Attacking

[HeyHeyWW]

Bello BYC!! :3 I'm having a problem with my two roosters. I have one rooster who's 7 months old and other rooster who's 6 months old. My 7 month old rooster, Goldie, IS EVIL. Once, I was playing tennis with my brother in my backyard while the chickens were out. Then my brother walked up to Goldie and did nothing, but then he began attacking him. Good thing he doesn't have his spurs full-grown yet. So my brother started running ALL around the backyard twice (it was funny, I'm sorry little brother XD) and now my brother is horrified from him. XD So he ran inside and left me outside alone with Goldie >_> he didn't attack me, though. I jumped to the other side of my fence because I just felt like it and when I jumped back into my backyard, he began attacking me, too. I ran inside my house and he was still there XDD It's creepy because he gets all fluffed up and looks like a turkey THEN, I ran another lap around the backyard as fast as I could, AND MAN, HE IS FAST CUZ HE WAS RIIIIIGHHHTTT BEHIND ME.

WELL, he did it again a few days ago. We're getting rid of Goldie, I love him but he's just so evil. Oh, and, we're not eating him. XD We're giving him to my grandpa. I will miss him... I know that 2 roosters is too much for the hens, anyway, since we only have 3 hens. So we're gonna have to get rid of him.

Anyway, my other rooster, Cracker, he's so adorable and doesn't attack me. Well, yesterday Cracker was in his coop, the door closed, and I was next to the coop doing something with the dirt because I just wanted to. Then I saw him try to attack me from inside the coop, he did the turkey thing... so if he was out, he would've attacked me. I just need help on how to make him stop attacking us? My brother is still freaked out XD

My mom said that if you just give them a hard kick every time they start chasing you, they'll stop eventually. I did it once to Goldie, but I just feel so bad. (Nothing happened to him, btw). I don't want to hurt them :[ So is there some other way that I can stop them from attacking me?

Thanks for helping!!

 

[HenHouse4Life]

Some roosters are mean, some are not. You should never kick at or swing at a rooster. When you display that behavior toward him all you're doing is letting him know that you want to fight with him. Running away doesn't help either, you're showing him HIS dominance, not yours. When I have a rooster that acts this way I just don't back down, I stand my ground and show him that I rule the roost. You can always pick him up and wait until he stops squirming before you put him down. Some roosters are better being rehomed or culled.... Some you can control. Address this issues asap as it will most likely just get worse if you don't nip it in the bud now.
Good luck!

 

[HeyHeyWW]

Some roosters are mean, some are not. You should never kick at or swing at a rooster. When you display that behavior toward him all you're doing is letting him know that you want to fight with him. Running away doesn't help either, you're showing him HIS dominance, not yours. When I have a rooster that acts this way I just don't back down, I stand my ground and show him that I rule the roost. You can always pick him up and wait until he stops squirming before you put him down. Some roosters are better being rehomed or culled.... Some you can control. Address this issues asap as it will most likely just get worse if you don't nip it in the bud now.
Good luck!

I'll start doing that before he gets his full-grown spurs because that's when he can hurt me bad Thanks!!

 

[bobbi-j]

Read this - it's an article by an experienced BYC member named Beekissed:

I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything to him. If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant ones and subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation. There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down and giving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck. No holding him down and nothing else. That's a rooster on a hen maneuver, not rooster on rooster.

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate in this picture. You are getting dominated by your bird simply because you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to be walking when a dominant is in the area. What you never see is a dominant rooster getting attacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose. So far you are losing and not even challenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive. He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner. Some people never have to go on the offensive because their movements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked your husband. Most men move more decisively than do women and children and they rarely step around a bird, but walk through them.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all. His environment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language he understands. Because they are quick on their feet and can evade you, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that will lengthen your reach by 5 ft. really helps in this. Don't use a rake or broom because they are too clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when you don't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements and walk directly towards your rooster. Move him away from the feeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leaves the coop. The stick will help you guide him. Then...wait patiently while he gets his bird mind around what just happened. He will try to come back in the coop...let him. When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim it well. If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs and keep at it until he leaves the coop once again. Repeat this process until he is too wary to come back in the coop.

Feed your hens. When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack the wall by the pop door just as he tries to enter. If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stick either smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry. Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching your hens eat. Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him. Don't worry about the hens running and getting excited when this is happening...they will get over it. This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.

