I'm not a first time owner, but it has been many years since my last flock.
I have a beautiful boy called Gallifrey as well as 5 females (he was supposed to be a female but mistakes happen). He's started crowing more lately but as it's only during the day it doesn't bother me much. However, he is now 4 months ago and getting into that hormonal phase of his life. I've read the articles and the posts and it seems that I've done most of the things that are suggested for handling an aggressive roo without even realizing it.
That said, Gallifrey has repeatedly attacked my 12 pound dog (who obviously weighs more but is physically smaller than him) when she is let out. He will actively seek her out to attack her so I now follow her around the yard to keep him at bay. Within the past week he has started to attack my 60 pound dog in a similar fashion. The chickens have been exposed to the dogs since the day I brought them home and Gallifrey knows they are not a threat. Little dog avoids them and big dog doesn't give a crap about them. Just yesterday, he started going after my 25 pound cat who I walk out with my 3 pound cat (who isn't allowed on the ground because she's blind and teeny) to their pen. Cat is a huge wimp and afraid of the chickens. Whenever I show dominance to prevent him from attacking, he tries to attack me. It happened again this morning, but he made the mistake of going after my daughter who was, until today, his favourite human. He's okay with the female chickens for the most part but has shown, what I consider, excessive aggression when he decides he wants to "have his way" with one of the ladies (who haven't even started laying yet).
This new aggression towards me and my daughter is a deal-breaker and if I can't get it under control will have to rehome him. I can pick him up and carry him around all day without him struggling (he even seems to enjoy it sometimes willingly perching on my arm or shoulder) so that won't work to break his behaviour. I use a stern voice when he's naughty, I aggressively stomp my foot, putting my arms out a bit to look bigger, and lunge/charge him while scolding him when he tries to attack the other animals to show him that they are my flock and under my protection but this only makes him charge me back. It takes up to a minute of this back and forth before he gets the hint that I'm boss. If my daughter or I go out without the other animals, he and the girls run up looking for treats and are sweet but once he realizes there is no treat, he puffs up, stretches his neck and eyes me like I'm most repugnant thing ever. He usually considers charging me at this point at well, but because I watch him so closely, I know the signs and am able to stop him before he starts.
I know this post has gotten long, but my chickens are my pets as much as my cats and dogs are. I don't want to give him away if I can fix him but he seems to becoming more aggressive each day. The ladies aren't overly friendly but they are well-behaved and will perch on your legs if you sit down and nibble your clothes. Gallifrey has no real issue with me being near or catching his girls so I don't really understand the aggression or the escalation. Any advice would be appreciated. I have no fear of him and refuse to let him win whatever battle he has decided is taking place.
I have a beautiful boy called Gallifrey as well as 5 females (he was supposed to be a female but mistakes happen). He's started crowing more lately but as it's only during the day it doesn't bother me much. However, he is now 4 months ago and getting into that hormonal phase of his life. I've read the articles and the posts and it seems that I've done most of the things that are suggested for handling an aggressive roo without even realizing it.
That said, Gallifrey has repeatedly attacked my 12 pound dog (who obviously weighs more but is physically smaller than him) when she is let out. He will actively seek her out to attack her so I now follow her around the yard to keep him at bay. Within the past week he has started to attack my 60 pound dog in a similar fashion. The chickens have been exposed to the dogs since the day I brought them home and Gallifrey knows they are not a threat. Little dog avoids them and big dog doesn't give a crap about them. Just yesterday, he started going after my 25 pound cat who I walk out with my 3 pound cat (who isn't allowed on the ground because she's blind and teeny) to their pen. Cat is a huge wimp and afraid of the chickens. Whenever I show dominance to prevent him from attacking, he tries to attack me. It happened again this morning, but he made the mistake of going after my daughter who was, until today, his favourite human. He's okay with the female chickens for the most part but has shown, what I consider, excessive aggression when he decides he wants to "have his way" with one of the ladies (who haven't even started laying yet).
This new aggression towards me and my daughter is a deal-breaker and if I can't get it under control will have to rehome him. I can pick him up and carry him around all day without him struggling (he even seems to enjoy it sometimes willingly perching on my arm or shoulder) so that won't work to break his behaviour. I use a stern voice when he's naughty, I aggressively stomp my foot, putting my arms out a bit to look bigger, and lunge/charge him while scolding him when he tries to attack the other animals to show him that they are my flock and under my protection but this only makes him charge me back. It takes up to a minute of this back and forth before he gets the hint that I'm boss. If my daughter or I go out without the other animals, he and the girls run up looking for treats and are sweet but once he realizes there is no treat, he puffs up, stretches his neck and eyes me like I'm most repugnant thing ever. He usually considers charging me at this point at well, but because I watch him so closely, I know the signs and am able to stop him before he starts.
I know this post has gotten long, but my chickens are my pets as much as my cats and dogs are. I don't want to give him away if I can fix him but he seems to becoming more aggressive each day. The ladies aren't overly friendly but they are well-behaved and will perch on your legs if you sit down and nibble your clothes. Gallifrey has no real issue with me being near or catching his girls so I don't really understand the aggression or the escalation. Any advice would be appreciated. I have no fear of him and refuse to let him win whatever battle he has decided is taking place.