Aggressive rooster

[Mycrazyfarm24]

Could be teenage hormones, could be genetic aggressive personality. It might calm down or it might just get worse with time. Most people here are going to tell you to get rid of him, especially since you have kids.

I will say that you really need to consider why you have chickens in general, and why you want a rooster specifically, and consider carefully if keeping him is in line with your goals

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!

 

[FrostRanger]

The best way to protect your girls is to build a predator proof coop and run. That will stop predators far better than a rooster. A rooster *can* be helpful with predators but mostly by sounding the alarm so the hens can get away. A livestock guardian dog can also be helpful, but that would not be my first course of action as they're expensive to obtain, train and keep (big dogs eat a lot).

In any case, your current roo needs to go, I'd find a nice older boy (year old) of a breed you want (if you're wanting to sell hatching eggs, I would go for either a purebred of the same breed as your hens or one you could use to make easter eggers as both of those will be more marketable than a barnyard mix) and try him out. The best way to get a nice rooster is to not put up with a mean one and a bad temperment can absolutely get passed down to a bird's chicks (and if you're known for producing birds with poor temperments, people are less likely to buy hatching eggs from you)

 

[ChicNmom]

I normally would give a little bit of a pass to a hormonal cockerel.
But not Stew. You raised him and handled him so he should not view you or your family as a threat at all unless maybe you picked up a hen and she was squawking.


It's too bad because he sounds like a good protector. Some have successfully called a truce with a rooster and managed to train them by holding them and carrying them around and making sure they know you out rank them. I did that with my first rooster that I didn't raise from a chick. But I also don't have young children and I always kept an eye on him just in case he reverted back to his old ways.

 

[Vicker]

I agree that it's a good idea to cull him. I've learned that the roosters I don't tame keep a more wary distance from me, but even that doesn't guarantee they won't try something.

 

[OhMyDuck]

My young rooster used to attack me. I watched him hatch, took care of him, so it felt personal when he would come at me. But I decided to wait. And it paid off. He is gorgeous and a good protector now. He runs to me for treats and never attacks me or my kids. So I assume it was teenage hormones. I forgave him)

 

[Delphene]

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?

Hi! This has happened to me before. Dont try to hurt him, kick him, whack him ect. If he comes at you slowly back away or, push him away with your foot if he tries to jump and attack.

So, he's likely attacking you because he thinks you are a threat, or he thinks your another rooster and is trying to challenge you. To stop this or reduce it catch him, (If you can) hold him and walk around petting him and showing the other hens. Do this for a good 10 minutes or so. Then when your ready put him down (Still holding him) and wait a minute then let go. This just tells him that your the boss but your a good boss. Your kids should hold him to if you think they can. Hope this helps!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Your kids should hold him to if you think they can. Hope this helps!

To suggest children should attempt to assert dominance by holding a rooster that has shown aggression towards them is very dangerous advice at best.

 

[RcoM]

My rooster started like that at "teen-age" but using your methods too, he got better. Carrying food or treats can make them run at you/ for the treat- so I stopped feeding them like that. I now tip it out before I unlock the coop. Mine is really good now but it was a risk for a bit. He got calmer.

 

[Mrs. K]

Roosters are easy to come by. Sometimes people get stuck in a position that by random chance they got this bird, and that is their bird and they have to keep him. Not true. Let that bad boy go.

Go to your feed store, contact the county extension office, or a local poultry club. What you want is a rooster that is close to a year in age, raised in a multi-generational flock, and was raised up in an area with similar predators, and one that is so darn nice, that he didn't get culled by someone who would have culled him if he was mean.

Often times, a cockerel raised up with just flock mates, no older chickens, often times does become aggressive. I am not a believer in training them, they have a very small brain, and very large testicals.

Do remember that a emergency room is expensive, and let that boy go.

Mrs K

 

[duckmeister]

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.