Barn rooster attacking only me

[Bluegrassdog]

Hello. This forum was recommended to me by some Facebook friends who have grown amused at my dilemma: I am being routinely terrorized by the barn rooster! I just moved my horse to this new barn a couple months ago, and the barn rooster, well, runs the roost.

I am a complete animal-lover with a background in dog-training, but have always been terrified of birds. Well, the day I arrived at the barn, that rooster picked up on my hesitation in a matter of seconds, and needless to say (the more I read about roosters and typical behaviors), it's been all downhill from there. The barn owners told me to walk confidently and ignore him, but I can't-- and didn't-- and now it's all over.

Typically, when I walk into the barn, he cock-a-doodles with delight and turns his entire focus to me, his mark. He follows me around, and I am never sure when/if he is going to fly up at me. He blocks my path so I can't get past, and the few times I've bravely tried (cowering), he flies up at me, which is terrifying to me. Last week, he "flew up" at me 3 times, but I was holding my big plastic tack box as a "shield," and it was *bam* (he fell back, flew up again), *bam*! *bam*! Other times, he chases me and I run.

I've tried positively reinforcement with raisins/granola, but the owner asked me not to feed him any more (and quite frankly, I am so nervous around him that I wasn't doing it properly, and just throwing food at him as a bribe to keep him away). They told me to give him a good whack with a broom (but I'm too afraid I'll hurt him) and to be confident and dominant, and he'd leave me alone.

I have to say that I respect this little monster's instinct and intelligence immensely: I know full well that my fear and retreating have completely reinforced his sense of dominance, and this little terrorist is having a field day with me. My husband was attacked once, gave him a kick, and now ignores him (and isn't afraid), so the rooster leaves him alone. When he sees me, he rubs his little wings together in sinister delight.

Removing the little devil is not an option, nor is treating/rewarding him with food. Is it as simple as trying to get over my phobia and just puffing up my chest confidently? I am embarrassed to be so terrified of this little 2-pound ball of feathers, but this is among those completely irrational fears.

Help!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I would wear some nice heavy gloves and some eyeglasses/sunglasses and catch him. Then I would hold him and see him up close (unless he has lice) and get over my fear that way. If he is a bantam (2 lb) then he can still damage your eyes and scratch you. But if you wear eye protection and gloves and get to know him then maybe it will get you over your fear. I am not suggesting that holding him will change his behavior towards you in any way- it probably won't. But perhaps it will help you.

It is just a thought...maybe this approach isn't for you. I am thinking that after you hold him awhile maybe you would have the courage to push him aside with your foot as required like your DH does.

You can hold him just like a football tucked under your arm if you hold onto both feet together so he doesn't scratch you. You can walk around with him and just enjoy the peace for awhile.

 

[centrarchid]

Bluegrassdog, first I say welcome. Then I say you did just about everything you could have that would get you and keep you in his sights. Before proceeding with any options I have in mind your phobia must be addressed. If you must get yourself a bee veil, putting on a heavy shirt and jeans then go hang with little hellion until you both calm down.

 

[Bluegrassdog]

Lol. Thank you both SO MUCH! I like and appreciate both your answers, and I need to do both. My husband feels that the little monster "flies at me" without the intention of pecking me to death, but to intimidate me because he can. I know enough about general animal behaviour to know that I've dug my own hole. I just need to get out, and I think that just facing the beast and swatting him away (as I've been told to do) is the first step. It indeed is a phobia. Every time I arrive at the barn, I am determined to march past him and ignore, but then I actually begin to tremble when I see him. It is so insane that most people around me can't suppress a giggle (or full-out laughter). And I can't blame them.

As I did on Sunday, I will try again tomorrow with my long-sleeve shirt and try to be brazen and full of gusto.......As terrified as I am, he is such a cute little beast. I wish I weren't so afraid.

Thank you again.....I will apprise after my next encounter.

 

[jasmer]

Here's how we dealt with a sassy speckled sussex roo who took to attacking my 4 year old.

