Cockerel starting to charge children

[Aunna]

I have a Spitzhauben cockerel (hatched in March), who has recently taken to charging.

First it was me, I quickly turned around and stomped at him a few yards. He did it again to my husband last night, who chased him around the backyard yelling at him. But today, when my 3 1/2 year old son was helping me with morning chores he jumped my son. I instructed my son to yell at him and chase him a bit. While checking on the flock today I didn’t realize my son followed me out there until I heard the wings and my son yell “Ow!” And I saw Zwingli feet first trying to spur my son (luckily he still doesn’t have spurs).

I’m pretty sure Zwingli is just being a dumb teenager, and testing his boundaries. I won’t tolerate an aggressive rooster, I have 4 very young children who need to be able to play outside safely.

How should my kiddos act around him when outside? And what else can I do to enforce the boundaries?

 

[50-45-1]

Cage him or keep him in a run and your children out.
This rooster will seak out the children as they are less of a threat and more his size. He will attack when no one is looking or ready for it.
I know these birds are beatifull, but keeping him is not a good exchange for the peace and enjoyment you and your family get from having backyard chickens.

 

[nchls school]

Sorry. I would get rid of the rooster. Small children could easily loose an eye or be hurt in other ways.

 

[DyingPhoenix]

When my roosters started flogging people, they could never be fully trusted again, even when I followed a strict routine to keep him in place and he was a bit better behaved.

Not worth a child's safety in the least.

 

[Aunna]

My 6 year old just told me he did it to her too. Thanks for the input, Zwingli’s gotta go.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I always believe there are 2 types of aggressive behavior in rooster....... one that is genetics, ingrained to be human aggressive that will never change and the other as a passing behavior of aggression where the rooster is unsure of where he stands and where the boundaries are set but once he figures it all out he becomes non-aggressive towards humans (as was the case with mine).

 

[Aunna]

I always believe there are 2 types of aggressive behavior in rooster....... one that is genetics, ingrained to be human aggressive that will never change and the other as a passing behavior of aggression where the rooster is unsure of where he stands and where the boundaries are set but once he figures it all out he becomes non-aggressive towards humans (as was the case with mine).

Do you think I should give him some time to learn boundaries, since he’s so young? My 3 oldest are outside playing now, i’m Inside, but keeping a close eye on things, and Zwingli is just chilling with the flock.

I suspected he went after my two oldest because they tend to handle the hens the most. He hasn’t attacked my toddler yet, but she’s very indifferent to the chickens.

 

[sourland]

Kids have to come first. Cockerels/roosters frequently fly at the faces of small children. It's not worth taking chances with your kid's vision. I think your decision to eliminate him was correct.

 

[alexa009]

Your rooster might learn boundaries with you since you can show him you are boss but he will just continue to get worse with your children. Aggressive cockerels start off small then move their way up and won't quit charging you, they attack a lot worse also. I would recommend either penning him up in a section of your property further from your kids if you want to keep him, or culling him or selling him is the only solution.

 

[sawilliams]

I have 1 rule when it comes to my flock. If a rooster attacks a person, off with its head.

I do understand not wanting to kill or possibly get rid of a beautiful rooster, but I have children too. And if my kids can't play in harmony with the chickens free ranging then the chickens have to change as I can't get rid of the kids.

I know some people say you can train a rooster but is it worth the efforts if your still risking safety while doing so? And what if it doesn't work? I'm not interested in training my rooster I can always get another.

I'm sorry that it really is a difficult choice no matter what you decided to do. But just like any other animal the safety of the family (especially children) has to come first.