Do roo's "learn" to be aggressive towards people as they mature??

I had no problems with aggressive roosters until one of my Mottled Cochins was injured by my guineas this past winter. They almost ripped his comb off. I brought him to the main house and tended to his wounds and kept him in the house caring for him for several days.

I babied him during his recuperation period. Well now he has lost all respect for me. He's teeny tiny and the second he either sees me or hears me, he comes running at me and will do what I call "Kung Fu Chicken" on me. I don't want to dispose of him because I really do adore him. So I'm trying different methods of diversion with him.

Today though, he did go after another BYC'r that came to visit. So now I have to rethink my plans for him. Up until today, I'm the only one who he's ever gone after.

I think that if you assert your position in the flock, as you being the Top Boss, you won't have any problems with your roos.

I need to reassert that position with Pesky.

Good luck.

Laurie

 

I wish I new what made them be aggressive! I had a very sweet boy and then he also turned into kung fu roo!! Not just towards me but anyone that goes in his pen. I have tried different things with him to show him I am boss but he just doesn't get it!!
If he doesn't sweeten up he might just be headed for the pot!! LOL!!

 

Apparently it is the handling and "loving on" that makes them aggressive. The ones that I have handled a lot have always ended up mean. The ones I didn't have much to do with are scared of me and are great roosters. You want to be alpha roo and you cannot handle them affectionately.

 

I think a rooster's temperment is part nature & part nurture. Some behaviors they bring out of the egg with them, others are learned through their life experiences. Some also will get uppity when their grown-up hormones kick in.

I think it's easier to make a mild-mannered roo aggressive out of fear through rough handling than to gentle one who is already aggressive by nature. I don't go for all those chicken mind games, trying to make a rooster think you're the alpha dog, not allowing him to mate or eat or take personal phone calls in your presence. I guess it works for some folks, but I just don't have the time nor the energy. I just try to get my roos to know they can trust me, can depend on consistent kind treatment from all the humans around them, that they do not need to fear us. It seems to work in our flock, I have 4 standard and 5 bantam roosters that mind their own business very well and never stalk or attack us. Some are more wary and do not allow themselves to be handled, others let even my youngest boy pick them up and carry them around.

 

I have never had an aggressive roo so I don't know. I have always handled them from the moment I got them (always chicks) and they have turned out sweet and loving. Of course, I don't let my roos get away with stuff ever. I smack them if they nip at me (especially when they are young), I give them a talking to and I never back down from them. In my coop, I'm THE rooster and I make sure they know it from Day 1. With that said though, I never knock them off hens when I'm around or stop their rooster behavior, I just don't let them be in charge ever.

 

Some of our roo's have never been a problem, others got bright ideas as they matured, and needed to be put in their places. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had a red corderoy jumper that I wore frequently. I had a Bantam Cochin roo that apparently just couldn't deal with all that red, because he'd jump at me when I wore it. If he came at me head-on, I'd punt him halfway across the pen; after a couple such unscheduled flights he decided it wasn't a good idea. Instead, he'd try to sneak around and attack me from the rear. Out of the corner of my eye, I'd see him circling around trying to get behind me. I'd turn, face him, and say, "Just what do you think you are doing?" He'd be like, "Who, me? Nothing! I'm not doing anything," and go off in another direction.

I've learned that only the dominant roo crows unchallenged. Any subordinate roos have to be careful not to do it when the big boss is near at hand, or they will get stomped on for being so audacious. Your little guy may have been worrying about those other two!

 

The best bird I've had to date was a banty cochin rooster. He was the family favourite. As a pp also mentioned, my 3 year old could pick him up he was so tame. He would regularly jump into the laps of guests (much to their chagrin) looking for handouts. Alas he only lived two years before an unknown predator got him.
We came home after being away for the weekend and all that was left of the sweet little guy was a bunch of feathers in the coop--and trailing across our yard.

In the past two years I've had a couple more roos--none as tame as he was, but none that would outright attack me. This year I have two new banty roos. Knock on wood that they stay somewhat civilized...