Cockerel Aggressive to Dog ???

[KWestVA]

My chickens were hatched and raised around my 15-year-old dog, Ginger. She patrols the yard for threats, runs outside when there are alarm calls, and they follow her around like she's their mama. But for the last few days, cockerel Nightwing (aka Sir Bitesalot) has been doing his sideways challenge dance around her - which precedes ankle biting in my case, having made the rookie mistake of coddling him as a chick.

Can anyone explain this behavioral shift?? I have read about techniques I can try to mitigate Nightwing's aggression towards me, but any threat to Ginger is a complete nonstarter; not to mention that Nightwing would surely lose if it came to an actual confrontation.

 

[azygous]

Is it spring there? Is this cockerel around five or six months old? If so, he's coming into his hormones and can be expected to start acting like a bit of a lunatic. Cockerels will start to throw their weight around and act, well, cocky. They do require guidance during this stage.

However, your dog is hardly in any position to disperse discipline to this little devil. It's your job. Each time you see the cockerel acting with any kind of aggression, you must put a stop to it. Disciplining a roo is much like training a dog, only much easier because roosters are quick learners.

Brush up on some of the great tutorials here, be consistent, and in a few months, this cocky little twerp should fall into line.

 

[KWestVA]

Is it spring there? Is this cockerel around five or six months old? If so, he's coming into his hormones and can be expected to start acting like a bit of a lunatic. Cockerels will start to throw their weight around and act, well, cocky. They do require guidance during this stage.

However, your dog is hardly in any position to disperse discipline to this little devil. It's your job. Each time you see the cockerel acting with any kind of aggression, you must put a stop to it. Disciplining a roo is much like training a dog, only much easier because roosters are quick learners.

Brush up on some of the great tutorials here, be consistent, and in a few months, this cocky little twerp should fall into line.

LOL, thank you so much! It's so true: Ginger is too well-behaved to put Nightwing (just shy of 7 months) in his place. It's actually unseasonably cold here in southern VA, but hormones conquer all!

 

[SourRoses]

Roosters aren't exactly fair minded when it comes to judging friend vs foe. Doesn't matter that humans bring the food and protect them, bad tempered roos will bite the hand that feeds (or spur the leg that helps carry feed) without a qualm.
So it just doesn't matter to him that the dog is a nice dog.
In my experience, roos keep their judgements permanently. A foe will always be a foe.
Our current roo saw my mother cull a dying pullet. She is now public enemy #1 and he is going to a new home. That's one of the few cases where a roo has an understandable cause so he gets a new chance with someone else, since he doesn't hate other humans. I will not risk her being injured, not over a chicken, and I wouldn't risk it for any of my closer pets either.

I've raised hundreds of cockerels now, and in my experience, when they have bad temperaments it's genetic. There are also mild roosters that are just born that way and don't cause issues. Life is much more pleasant with them.
People often talk about training bad roosters, but every account I have read sounds more like training the human. They have to not wear this, not do that, not talk too loudly, and upon entering the chicken yard immediately go over and pick the rooster up and carry him around while doing chores. To be on permanent guard? Never getting to relax around your flock? It sounds like a punishment for humans, rather than a fun hobby.

 

[azygous]

My experience with problem cockerels is that with consistent attention and training, most can be rehabilitated. It is, however, a daunting task that many may not be up to, because they may not have the time and dedication.

I had two problem cockerels. One would melt down into a puddle of anxiety whenever I would reach to handle him. The other would violently drill me with his beak each time I reached to handle him. After a year of training, both became very gentle and well behaved.

And yes, rooster training, as in dog training, is a 50/50 proposition. Our behavior is a contributing factor in both dog and rooster behavior. My cockerel was sensitive to my abrupt and hurried movements. Once I realized this and slowed down, my cockerel became more trusting of me and stopped inflicting painful injuries.

 

[KWestVA]

Roosters aren't exactly fair minded when it comes to judging friend vs foe. Doesn't matter that humans bring the food and protect them, bad tempered roos will bite the hand that feeds (or spur the leg that helps carry feed) without a qualm.
So it just doesn't matter to him that the dog is a nice dog.
In my experience, roos keep their judgements permanently. A foe will always be a foe.
Our current roo saw my mother cull a dying pullet. She is now public enemy #1 and he is going to a new home. That's one of the few cases where a roo has an understandable cause so he gets a new chance with someone else, since he doesn't hate other humans. I will not risk her being injured, not over a chicken, and I wouldn't risk it for any of my closer pets either.

I've raised hundreds of cockerels now, and in my experience, when they have bad temperaments it's genetic. There are also mild roosters that are just born that way and don't cause issues. Life is much more pleasant with them.
People often talk about training bad roosters, but every account I have read sounds more like training the human. They have to not wear this, not do that, not talk too loudly, and upon entering the chicken yard immediately go over and pick the rooster up and carry him around while doing chores. To be on permanent guard? Never getting to relax around your flock? It sounds like a punishment for humans, rather than a fun hobby.

It is a lot, and I have a broody pullet to deal with on top of everything else. But Nightwing's brother Nelms is so sweet, I really feel like in this case, it's my mistake. But I will certainly consider rehoming if things get any worse!

 

[NatJ]

Nightwing's brother Nelms is so sweet, I really feel like in this case, it's my mistake.

Did you treat them the same way as you were raising them? If yes, then they are obviously reacting in different ways to the same situation. That sounds to me like a difference in their own basic temperaments, rather than a mistake on your part.

 

[KWestVA]

Did you treat them the same way as you were raising them? If yes, then they are obviously reacting in different ways to the same situation. That sounds to me like a difference in their own basic temperaments, rather than a mistake on your part.

Nightwing was a mama's boy and Nelms was more standoffish, so Nightwing ended up getting handled more - that's why I suspect Nightwing has become aggressive to me, but nobody else (e.g. he leaves visitors alone).

I'm wondering if his recent displays towards Ginger have to do with my pullet going broody and being separated from the boys. And yes, I realize how bad it is to have one female and two males; my town allows up to six backyard chickens, so theoretically I could get three more hens.

 

[NatJ]

Nightwing was a mama's boy and Nelms was more standoffish, so Nightwing ended up getting handled more - that's why I suspect Nightwing has become aggressive to me, but nobody else (e.g. he leaves visitors alone).

In that case, I see why you are wondering if that affected them.

I don't know for sure.

I'm wondering if his recent displays towards Ginger have to do with my pullet going broody and being separated from the boys. And yes, I realize how bad it is to have one female and two males; my town allows up to six backyard chickens, so theoretically I could get three more hens.

Definitely an interesting situation. I don't know what would be best to do.

 

[FrostRanger]

Nightwing was a mama's boy and Nelms was more standoffish, so Nightwing ended up getting handled more - that's why I suspect Nightwing has become aggressive to me, but nobody else (e.g. he leaves visitors alone).

I'm wondering if his recent displays towards Ginger have to do with my pullet going broody and being separated from the boys. And yes, I realize how bad it is to have one female and two males; my town allows up to six backyard chickens, so theoretically I could get three more hens.

Human aggressive and dog aggressive, plus, you have another cockerel who is nice. I would cull him before he hurts someone or causes Ginger to start having issues herself. I would also get 4 more females. 5 females to 1 male still isn't the best but it's much better than 2 males to 4 females