Cockerel aggression - what are my chances?

[BGcoop]

The comments on here have made me feel so much better
I recently bought a Rhode Island Rooster
Hand reared and from someone who advertised how nice he was
I have never owned a rooster before
He came in a cardboard box on the pet bus
He was very handsome and must have been relieved to get out
I put him in with my Orpington and shavers and they looked happy to see him
He was out of the run when I arrived next morning to feed them so I opened the gate to let him back in with the hens
You would think he would be pleased but he flew at me and attacked my leg !! Wow it hurt ☹ every day after that he seemed to be waiting for me and viciously attacked me
my son in law re homed him in the end advising that he was protective of his hens and needed an experienced handler
Anyway all this is to ask you experienced chicken owners plz ,Are All Roosters Aggresive like this ?

No not ALL are aggressive. A fair number can be especially as they go through their “teenage years” where hormones are raging. they really are just “doing their job”, but they can be dangerous to those unaware or children. And there are enough nice roosters that many people won’t put up with bad behavior. There are some breeds that are known to be more aggressive than others but it really just all depends on the individual bird how it is going to act.

 

[Folly's place]

There are cockerels and adult roosters who spend their time paying attention to their flockmates, and watching out for predators, and that's what should be happening.
Then there are idiots who would rather spend time stalking and attacking the giants who bring food every day, and that's just not what they should be doing. This behavior is both (mostly) genetic, and then somewhat a management issue, often not fixable.
The fighting bird people selected for extreme intraspecies aggression (cock fighting!) and no human aggression, and so that's how those birds mostly behave. Genetics!
Some breeds of chickens tend to have a higher % of human aggressive roosters than others, but it's still up to the individual cockerel; there are no doubt very sweet hatchery RIR roosters, and horrible Favorelles, but the trend is opposite. Nice Favorelles, for example, and nasty RIRs.
Parentage matters! Selecting for the temperament desired in breeding stock shows in offspring, not 100%, but it does show.
Mary

 

[Malkaris]

There are cockerels and adult roosters who spend their time paying attention to their flockmates, and watching out for predators, and that's what should be happening.
Then there are idiots who would rather spend time stalking and attacking the giants who bring food every day, and that's just not what they should be doing. This behavior is both (mostly) genetic, and then somewhat a management issue, often not fixable.
The fighting bird people selected for extreme intraspecies aggression (cock fighting!) and no human aggression, and so that's how those birds mostly behave. Genetics!
Some breeds of chickens tend to have a higher % of human aggressive roosters than others, but it's still up to the individual cockerel; there are no doubt very sweet hatchery RIR roosters, and horrible Favorelles, but the trend is opposite. Nice Favorelles, for example, and nasty RIRs.
Parentage matters! Selecting for the temperament desired in breeding stock shows in offspring, not 100%, but it does show.
Mary

Exactly. I thought an OrpingtonxAustralorp raised over 2 months in my living room would be almost a pet.
I thought the early pecks were accidental - thinking something (like my lip apparently) was a treat.
But he's not guarding the hens well if he's on the opposite side of the house waiting to see if I come out the door so he can make a run at me.

RIR roosters don't have that greatest reputation in the world do they?

I wanted to post a pic now where....

 

[Folly's place]

I don't know about traditional RIR's, the deep red birds mostly from show breeders, but the orange hatchery birds seem to often be obnoxious roosters.
Mary

 

[Sally PB]

I ended up with three cockerels when I got three straight run BOs. I had to cull two of them at four months because they were aggressive to me and to the pullets. When I realized the girls weren't coming out of the coop, and were staying on the roost all day, I knew the two had to go. I had to do the deed myself, as my husband made it plain from the beginning he would not have any part of killing any birds.

The afternoon after I culled them, the pullets came out in to the run and I had peace in my flock once again.

Were I in your shoes, I would return him. Wish I could have done that! I can't offer any advice about taking a pullet in exchange; perhaps ask if you can have credit toward chicks in the spring? Or buy a second one so they have company as "the new ones," as has been suggested?

In any case, I would get rid of him. He is a danger to you, other people who might interact with him, and your pullets.

 

[Malkaris]

I ended up with three cockerels when I got three straight run BOs. I had to cull two of them at four months because they were aggressive to me and to the pullets. When I realized the girls weren't coming out of the coop, and were staying on the roost all day, I knew the two had to go. I had to do the deed myself, as my husband made it plain from the beginning he would not have any part of killing any birds.

The afternoon after I culled them, the pullets came out in to the run and I had peace in my flock once again.

Were I in your shoes, I would return him. Wish I could have done that! I can't offer any advice about taking a pullet in exchange; perhaps ask if you can have credit toward chicks in the spring? Or buy a second one so they have company as "the new ones," as has been suggested?

In any case, I would get rid of him. He is a danger to you, other people who might interact with him, and your pullets.

I sympathize. I'm bracing myself for the day it may come to that for some reason.

I probably could do either - I was offered a second one of a breed I wasn't super interested in at the time but maybe she could be a buddy! Or just deal with what I have... but the brown one is so beautiful I'd hate to miss out on getting her sister if possible. And a maran wouldn't be the end of the world lol!

Here's the pic I was going to add. I found these feathers in a tighter clump in a shadowy spot the other day.

I counted about 8 feathers! Some had blood in them.

At first I thought something grabbed the cockerel since he's loose (it's not like he'll leave the yard with the pullets here, but if the situation were reversed I'm afraid they'd wander off) but he looks normal. But one of pullets is a bit of an escape artist and got away recently. I was looking at her and I would guess the cockerel got ahold of her (right):

(Don't mind my construction mess.)

 

[Sally PB]

The only time one of my birds got out was when I still had the two cockerels that I have since culled. Shortly before I culled them, the same pullet made a run for it as I came in the door. I was able to catch her, thank goodness, both times.

Since it's been down to one cockerel, nobody has ever tried to get out the door, even though they are waiting eagerly for me when I go down to the run.

It was difficult to cull the two birds. I cried. Hard. As much as they had to go, it wasn't their fault they were born male.

 

[Folly's place]

Extra cockerels are really hard, I try to sell mine if possible. It's doesn't always work though, and two need to move on here right now.
Mary

 

[Malkaris]

The only time one of my birds got out was when I still had the two cockerels that I have since culled. Shortly before I culled them, the same pullet made a run for it as I came in the door. I was able to catch her, thank goodness, both times.

It was difficult to cull the two birds. I cried. Hard. As much as they had to go, it wasn't their fault they were born male.

I 100% sympathize. I think that's my issue too - there are interesting aspects to this bird and his personality beyond being a bitey mcbiteface. He came charging at me yesterday but tripped over a flower pot! And he probably wouldn't exist if I hadn't wanted chickens. It isn't his fault he was born a male - and maybe if he had been raised around full-grown roosters and hens he'd have better manners - which is my fault too.

But maybe he'd still be a jerk too. He's super aggressive and where he can learn you'd think he'd learn to behave a bit. He's ridiculously time consuming, and comes to the door and crows all day, he still bites me and trys to bite when I'm putting down his food, and is so rough with the pullets that I can't have them together. He chases other pets, so would need his own coop and run, and what kind of life will he have alone? Especially in winter...

And he may have a perfectly good life where he came from... I'm scared to ask tho lol.


Edit: I just know there are tons of people here wondering why this thread is more than 2-4 posts long!!

 

[Malkaris]

A really late and short post for continuity-sake -- the cockerel, code-name: Vulture, was returned to where he came from. I haven't asked what became of him, apparently people weren't even taking them for free at the time. But! The farmer was surprised at how his looks etc. turned out, probably a full Orpington after all.