Come at Me, Bro!

[GardenGal]

That was hilarious! Greg got a crash course in chicken speak.

Regarding rooster dominance, ours knew I was boss because I made them move out of my way and occasionally "pecked" them on the back like they do. And in between times I gave them lots of bribes - er, treats.

 

[pennyjjog]

Not all roos take to the grabbing thing, and if he's always expecting you to grab him (which he evidently hates), then you're reinforcing his idea of disliking you.

Have you tried a different approach, such as always showing up with his favorite treats and offering them to him first thing?

This roo has been a bad boy from the start..I don't for the life of me understand why she keeps this roo...she doesn't hatch eggs and the hens don't go broody. Guess she likes to hear all his crowing all day long...He's a sneaky one, he eases up to you by "looking" and pecking for food, looking so innocent, then when he gets within striking distance, wham, he's after you....I don't run from him and will stand my ground, slowly backing him up..you'd think he'd give up when I don't turn and run like my daughter and grand daughter do. He's torn some holes in my jeans with his spurs, so I look in style now! He will even go after you when your on the other side of the fence! I think he's a Jersey Giant so he's definitely not a small roo! I don't think treats are going to change his attitude...

 

[RedDrgn]

This roo has been a bad boy from the start..I don't for the life of me understand why she keeps this roo...she doesn't hatch eggs and the hens don't go broody. Guess she likes to hear all his crowing all day long...He's a sneaky one, he eases up to you by "looking" and pecking for food, looking so innocent, then when he gets within striking distance, wham, he's after you....I don't run from him and will stand my ground, slowly backing him up..you'd think he'd give up when I don't turn and run like my daughter and grand daughter do. He's torn some holes in my jeans with his spurs, so I look in style now! He will even go after you when your on the other side of the fence! I think he's a Jersey Giant so he's definitely not a small roo! I don't think treats are going to change his attitude...

I can't argue with any of that, and I'd either be cooking him or turning him over to someone willing to take his crap or eat him themselves.

 

[AuberyMirkwood]

When I had full sized roosters as a teen I made it very very clear what the rules where and I never had any trouble. Even my geese knew they were not allowed to touch humans. If I had a rooster I was even doubtful of, and you could tell because they had to be calm around running screaming kids and allow being picked of and played with by everyone, I'd send the smallest kid I could find out with a stick to chase that guy around until he showed absolutely no signs of agression. This was was not cruel, this was letting him know in chicken language that all humans are above him in the pecking order.

 

[liz9910]

We've now had Remy, our New Hampshire cockeral, for 1.5 months. He'll be 7 months old on Thursday, and while he is now used to my DH and I and gives us no trouble at all, he's ever wary and skittish around strangers (and he doesn't get exposed to many, so we're not sure that's going to change).

This weekend, my sister-in-law and her husband (Greg) came to celebrate my DH's birthday with us. They like our chickens and are considering starting their own flock, but this was the first time they've visited since we got Remy. While I warned them both that Remy needs a warm up period with strangers, Greg apparently didn't really believe/understand.

So the flock is out free ranging in the yard when they arrive, and the first thing Greg does when he gets out of the car is greet my DH and I and then over to see the chickens. He liked Remy on the spot, but the feeling was not returned and Remy wouldn't get within reach of him. My DH went to get some of their favorite treats for Greg to offer and make peace with, but Greg decided to take his own approach (even though I was warning him to wait for my DH and his wife was just watching with a big smirk on her face).

So what was his approach...Greg raised his arms over his head and started bounding towards Remy saying, "Chicken! Chicken! Here chickens! Chickens! Chickens!" Keep in mind that Greg is over 6ft tall and about 200lbs and has a rather deep, booming voice. But while this may sound crazy, the hens often WILL respond positively to such ridiculousness and even come over (for treats). This is apparently what Greg was remembering, but Remy was not at all keen on this.

As Greg, more or less, flailed towards the flock, Remy snapped; no warnings issued. Like a flaming arrow of doom he launched right at Greg's man parts! Greg didn't know what to do as he stumble-hopped backwards trying to get the homicidal whirlwind out from between his legs. In a valiant effort at extricating himself from the tangle, Greg took a flying, spread-eagle leap backwards. At the apex of his jump, I saw Remy leap once again....and manage to shove his HEAD up Greg's short's pant leg (literally, his whole head up leg in mid-leap). I thought for sure that he'd have Greg by the jewels and methods for explaining such an injury to a doctor ("Well, a rooster pecked my package....") started coming to mind as I took off across the yard to break the battle up.

Fortunately, both sides were completely intact, but I had to pick Remy up and head for the run because he would NOT let him move; he just stood right in front of him and crowed and crowed and crowed. He wasn't taking any more of his crap!

For the rest of the weekend, while he didn't attack, whenever he saw Greg, he started crowing and wouldn't quit until he was out of sight.

Greg learned to respect the chicken.

I just laughed so hard nearly fell out of my chair at work!!!! ROFL!!

 

[RedDrgn]

When I had full sized roosters as a teen I made it very very clear what the rules where and I never had any trouble. Even my geese knew they were not allowed to touch humans. If I had a rooster I was even doubtful of, and you could tell because they had to be calm around running screaming kids and allow being picked of and played with by everyone, I'd send the smallest kid I could find out with a stick to chase that guy around until he showed absolutely no signs of agression. This was was not cruel, this was letting him know in chicken language that all humans are above him in the pecking order.

All I can say is that you must have had some very smart roosters. While Remy's the first roo I've personally owned, I've been around a lot of other people's flocks/roos in my life and never met a single one that did not at least get agitated by running, screaming children regardless of how much training/taming were used (all effects were usually temporary). Kids are just masters of push all of their buttons, all at once....which is exactly what the victim in this story did, except he's 30 years old.

I just laughed so hard nearly fell out of my chair at work!!!! ROFL!!

If you had, would it have qualified you for worker's comp?

 

[Fussy8]

So Stinking funny!!! WUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

 

[AuberyMirkwood]

I think part of it was that we were homeschooled and the small children spent all day outside. I think when running crazy children are a constant all day thing they just get used to that as normal.

 

[Fussy8]

Quote: I have raised my rooster ever sense he was 1 week old and he deals with everything perfectly fine! He never attacks anyone or anything unless the dogs are out (his favorite hen was killed by a dog and he was attacked by one! Soooo...) I would trust him with kids but I don't trust kids with him! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!! Just saying! I think its the breed to personally! I may be wrong...
BTW liz9910 I LOVE how you admit youre on BYC at work!

HAHAHAH!! I am on here at school! Hehehehe!

 

[PrairieChickenLady]

LMAO!!!