Aggressive Rooster

[chooks4life]

So many good roosters out there, makes it impossible for me to keep bad ones... But I do understand the difficulty in culling to start with.

Definitely worth considering the impact on future generations of both people and chickens; the nasty roo you keep is taking up resources and the reproductive lifespan of the hens he's with, which better roosters are dying and their family lines vanishing for want of.

I also don't think it's very fair to link those hens' family lines with such a mentality, so they can run the risk of having their genetic lines eradicated just because someone bred them with a bad rooster and their offspring have behavioral faults which make them unsafe.

The only reason we have some reliable and great temperaments among domestic animals is because people culled against bad ones.

Anyway... A subject that has definitely been done to death, and most of us started out in the very same position, willing and even desperate to try almost anything to 'save' nasty roosters. Look where most of us ended up... The cull brigade, lol. It's for a good reason. Many good reasons.

Best wishes.

 

[Free Feather]

There are a lot of "nasty" hens, dogs, and children out there, too, and not many people scream "stew pot" about them... Something to think about.

 

[Dansoy]

There are a lot of "nasty" hens, dogs, and children out there, too, and not many people scream "stew pot" about them... Something to think about.

Here in the phillipines we stew pot dogs that are nasty..but children not hehe.
ya not many people,
ill think about it.

 

[chooks4life]

There are a lot of "nasty" hens, dogs, and children out there, too, and not many people scream "stew pot" about them... Something to think about.

Actually I do also kill all my nasty hens, plenty of people do. Not sure what you mean by saying that's 'something to think about'. Could be interpreted a lot of ways, like maybe you think roosters are getting unfair treatment.

I wouldn't include children among livestock, for obvious reasons (if we're espousing cannibalism why wouldn't we begin with adults? Especially the sort of adults that would consider cannibalizing children)... But I'm not averse to dogs being considered livestock, nor cats either. The majority of those two 'pet' species aren't any smarter than the average cow, sheep, goat, horse, pig or chook. Just lucky enough to have ended up considered a pet and not food, in most countries.

Edit to add: I'm not trying to start a flame war with those comments re: cats and dogs as 'livestock', just being completely objective about it. Which is often taken very offensively, unfortunately. I like cats and dogs just fine, have kept them for most of my life and intend to do so for the rest of my life, and no, I personally wouldn't eat them.

Best wishes.

 

[CrazyTalk]

Dogs are put down pretty regularly for attacking human beings - in a lot of states it's legally required.

 

[Snoozeys]

The way i see it if he is vicious like mine is you can either lock him up with some hens or get rid of him !!!

I inherited my bantam rooster because he was attacking the previous owners

 

[kimthom66]

I need help with this issue as well, My rooster is just over a year old and tends to go after me (the one who feeds him) and yet doesn't with my husband but just the other day he knocked over my grandson who is 18 months old and loves my chickens who was just standing there with no hens around, he doesn't hurt when he flails up but it knocked him over and scared him and there was no reason? I don't really want to cull him because I need a free range protector? So I guess my question is If I get another rooster (I'm looking into a Cochin or an Orpington) will they protect the flock? Will a rooster that is good with children protect the flock? Looking for the best of both worlds I guess?

 

[lazy gardener]

First off, I'd never allow an 18 month old child around a rooster who is known to "flail" people. That child's eyes and face are too close to both beak and spurs, and children are known for erratic quick movements which can be interpreted as threatening. My concern is that any rooster you get will also be aggressive unless you train him. Carry a thin pole with you, and spend some time herding him around with it. Herd him away from the treats when you give the girls their treats. Herd him out of the coop. Where ever he happens to be standing, that's where you want to be standing. Make him move. Never go around him. Walk through him. With supervision, you might "help" your grand child to "herd" the rooster too. I give credit to this training method to Bee Kissed, as well as a number of other wize poultry keepers. Good training is the first method to employ to ensure that you have a good rooster who is not human aggressive. A sharp axe and big stew pot are excellent back up measures. Good roosters are a dime a dozen. Don't allow an aggressive rooster to play in your gene pool.

 

[kimthom66]

The chickens were free ranging and I was standing right there, not making any sudden movements but my grandson is always supervised and usually when my grandson is in the yard the rooster stayed clear of him, so it surprised me because as I said there where no hens around there was no reason . The only thing is he had just got done giving them some scratch which is also when I notice aggression in my rooster is when there is food involved?

 

[mylittlehippie]

Honestly i have tried the above mentioned method to no avail. I have to agree with some of the other posters that genetics plays the biggest role not training and sometimes a rooster is just not the best. I have seen roosters attack hawks or dogs that come near their girls but never attack and even be nice to humans. I have personally been in your situation and when kids are involved you need to choose the kids. Either get rid of the rooster or keep him penned up where he has no access to humans. Also if you are breeding to keep any new chicks he will pass those traits along so I would recommend not keeping chciks from him. If you feel that you need a rooster for protection of your girls, shop around for another one. Good luck! I know that decision is not an easy one to make.