Attacking Rooster

[Beekissed]

The moral of the story is to never make pets out of your roo chicks and avoid imprinting. Confusing the poor animal and then having to kill it later because you caused it to imprint on you instead of it's own species is pretty bad.

I know chicks are cute and many folks on here want to make pets out of their chickens but is it always a good thing for the chicken?

 

[sheps4her]

I am having the same problem with a new roo I rescued.... this is him:

Now, he has only been with me since Friday. He challenged me once on Saturday morning and he promptly go the boot. When I went in to feed and water this morning, he did it again. This time I was not as nice, and I dealt with him until he was cowering in the corner. When I went in there this evening, he ran from me. If he continues to act a fool, I will not keep him. I have a 5 yr old DD and a 9 yr old DS. There are plenty of well behaved roos out there.... I am hoping that it is the combination of him being new to the girls and the fact he does not KNOW me. He better learn and quickly!!

 

[Mrs. K]

Sheps4her

I would not let your daughter out any where near this roo. While he might respect you, who are much taller, he is very apt to attack her and can do serious damage. (or your son, but he will attack the smallest one first)

He is beautiful, but not more beautiful than her, she does not need the scars he can give her.

I really do not think a family with small children should have a roo imho. The chance is too high. Really when he attacked you, he was giving you a warning what he will do to your children. He has warned you. Why wait?

Mrsk

 

[mstricer]

None of any of those tricks worked for me. I had an EE (absolutely beautiful one) that once it became age of breeding hated me and the feelings were mutual, it was evil and would creep up on me and would stinkeye me. It took 3 bullets to the head before he died.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
There is a major divide on this site between those who do and those who don't.

 

[sheps4her]

Mrs. K :

Sheps4her

I would not let your daughter out any where near this roo. While he might respect you, who are much taller, he is very apt to attack her and can do serious damage. (or your son, but he will attack the smallest one first)

He is beautiful, but not more beautiful than her, she does not need the scars he can give her.

I really do not think a family with small children should have a roo imho. The chance is too high. Really when he attacked you, he was giving you a warning what he will do to your children. He has warned you. Why wait?

Mrsk

I agree with you Mrs.K.
My DH wants to keep him, but I already told him I would not keep a dangerous animal of ANY species. My children are not allowed in the coop with him. I took care of this roo for a month or so with no problems. The problem started when I brought him home and added him to the girls I had rescued....so I assumed it was hen possesion. NOT that that is an excuse. He still got the boot. I just need to take a stand with DH and tell him that we can't have him around for even the potential of him attacking one of the kids. I think he thinks that he will be ok after he is "used" to us. We had a wonderful rooster who never attacked and the kids could pick up. He died about two years ago, and this is the first roo we have had since then. Definately a different personality.... He has to go.... anyone want a mean polish rooster???

 

[bunnibird55]

I have trained my NH roos that they will be held and carried around under my arm until they are submissive. If you have trouble catching them, wait until they are roosting. Tuck him under your arm and carry him around in front of the hens. You are the alpha - he is number 2 - the roos in my flock know they are NOT #1. No breeding in front of me - that's the rule and they know their names and all I need to do is speak sternly using their name and to give them the stink eye. I have found that putting up a boot only makes them worse and very defensive. On the rare times I have put my foot up to the roos it has provoked them into defending themselves by attacking the offending foot and flaring and trying to spur. I would in turn pick up the roo and do the carry under the arm bit and he would back down. It has worked for me for several years and I have four granddaughters under the age of 6 who can go out with me with no problems. Good luck - if the roo is totally impossible - chicken stew is really good in the winter!

 

[Beekissed]

Maybe you are putting up your boot toooooo slooooowly......

If I have to boot something it is quick and over with....even a roo isn't that quick.

Actually, I wouldn't use any part of my body to school a roo unless it was out of knee jerk necessity and I was caught by surprise. A lightweight roo stick doesn't inflict harm but gets across to them a definite message. A light touch on their back as they walk by, a quick tap on the behind when they least expect it....a surprise lunge in their direction to make them jump and run. Anything to keep them wary and walking a wide berth around you. If they are within booting distance, they have gotten careless and are not schooled enough.

 

[ScotianChick]

Just thought I'd ask in this thread... is it okay for my roo to mate in front of me if he isn't aggressive? I hadn't heard of this not allowing him to mate thing and have let him do as he pleases. He is 9 months old and has never made a go at me. He shuffled at me once but it was because I was holding one of his girls. Oh and a few days ago I grabbed one of his silver laced hens (wanted to try a saddle on her... turned out I suck at making saddles) and he ran at me but stopped. She made a lot of noise which alarmed him. He then gave me the stink eye and walked away. When I brought her back out, I held her in the grass for a bit with me to make it clear she was mine. He came over and made some noises but walked away calling the other girls to follow. He seems to respect me but he doesn't entirely trust me with his girls. Will the mating become a problem later or do you guys figure I've got a pretty calm roo?

 

[azygous]

Sheps! That Polish dude of yours sure has a mean set of spurs! Until you can re-home him, you need to operate on those leg-daggers of his!

Get some pliers, and while holding him securely, grasp the spur at its base and slowly twist back and forth until the spur loosens. Keeps twisting until the spur separates from the soft, fleshy nub within, then just pull it off.

All that remains is a tiny nub about the size of the tip of your finger. There may be a tiny drop of blood, but it dries in a few minutes, and in a day or three, is completely hardened. What remains won't cause any damage should he try to flog someone. The spur will grow back slowly over a year or so, and if he's still around then, just grab the pliers and do it again.

While you have him in your grasp, I'd trim his toe-nails too, doing it as you would with a dog or cat.

There's no evidence that this hurts the roo. I did it on one of mine a year ago, and he dozed off in my lap while I was operating on him.