We picked him up and held him. I don't know much about chicken psychology but I imagine he felt pretty defeated when he was completely helpless and all the wing flapping and pecking in the world wouldn't free him. He stopped being such a pain, at least when me or my husband were around.

I think your husband is right, he's probably trying to intimidate. I bet his little neck feathers are all ruffled up and everything. Just catch the little turd mid-air and see how he likes it.

 

[Bluegrassdog]

"I bet his little neck feathers are all ruffled up and everything."

Jasmer, that is exactly it! He gets his hackles up like a dog! And as terrified as I am of him, I can't help thinking (afterwards), "But he's so cute!" (For the record, I do not eat poultry! It is the first of all the meat I gave up, and I cannot now imagine ever eating it again! LOL.)

Now, to build up the courage to catch him....

 

[jasmer]

Yeah, they're awfully cute when they're all huffy and strutting their stuff lol. Just try to keep that kind of perspective in mind. He's, what, a 9 lb bird tops? Unless he's a meat breed, in which case probably not much bigger. If he's been de-spurred there's literally nothing to fear, the worst he can do is bite and he probably won't even break skin. Our little speckled sussex thought he was the coolest thing since sliced bread, until he realized he'd get cuddled and baby talked like an infant for the trouble lol.

If you kick at him, toss him, hit him, or otherwise attack him you'll only reinforce the behavior as he'll stop seeing you as a threat to his ego and more as a threat to his flock, so keep that in mind. If you've been handling it that way, it'll probably take a while to undo the association he's built up in his head but in my experience it can be done if you're willing to be consistent. I used to give Mr. White (the aforementioned speckled sussex rooster) a handful of scratch grains while I was holding him so he would associate me with food and not hostility. He never took to being picked up, but he did stop freaking out when I came into the coop and was even starting to be happy to see us every morning (until the neighbor's dog broke in and killed the entire flock). Kinda miss the little guy, he was a beautiful bird.

Also, if/when you do get the nerve to grab him he'll probably flap and squack and throw a huge fit, understandably of course. Those wings can smack you in the face. I've had the glasses slapped off my face a few times by the birds lol.

 

[centrarchid]

If you want to desensitize your self to flogging, then go out to work on ground near a very cranky broody hen with chicks just off nest. While you are laying prone have hen proceed to flog your head repeatedly as you try to put bolt back on mower. Also have your 2 1/2 year old son ask questions about what the hen is doing and laughing then running off with your nut. All that overpowering experience will likely take the edge of the next round of flogging.

 

[Bluegrassdog]

Well, I marched into the barn all confident and sassy, and he just stared at me. In fairness, the owner (he will sit on her lap and beat up everyone else) was there, so he was being deferential to her, I'm sure. Nonetheless, he watched me with intrigue as I confidently ignored him. I didn't see him standing outside the stall as I led my horse out, and the little pecker *did* give a little chase (I heard to "flutter of attack" just as I walked away). I'm glad I did notice or I would have freaked out my horse, too.

My husband watched from a distance and applauded my indifference. The owners kept assuring me that ignoring him is the best remedy (though I'd like to pick him up and cuddle him one day-- if only I weren't so afraid and he weren't so mean). I certainly, though, do not walk by his side of the barn. I admit to still going around the long way to avoid his space.

Here's hoping my confidence keeps him at bay....but wait until there is only him and me in that barn.

 

[sweetdreaming]

Since you are at a public barn with a roo that's not yours, here's my solution. AND IT WORKS!! Get yourself a water pistol (a good one that's bigger/more accurate is better). Make a quart of water w/ about 1/4 cup of plain ammonia. Fill pistol w/ ammonia solution (keep bottle in ur car for refills). Carry it in ur back pocket and when the roo starts to engage you, squirt him in the face. It smells bad and stings, but doesn't cause perm harm (any more than you getting soap in ur eyes). It doesn't take but a couple of squirts for him to decide you smell bad and he stays away from you. This "negative reinforcement" works great, and doesn't "engage" their fighting instincts.