Biting rooster... can I break him of it?

[yushbonuli]

I have a formerly sweet roo... he's a teenager, I guess. Our chicks were born in early April, so I guess about 4 months old? He crows and struts like a big boy. These are my first chickens, and we have two hens and this roo. He has always been so docile... they have all been raised to hand, and my oldest son loves on them all the time. Recently though, where he would let you pet him, now he bites.... HARD! He'll still let you pet, but you'll pay! Or, he'll run over and bite the top of a foot, unprovoked. Anything I can do besides put him in the soup pot? TIA.

 

[Folly's place]

There are lots of threads on managing rooster behavior, so check them out. I never make pets of my cockrels, and never wear sandals in the chicken area. Some behavior is learned, and much is genetic. People aggressive cocks are very tasty, and often not very smart. If You have a child out there, have very little tolerance for bad behavior. Mary