agressive rooster

[seminolewind]

That's pretty good. I, too, have worked with ones that came after me to flog and spur me. It was there understanding that they were alpha roo. After learning some things they would understand, like how an alpha roo would teach another roo, it worked real well. Stalking was good. Not backing up no matter what was important. They, too, became my buddies-something they would not do if I used a broom.

And it's fun to do. And I wear heavy jeans and and a jacket to do it. BUT if they want to hurt kids, they have to leave. However, my grandaughters (8 & 10) could freely go into a pen with 5 Jersey Giants and give them bread without fear. They loved that!

 

[jak2002003]

Think its his age. His hormones are kicking it now and he has no older experienced rooster to put him in his place and show him how to behave.

He should grow out of it after a couple of months

.

Until them you need to be the boss. Don't show any fear around him. Walk confident and pretend to ignore him. Don't try to annoy him with a broom or your foot like some people suggest. This just kicks in his defensive aggressive behaviour and might make him worse.

I like to wait till he is calm, then catch him up. Hold him and pet him. carry him about. Then when he is relaxed you can let him go again. This shows you are the boss. No need to hold him upside down or anything. They don't really learn by punishments like that - they have not got much of a brain!

Calm assertive behaviour on your part - like the dog whisperer.

Its was a good idea from another post to cover his spurs up with tape. Then you will feel safer knowing that he can not do you any harm.

Please give him some time. He will be a great defender of your hens against predators and I think rooster are lovely colours and very interesting to have around.

 

[CT]

I am in a similar situation. Rooster is attacking the kids, husband, and me. If I can reform him, I consider that the responsible thing to do (not to mention I love my roo). But even if I can teach him that *I* am not to be threatened, can I really expect him to respect anyone else, in particular the kids? Or is the rooster a loss once he has decided that he outranks children?

--Caren

 

[bloom chicks]

I am sorry to hear about your rooster. I had the same problem with mine. He wasn't the alpha rooster either and he was attacking my daughter and challenging my husband. I decided that he needed a new home. I was hoping that I didn't have to but he was getting worse. I wasn't willing to wait until he hurt my daughter. I hope that it works out that he gets better for you.

 

[Daisy8s]

I'm glad to read here several posts that go beyond the typical fear/aggression equation that goes something like, "If I show fear my rooster will be aggressive, so, I must be aggressive in order to make my rooster fear me." Along with other posters I would agree that there is a third option and that is: neutral.

I was advised by an experienced chicken owner to not react when my rooster began doing test pecks. I saw his behavior as a toddler in the Terrible Twos testing my reaction (e.g. it's much funner to jump on the couch precisely because mom is screaming not to jump on the couch!)

So, luckily it's winter and all skin is covered with gloves/boots/heavy coat. I let my 5 mo old rooster do his testing pecks but I do not react at all. I certainly don't retreat, but I also do not react aggressively. After one or two pecks he quits. My husband, with a much higher pain tolerance, tested this with bare skin and wow, the rooster left a serious welt. But, the same result--because my husband didn't react to the bite the rooster quit.

I think it's important to NOT see yourself as part of the pecking order at all. I see myself as outside the pecking order completely. I'm as neutral as the lawn tractor. I'm there to offer food and water and shelter. I am not there to be one of the chickens.

I consciously move slowly around the rooster. I do not make direct, sustained eye contact as this is aggressive in animal behavior. I speak calmly. I move predictably doing the same motions in the same order. I wait till they're out of the coop before doing something big like changing bedding.

When I was advised in this method by the experienced chicken owner it made sense to me as it reminded me of how my dad moved around the bulls on our dairy farm. Now there's an animal you must learn to work with as intimidation is seriously not an option!

 

[seminolewind]

Daisy, that's pretty funny.

I have a silkie roo who was rehabbed by me, attacked my grand daughter, I taught her how to "show him the way", and later she told me she liked him the best! Nothing like winning!

Over the past 4 years, I had spent hours and hours out with the chickens. I had two roos at the time, Ivan, the alpha, and Eddie, the low man. It was interesting the way that Ivan kept his status without any pain at all, no fighting.

When Eddie was around, he could not face Ivan, he would have to look elsewhere. He had to give up whatever spot he had. He had to move away from the food and water. Every morning Ivan would chase him around for a few minutes as a reminder. They never fought.

I remember Eddie acting "mean" behind Ivan's back. It was hysterical. But watching 2 roos in a flock is the best way to "learn the language". Better learning still if they live together with the flock and have had no fights where one roo does not back down. Spats are okay. But the loser will alwaysback down. That's the part a person has to play. Not back away, stalking, etc. -by each person!!! My current roo had to learn it from me and hubby both. The rooster respects me, not fears me. He's actually quite friendly now. I would rather have respect than fear.

 

[CT]

Seminole,

I got a little confused at the end there. Are you saying that the person has to play the part of the loosing rooster or that the person has to not back down? I've read so much advice today that I'm confused about how it's all supposed to work. There seems to be a lot of suggestion to handle the rooster a lot, but also I'm reading that he ought to keep a respectful distance, and so I'm not sure how that's supposed to work. I'm supposed to catch him as he tries to kill me, cuddle him until he stops, and then he'll never let me get close to him again? This may be a case of information overload.

 

[seminolewind]

Yea, I know, overload, LOL. The human can never back down or back up. Wear heavy clothes. But when you keep coming at them, most will turn and walk away. Then you stalk them.

I would not be trying to pick up an attacking rooster. The object is to teach him that you are the alpha roo-using language that he understands. And for each family member to do that after the roo understands that you are the alpha roo.

When he is 100% accepting you as alpha roo, eventually you may be able to pick him up. But your first goal here is to respect you and your family, and look at you all as higher on the totem pole.

I don't know about handling them alot when they are attacking. If you're brave enough, maybe.