aggressive rooster

[Daisy8s]

The one thing that you must keep in mind is that he is wired to defend his flock any way that he can and to be the supreme overlord of said flock. Anything that he perceives as a threat or a competitor is going to be on his hit list, so you need to remove yourself from those lists. You need to convince him that you're just a harmless, featherless, treat dispensing nobody.

A good method to begin with is to always approach with his favorite treats and always offer them to him and call to him as soon as you're within eyesight. No spooking him, shoving your fist in his face, or approaching him. Make him come to you and make it worth his while to do so. This makes sure that you don't spook him and that he knows where you are, and demonstrates that you're a food-dispensing friend and not a foe. Pay attention to how you posture around him, too. Squat down and offer the treats on his level, not bending over him or reaching down at his face (think about how that would look to you if you were in his position; intimidating). Keep that in mind whenever you're around him, too. No quick movements and no reaching, grabbing, lording over him, chasing, or yelling because it all registers as "predator/threat" to him. Be consistent and be patient, because this could take a few weeks to a few months and there may be minor relapses.

Always wear sturdy shoes and long pants during this "training" period, too, because if he attacks you, you need to do absolutely nothing. If you fight him or if you run, you're behaving just like another roo or a predator would and giving him the feedback that he expects. It just reinforces his behavior. Instead, quietly stand your ground and don't move. The very act of freezing will usually freeze him, too, because he won't quite know what the heck to do when faced with an inanimate object...and then he'll walk away (at which point, you can, too). Sometimes, certain colors and even certain clothing (no joke) will set them off, so pay attention and see if you can pick out what attire and/or behavior of yours tends to set him off and then avoid it. In general, just spend as much time as you're able/willing out and around the flock, too. The more used to your presence in the area everyone is, the better.

Also, being nice to a roo is not a recipe for disaster; doing what he wants is. Don't expect to be able to pick him up and cuddle with him (they usually don't work like that), but you should be able to mingle with the flock and come/go as you please without being pecked/flogged. Unless there is a serious danger (e.g. to your face, a child, etc.) there is no reason to fight him. You're not a chicken; flogging him back for any reason is just animal abuse (you'd do better to just kill him and eat him than chase and kick him around). So just keep your own species in mind and don't be baited by a bird. Mutual peace/respect is what you should be aiming for and remember that it may well take quite a bit of work - it took us 3.5 months down this road before my DH and I achieved peace with our roo, but it's been unbroken for nearly as long as it took to achieve now (and it is definitely person-specific).

x2! Really well said. I've used exactly this mind set with my roosters and it has worked very well.

I like what you said about not being baited by the bird. I really think it takes a certain personality type to sit back and look at the rooster and consider why he's doing this. Some people just see red if they feel anything is challenging them and then all they can do it retaliate.

My rooster hates my mother. Why? Because she comes out of her car swinging her purse at him. Gee...I wonder why he sees her as a threat? Conversely, my rooster doesn't bother my kids because they've been taught to throw a handful of bird seed in the opposite direction of wherever they're going. The birds go to the food and ignore the kids.

 

[RedDrgn]

x2! Really well said. I've used exactly this mind set with my roosters and it has worked very well.

I like what you said about not being baited by the bird. I really think it takes a certain personality type to sit back and look at the rooster and consider why he's doing this. Some people just see red if they feel anything is challenging them and then all they can do it retaliate.

My rooster hates my mother. Why? Because she comes out of her car swinging her purse at him. Gee...I wonder why he sees her as a threat? Conversely, my rooster doesn't bother my kids because they've been taught to throw a handful of bird seed in the opposite direction of wherever they're going. The birds go to the food and ignore the kids.

Thanks!

Yeah, that's true. Some people just don't handle a challenge well, from anything. Still, it's human vs. chicken; though I've definitely met people in the world that my chickens could likely outsmart.

Training the kids is a good one, but for some, that can be even harder than training the roo!

 

[mtnviewfarms]

Sadly, DH and I had a rooster that was my favorite and absolutely gorgeous, smart and full of personality - even won a national photo contest with a photo of him - BUT - I guess those hormones kicked in and he started attacking and trying to spur my husband - succeeded one time and fortunately DH had khaki slacks on and the spurs actually put holes in them!

We were like you, didn't want to cull him, tried several methods as suggested but nothing worked. He never attacked me
when I tended the flock but he did get up really close to me ( eye level even on a trash can cover where we kept their
food ) and gave me what I called his 'evil eye' look.

I LOVE all of my chickens and their well being and DH and my enjoyment of the whole 'chicken experience' is very important to us. We have another Roo - sibling of the attacker - who has never acted aggressive toward people and takes very good care of his flock of hens.

After several months of trying to see if the rehab we had tried would 'kick in' and after posting here and getting responses like the one's you are getting - we came to see that his behavior was making the flock nervous - in fact
the brother roo would go after the mean one whenever he tried to attack my husband. The aggressive roo was the
'non-dominant' roo in the flock as his brother had established himself 'king of the flock' even though this aggressive
brother outgrew him in size.

Maybe he felt he was an 'underdog' in the chicken heirarchy and wanted to show dominance by attacking humans -
who knows - DH always tells me I'm 'overthinking' chicken behaviours and motivations.

Bottom line was - he was disrupting the flock as well as making us 'walk on eggshells' - yes, pun intended here -
whenever we were in their presence and that just wasn't working for anyone.

We gave him to a Mexican neighbor who said, "He will make us a great pot of soup for tonight!!!". I was sad about it
but people who are serious about raising chickens also need to be responsible in not allowing dangerous inheritable
traits to be bred and passed on to future generations - that is doing no one - esp. the chickens any favors.

After 'Rocky' the Roo was gone I had thought the flock might be 'upset' at his absence but instead
they were visibly more calm and chatted quietly ( their happy and relaxed sounds ) and the whole
'ambiance and mood' around them was calmer and better. Tending and spending time with my
flock is a real joy to me and now w/o the 'threat of imminent physical harm' it is once again a joyful experience.

 

[Nikki99]

Still, it's human vs. chicken; though I've definitely met people in the world that my chickens could likely outsmart.