When the hens have had a good tucker....leave the coop and let him come back in. Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...top roosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock. You shouldn't either. Take your stick and startle him with a smack on the floor next to him when he is least expecting it...make that bird jump and RUN. Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder and trying to get out of your way. THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together. Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands. You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need to establish that when you move, he moves...away. When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster. If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop. Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate. They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space. If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him. At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door. If he feels the need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops. He doesn't get to crow while you are there. He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along. And it can be fun if you venture into it with the right attitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly. This can work on strange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn. You rule the coop...now act like it. Carrying is for babies...you have a full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby.

Both you and your brother need to do this. When she mentions smacking him on his fluffy bottom, it just means enough of a tap to get him moving, not to beat him senseless. Not all roosters get the message, though, so you need to be prepared for that.

 

[HeyHeyWW]

Read this - it's an article by an experienced BYC member named Beekissed:

I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything to him. If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant ones and subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation. There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down and giving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck. No holding him down and nothing else. That's a rooster on a hen maneuver, not rooster on rooster.

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate in this picture. You are getting dominated by your bird simply because you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to be walking when a dominant is in the area. What you never see is a dominant rooster getting attacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose. So far you are losing and not even challenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive. He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner. Some people never have to go on the offensive because their movements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked your husband. Most men move more decisively than do women and children and they rarely step around a bird, but walk through them.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all. His environment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language he understands. Because they are quick on their feet and can evade you, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that will lengthen your reach by 5 ft. really helps in this. Don't use a rake or broom because they are too clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when you don't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements and walk directly towards your rooster. Move him away from the feeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leaves the coop. The stick will help you guide him. Then...wait patiently while he gets his bird mind around what just happened. He will try to come back in the coop...let him. When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim it well. If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs and keep at it until he leaves the coop once again. Repeat this process until he is too wary to come back in the coop.

Feed your hens. When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack the wall by the pop door just as he tries to enter. If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stick either smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry. Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching your hens eat. Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him. Don't worry about the hens running and getting excited when this is happening...they will get over it. This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.

When the hens have had a good tucker....leave the coop and let him come back in. Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...top roosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock. You shouldn't either. Take your stick and startle him with a smack on the floor next to him when he is least expecting it...make that bird jump and RUN. Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder and trying to get out of your way. THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together. Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands. You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need to establish that when you move, he moves...away. When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster. If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop. Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate. They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space. If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him. At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door. If he feels the need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops. He doesn't get to crow while you are there. He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along. And it can be fun if you venture into it with the right attitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly. This can work on strange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn. You rule the coop...now act like it. Carrying is for babies...you have a full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby.

Both you and your brother need to do this. When she mentions smacking him on his fluffy bottom, it just means enough of a tap to get him moving, not to beat him senseless. Not all roosters get the message, though, so you need to be prepared for that.

Okay, thanks so much!! I'm gonna do this, and I think it'll be easy because he's of everything

 

[Member 482121]

Elvis, my rooster, began to show aggressive behavior toward men last year. But he always acted normally and in a friendly manner toward my wife. Someone in this forum told me it would be just a matter of time before he attacked my wife, too. Indeed, this morning it happened and he scratched her leg badly with his spurs. She told me maybe it was time to have him date a pot of dumplings, but I gave him another chance, though I devised an IRDD (Improvised Rooster Deterrent Device). I boiled three habaneros for a long time, then when the water cooled off I poured it into a spray bottle, adding a tablespoon of ammonia. I went into the pen and sure enough Elvis came at me. A well directed spray in his face stopped him in his tracks. He grumbled, crowed, pecked at the ground and came at me again. Double spray. It didn't seem to hurt him, but he blinked a few times and looked perplexed. I walked toward him and he charged again. This time I let him have quite a dose. He stopped and he almost ran away to the other end of the pen. I walked out of the pen and approached him from outside the chicken wire. I hit the wire with my foot and he came close, lowered his head and raised his hackles but did not charge. I went back inside, and he gave me a wide berth. Now the spray bottle is hanging by the pen door. We will carry it with us when we go in. If he forgets today's lesson we'll repeat it. It may make his eyes itchy, but it's better than a .22 LR hollow point in the head...