Boys will be boys?

[kathi p]

I have 15 hens and 1 rooster. They are now 22 weeks old. They have all been friendly up until a couple days ago. Now that my rooster (Glen) is sexually mature he is getting aggressive toward me. He's trying to grab me with his feet to claw me. He's a Columbian Rock cross-if that makes a difference. I don't want to cull him. What can I do to keep myself safe?

 

[Michael OShay]

You will probably get some suggestions on how to tame your rooster, and they might work if you're very lucky, but in my 50 years of experience, I have found it virtually impossible to tame a rooster once it becomes aggressive. I would personally recommend removing it from the flock. You don't want to risk him injuring someone (like putting an eye out), and you don't want to breed that kind of aggression into your flock. If I wanted a rooster for the flock, I would replace him with a docile one. There are loads of unwanted roosters available (including some gentle ones) that people are trying to re-home.

 

[kathi p]

Thanks Michael. Not what I wanted to hear but I was prepared to expect that possibility.

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks Michael. Not what I wanted to hear but I was prepared to expect that possibility.

You're welcome, and I'm sorry. I know how you feel. The meanest rooster I ever had was a Golden Polish (normally a docile breed) named Ivan. He was a gorgeous bird, but he would attack anything and everything in his vicinity. Interestingly enough, he never attacked me, but anyone else, including my family, was fair game, so I had to remove Ivan from my flock. I certainly wasn't going to risk him injuring one of my family and I didn't want to breed that aggression into my flock. I was sad to have to get rid of him though.

 

[EmtheFishLady]

You will probably get some suggestions on how to tame your rooster, and they might work if you're very lucky, but in my 50 years of experience, I have found it virtually impossible to tame a rooster once it becomes aggressive. I would personally recommend removing it from the flock. You don't want to risk him injuring someone (like putting an eye out), and you don't want to breed that kind of aggression into your flock. If I wanted a rooster for the flock, I would replace him with a docile one. There are loads of unwanted roosters available (including some gentle ones) that people are trying to re-home.

X2.

 

[donrae]

I'm with Michael. He's reached the point of spurring you, it's time to go.

I will say username centrarchid has some good posts on how to treat a rooster. His is the only advice I'd feel good passing on, but it takes someone who is pretty confident and assertive to carry out. I don't have any links, but do a search for his posts or PM him and he can direct you to his method.