the best advice here is what

My job is to dominate cattle. If cattle don't respect you, they will kill you in a matter of seconds. Roosters are no different.
My job is to dominate cattle. If cattle don't respect you, they will kill you in a matter of seconds. Roosters are no different. Roosters are aggressive animals. It's their job to be aggressive. They evolved to be aggressive. And violence is part of their language. For your rooster to understand you, you need to talk his language.


Beekissed posted this, it works.

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.