Cockerel issue

[Hopeful homesteader]

Normally this cockerel is fantastic, great with the girls and doesn't bother with me but twice now when my husband has gone and taken away one of the other cockerels, the top guy acts a little aggressive for a day or 2, today he jumped on my leg and I smacked him off and splashed water on him and he ran away. The last time he tried to charge at me but I kept blocking him and then he just went back to his normal self after a few days. I'm not sure what to think of this, now that its happened again I'm thinking it's more of a defensive reaction to protect his flock. Idk if this is how aggression starts or if he's just on edge cause one if his flock is missing? Should I wait it out and see how he does when he's the only boy? He's about 7 months old and the best of all the boys so we had planned to keep him but I'm rethinking it if this keeps up.

 

[azygous]

You're missing one of the clues that these cockerels consider you to be on par with them as far as rank in the flock. This is a misconception that you need to correct. They need to understand that you outrank them and are not in line for competing to be top roo.

You do this, not by aggressive behavior like throwing water on them or kicking them, but by overpowering the offending cockerel. This means simply that the cockerel needs to be physically restrained when he displays aggressive behavior toward you. Grab him and hold him flat on the ground or pick him up and tuck him under your arm until he surrenders by being still. Do this every single time he comes at you.

 

[Mrs. K]

Do you have small children? If so, cull him. Not worth a risk, they could take it in the head or face.

To me, he is giving you a warning, and it is going to get worse. I don't deserve to be attacked, and neither do you. Is this a flock mate rooster, or do you have older birds? This in my experience is a very common in flock mate roosters. There is no older birds to give them some manners.

You can try some of the suggestions, but be aware. And again, if you have children or even children that might visit. I would cull him.

Mrs K

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

Do you have small children? If so, cull him. Not worth a risk, they could take it in the head or face.

To me, he is giving you a warning, and it is going to get worse. I don't deserve to be attacked, and neither do you. Is this a flock mate rooster, or do you have older birds? This in my experience is a very common in flock mate roosters. There is no older birds to give them some manners.

You can try some of the suggestions, but be aware. And again, if you have children or even children that might visit. I would cull him.

Mrs K

I have no older birds, he's the oldest.

 

[Mrs. K]

He is the oldest, and I would expect the biggest. The thing is, people do not live in chicken coops. For the vast majority of the day, he is the biggest, meanest thing out there. While there were other roosters there, there was some competition, and there was some risk in aggressive behavior. It is not that he is worried about what has happened to his flock, but rather more, 'the gods must see that he is the best, and everyone else needs to submit to him'. They truly have a very very small brain.

While I think that a good rooster will react to an attack on a hen, in the immediate time frame, they do not worry or plan to change things by becoming aggressive. That is a human emotion, not a chickens.

Then I would cull him. And I would do it soon, as in today. A horrible rooster has ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of people, and that IMO is where you are headed.

Mrs K

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

You're missing one of the clues that these cockerels consider you to be on par with them as far as rank in the flock. This is a misconception that you need to correct. They need to understand that you outrank them and are not in line for competing to be top roo.

You do this, not by aggressive behavior like throwing water on them or kicking them, but by overpowering the offending cockerel. This means simply that the cockerel needs to be physically restrained when he displays aggressive behavior toward you. Grab him and hold him flat on the ground or pick him up and tuck him under your arm until he surrenders by being still. Do this every single time he comes at you.

The younger cockerels don't do this, but why is he only doing it after one of the younger cockerels are removed and not every time I go in there?
My husband has experience with training other animals, for example with dog's he does the pinning them down to establish he is alpha and then has me do the same but then has me follow other commands to assert that I'm second in the "pack" but not equal to the dog. Hope that makes sense but he was wondering if it's the same concept with the cockerel? I assume this doesn't work with all cockerels so after how many tries would you consider him a lost cause?

He is the oldest, and I would expect the biggest. The thing is, people do not live in chicken coops. For the vast majority of the day, he is the biggest, meanest thing out there. While there were other roosters there, there was some competition, and there was some risk in aggressive behavior. It is not that he is worried about what has happened to his flock, but rather more, 'the gods must see that he is the best, and everyone else needs to submit to him'. They truly have a very very small brain.

While I think that a good rooster will react to an attack on a hen, in the immediate time frame, they do not worry or plan to change things by becoming aggressive. That is a human emotion, not a chickens.

Then I would cull him. And I would do it soon, as in today. A horrible rooster has ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of people, and that IMO is where you are headed.

Mrs K

Either way he won't ruin my experience, fortunately I was forewarned of this possibility and expected the worst but hoped for the best. I told my husband if it continues he's on the chopping block too and I'll just keep the girls. I've set the deadline to get rid of all the younger cockerels this weekend and see how he adjusts then decide if he's worth keeping.

 

[Mrs. K]

Good, you get the best roosters, if you can cull the bad ones. And really, a hen only flock for the first year is a great idea.

Recently on another post, we were talking about set ups and roosters. The best roosters seem to come from a multi-generational flock, with a great deal of space. The older hens, school the roosters, and a more natural chicken society is slowly developed.

Seldom do you hear of old established flocks having an attacking rooster. They tend to have a great deal of space, they are able to remove birds that don't work in their flocks, and they have multi-generational flocks.

My vote, is to try again.

Mrs K

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens do have brains and are trainable, but they are definitely not dogs! @Mrs. K is right here, he's not behaving well, and will get worse. I also think that more polite cockerels come out of mixed aged flocks, with senior hens and roosters to make them humble, rather than being the biggest adolescent among other young flockmates.
Maybe one of your younger cockerels will be a good guy, if you are interested in keeping any this year.
Otherwise, raise some straight run chicks in spring of some breeds you want, and see if any cockerels might be keepers then.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I am not a chicken, or in any way part of the flock's social order. I'm the giant who brings food, not someone to be pushed around. Right now, for winter, we have one rooster and three cockerels, none of whom have shown any aggression towards humans. They spend their time watching out for actual dangers, find goodies for the hens and pullets, and avoid each other, while trying to attract those ladies by courting them.
Drama is never better! We remove drama queens, and extra cockerels, when it's necessary to have peace in the flock.
Mary

 

[OzarkChooks]

We had a very aggressive cockerel earlier this year. We tried to give him a chance but he attacked our kids, cut up my 5 year old's leg. So we ate him. His replacement has much better manners. I wouldn't waste time trying to reform him if he is flogging you often.