Cockerel suddenly aggressive after I was gone for a week

[TOMTE]

He's gorgeous. I'm sorry his personality has taken a turn

For now until you either rehome or cull him, if you're going to let him stay with the ladies, you need to respect him as their roo. If you're going to offer treats, give them to him so he can call his girls to the treats himself. If you feed his girls, he's going to take that as a challenge to his standing as the boss, and he'll probably act aggressively to you and/or the flock. Don't touch or hold his girls, either. He'll see that as you trying to breed them.

 

[Mrs. K]

No, your being gone had nothing to do with it. Your feeding him by hand might have. No, he won't go back to how he was before.

Mrs K

 

[jmb52]

Yeah, the more I try to read on this the more I’m aware that there seem to be two camps- those who don’t socialize/pet the rooster bc they get too familiar/comfortable and may challenge, and those who believe in a lot of interaction. It’s interesting. And then just throwing treats to them not the hens, and not petting or holding my hens… Are these just the games you need to play to pacify an aggressive rooster? If a rooster is not human aggressive can you avoid needing to do these things? If I have another roo in one of my chicks, I’d like to encourage him to be a good guy, but it seems there are a lot of conflicting opinions on how to do that (and if it’s even possible vs just going to come down to the bird’s personality and breeding)!

 

[TOMTE]

Yeah, the more I try to read on this the more I’m aware that there seem to be two camps- those who don’t socialize/pet the rooster bc they get too familiar/comfortable and may challenge, and those who believe in a lot of interaction. It’s interesting. And then just throwing treats to them not the hens, and not petting or holding my hens… Are these just the games you need to play to pacify an aggressive rooster? If a rooster is not human aggressive can you avoid needing to do these things? If I have another roo in one of my chicks, I’d like to encourage him to be a good guy, but it seems there are a lot of conflicting opinions on how to do that (and if it’s even possible vs just going to come down to the bird’s personality and breeding)!

The general consensus is that human aggressive roosters/cockerels should be gotten rid of ASAP, even if they're good to the hens. The risk of severe injury, especially if there are kids involved, is too high.

But how you choose to interact with them before and after that point depends on so many factors. @featherhead007 has had rooster buddies who'd gladly snuggle up with him! Perfect gentleman types! But he also spends a lot of time with them from the time they're little chicks, and treats them to steak dinners

 

[featherhead007]

The general consensus is that human aggressive roosters/cockerels should be gotten rid of ASAP, even if they're good to the hens. The risk of severe injury, especially if there are kids involved, is too high.

But how you choose to interact with them before and after that point depends on so many factors. @featherhead007 has had rooster buddies who'd gladly snuggle up with him! Perfect gentleman types! But he also spends a lot of time with them from the time they're little chicks, and treats them to steak dinners

I endorse this post!

 

[Folly's place]

Genetics is a big part of the human aggression story with chickens; consider the fighting game cocks, birds bred for generations (many centuries!) to want to kill each other, and also to be fine to handle by humans.
It's possible to raise cockerels either by the 'hands off' or the 'cuddle' method, and get jerks either way.
I'm in the 'hands off' camp, and think that cockerels who attack the bringer of food aren't all that smart, or useful, and cockerels who spend their time interacting with their flockmates are better all around.
Any rooster who goes after me, or any human, or who injures hens or pullets, is a liability, and needs to be gone.
Mary

 

[Mrs. K]

I’m aware that there seem to be two camps- those who don’t socialize/pet the rooster bc they get too familiar/comfortable and may challenge, and those who believe in a lot of interaction.

I have noticed the same thing. Personally I think it is luck of the draw, and human behavior has very little to do with it.

I will say that I think roosters need more room than hens. And I think that smaller flocks tend to be in smaller coops and runs.

And it does dumbfound me the behavior some people will tolerate because they raised him.

If you are an adult and want to play with this, so be it, but do know children and smaller women tend to be attacked first, and subsequent attacks tend to be worse.

Long ago, I noticed that the idea that, if you do this, and don’t do that you will get a perfect rooster does not work.

I have never touched my current rooster. He was raised here. He is a good rooster, not a great one. But I firmly believe that it is a crapshoot.

The best way to get a good rooster is not to keep a rotten rooster.

Mrs K

 

[CabritaChicks]

There’s a lot of good advice here— Im a novice, but have heard stories from neighbors and friends. I’ll admit, I definitely coddled my last rooster, and he turned out to be a real gentleman. He was kind to the rest of the flock he was raised with, super sweet to me and the Rhode Island Reds made sure he stayed humble. He would even let me know if he perceived a threat- sounding out to the crew, and leading me to the coop (as if I needed saving from a pigmy deer?). He was incredible right up until the day he defended the flock with his life against a nasty canine. I couldn’t have asked for a better bird.

This time around, I know I’ve got two roosters coming to add to my flock—one’s an Olive Egger, and the other is… well, a surprise package. I’ll raise them both the same and we’ll see which one rises to the occasion. May the best gentleman win.

I look for specific OCD criteria in roosters (treating birds- I have been attacked), and if my own- Im not afraid of sunday diner. Unfortunately the 'I adopted a rooster' is not often a fariy-tale ending.

So if he is this way, I would say be careful- they can do far more damage than you could realize (even take an eye out!).

 

[Folly's place]

And the 'making excuses' camp: whatever we wear, whatever colors, hats, boots, handling hens, screeching swearing hens, might get a 'come over and look' from one of our roosters, but that's it. An 'oh, it's you, so okay' not a reason to attack!
Mary

 

[CabritaChicks]

And the 'making excuses' camp: whatever we wear, whatever colors, hats, boots, handling hens, screeching swearing hens, might get a 'come over and look' from one of our roosters, but that's it. An 'oh, it's you, so okay' not a reason to attack!
Mary

<-- Ill second this. I get consultation/visit requests from people who have issues with their flocks- only to treat a hen, and their human kid! They will always say 'well- he was wearing a new hat'. Can you treat these wounds as well? Nope- kid is scared for life (emotionally and physically).