Being held hostage by my rooster!

[NorCalMtnChick]

I have a 5 month old leghorn rooster and barred rock hen. They have a very nice large coop. They free range during the day and come inside at night. Also in the coop in a separate area are 15 one-month-old hens that I am integrating. They have been together for about 10 days now. They can see each other but not touch.
Today I went out to the coop to let the roo and the barred rock out for the day. I shut myself in the coop and fed and watered the little chicks. When I opened the door to come out the roo came after me very aggressively. I grabbed a shovel and held it up and yelled at him. He tried this three more times as I made my way back to the house. I was freaking out. I did what I have been told to do for a bear attack, trying to make myself appear big and threatening. He was not intimidated in the least bit, and kept running after me. I fiinally made it inside the house, phew. Now my rooster is circling the house, cockadoodle-dooing like crazy, moving from one entry to another. I am afraid to go outside.
I did a search and read that I should grab this guy by the feet and show who is in charge. I am desperately afraid to do that. He is big and I am not. My husband is the one who usually herds the chickens in and out, he is not home today. I need to leave and pick up the kids in a couple of hours. Aside from grabbing my gun, any suggestions???? He has never acted this way before. Thanks!

 

[snowydiamonds]

I'm sorry but that is just silly Animals and people know when you are scared so get rid of that silly thought right now and put on your boots, a big overcoat, gloves and a scarf- in otherwords, put on your gear to make yourself feel protected and get out there and chase him around the yard and start cockadoodling yourself, tell him you are the biggest baddest lil mama he ever met and catch him, hold him and do this daily...be proud and strong, human tv coming up, lil roo-man...go girl! And if you need a visual, rent the movie Cold Mountain and watch how the girl detests a floggin' rooster!

 

[NorCalMtnChick]

OK maybe I sound silly, but I am truly scared. (So much for getting sympathy here.) I understand you are all farmers and I am just a transplated city kid trying to make a go of it. Okay, I will put on my big girl panties (as my mom would say) and give it a try. One question, should I carry a bat or shovel, and if he keeps coming after me, should I use it?

 

[hennypenny9]

Just do like snowydiamonds says and get your protecting gear on. With thick clothes, what could one rooster do to you?

When we had an evil roo, I would put one leather-clad hand down, he would attack it and I would grab his legs with the other hand. He would dangle upside-down and generally be angry, but he couldn't get anywhere near me. You'll be fine!

 

[PaintedMeadows]

I can understand your fear. I am afraid of birds too. Not our chickens but other birds, definitely!! I agree about dressing up to where you feel safe and get after him. Good luck and a hug for strength!!!

 

[NorCalMtnChick]

Phew I did it! (kind of) I got that evil rooster back in the coop. I bundled up and carried the wand from my shop vac as a weapon. Not sure if I intimidated him, or if it was the rain that inspired him to go willingly. I'd like to think it was me.

I will be getting my husband's welding gloves on next time, and with a shot of whiskey, I will show him who the big mean mama is. I know, big talk....we'll see.
Thanks for your help! I am free! LOL

 

[rooster-red]

Read my page on roo behavior, the link is in my sig line.

Hope this helps.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, go out there, show him who's the leader of the flock. Be relentless and make sure he doesn't even dare look you in the eye. Give him a good scare so that he steps back when he sees you! You can start by catching him when he gets to you, holding him, and walking around with him like he was a foot ball!

 

[ebonykawai]

Sorry, I don't mean to laugh but this post made my day, it was so funny (even if you didn't mean it to be)!

You should have seen my hubby when our roo decided to chase him, lol. I almost died! Then I went out and forced hubby to grab him and pick him up, and he carried him around for a while and...well, that was the end of that. Now he's a good boy (the roo, lol).

 

[speckledhen]

Roosters can be very intimidating so I can see how the initial incident happened. That said, no bird with a walnut sized brain is going to get the best of me and you just have to set your mind that to that fact. If he cant be rehabilitated using the methods that I have used and rooster-red outlines, then he just needs to be supper. I'm fortunate to have gentle giants here, Suede especially. He follows me around like a big blue dog with feathers and comes when I call him. Too many good ones out there to put up with a super-aggressive one.