Crazy Roo!

[SweetChixs]

Hi All! I'm new to byc as well. I just started raising chicks this year. I have a bantam roo and one small bantam hen that are about 17 wks old. I also have 2 buff orpington chicks that are 6 wks. My roo has just become agressive in the last couple old days and has started mating with my small bantam hen. She's not laying yet. The roo just attacked ME today! I was so surprised! I'm wondering if it might be a temporary lack in judgment on his part. Will it pass? I don't want to keep him if he turns into a mean chicken because I have small kids running around the yard too! Any thoughts? Also I keep my smaller chucks away from him so he can't try to mate with them. Do I need to keep my roo locked up?

 

[keesmom]

Right now he is raging with hormones. That may or may not change with age. However if you have little kids running around I wouldn't keep any cockerels or roosters, especially if this is your first time with chickens. Stick with a hen only flock. The males can be unpredictable around kids.

 

[donrae]

Attacking you is not a temporary lack of judgment. It's not an accident, or a misunderstanding. It's that bird saying he's dominant to you. He's going to start saying the same thing to your kiddos also. Something about littles is like a magnet for roosters. Not sure if it's their fast actions, their noise, their height, or what, but roosters are drawn to go after the kids. I say get rid of him and find your hen a nice hen friend to hang with. That way, you'll also get double the eggs!

 

[cpsmith02]

If the rooster is still being a big problem then I would say get rid of him. With little kids and a rooster that's attacking, its never a good combination.