Evil roos

[Nwygle93]

Good point. They made us fast our turkeys before flipping them at 4-H shows because apparently, "Turkey puke smells like hot sweaty shoes" haha.

 

[Folly's place]

The OP mentioned that these cockerels were managed well, so trying to reform them isn't the point. One cockerel, rather than three, will fix the infighting problem, but is irrelevant to their human aggression issues. For that, they all need to be soup.
Mary

 

[bobbi-j]

First, ASAP, get 2 of those males into a separate enclosures(wire dog crates work well) out of sight of the flock. Then observe the behavior of the remaining male for a few days or longer. Multiple males creates an environment of competition, which can make them all behave at their worst.

Or into the freezer, let cleaned carcass rest for 48-72 hours in fridge before cooking or eating or it'll be like chewing sticks no matter how you cook it.
Bird that old will be good for stew/soup only.


No, it does not.
Human aggression has more to do with the behavior of the humans than the birds.
With all those kids they all need to be able to 'dominate' the males.
Here's a pretty good write up about cockerel/human behaviors:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/beekisseds-rooster-speak.73664/



The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

Excellent post!

 

[Peppercorngal]

Yes 3 roos and 5 hens, I'm sure it's not helping the situation.

Maybe you should split them up. Let the two you like the least just free range and be on their own. Too much competition makes them mean, and they "won't come out of it". Either build a second small run for the two roosters or just let them loose. And you can still try to give them away! It's a problem when you have children and an aggressive rooster. My granddaughter loved to help me in the coop with gathering eggs, etc. When Cody the rooster got mean, she couldn't go in anymore, he'd jump her in a hot second. It just ruined the whole country chicken experience for this sweet girl. Good luck with whatever you do.

 

[ToniTalley]

I have heard (never tested it) that if you pick them by their legs, flip them upside down, and parade them around their hens, that they will be too embarrassed to ever chase humans again. I've been begging our buddy (who ironically has an evil leghorn Roo, too) to do that just to see if it works.

This doesn't work for us, we have had to pick up the Roo by his feet in order to put vaseline on his feet to kill scale mites, or to clip his wings. He is still as evil as ever.

 

[lazy gardener]

Eat them.

 

[ToniTalley]

I should but that is not gonna happen.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Doesn't hanging them by their feet cause pressure on the diaphragm? I would not suggest this method. I will do it to get ahold of one, but not for an extended period I'd separate them for now and get them ready for the stew pot (or giveaway, if you prefer). You won't be able to keep them all, together, anyway.

 

[Indyshent]

I have heard (never tested it) that if you pick them by their legs, flip them upside down, and parade them around their hens, that they will be too embarrassed to ever chase humans again. I've been begging our buddy (who ironically has an evil leghorn Roo, too) to do that just to see if it works.

It does work. Don't hang them by their legs (though aspiration worries are unfounded there, too, as the bird will always crane its face up, and people don't drown when we're upside down either). Fold his feet to his chest, and carry him belly up like a football in front of his pals. Once he's no longer fighting and has calmed down, give him a treat and set him on the ground.

I haven't seen any evidence of ratios causing human aggression. Nip anything like human aggression in the bud as soon as he gets uppity. Don't wait for him to flog. If he gives you any aggressive body language, chase him down, flip him over and carry him around. I've never had a rooster take more than three times to cure (that record was a Wyandotte who had been pretty poorly socialized and not treated well by prior owners).

Do keep your eyes out for easy guys. Lots of people are loathe to cull perfectly good roosters. Temperament is partially genetic, so don't breed legitimately awful roosters. Many grow out of foul temperaments or poor treatment of ladies once they're out of the crazy teenaged phase, but why take chances?

Keep one at a time in with your girls and see how he does. Keep the best one after you've cycled through them all, but always keep your eyes out for a better boy.

 

[aart]

I have heard (never tested it) that if you pick them by their legs, flip them upside down, and parade them around their hens, that they will be too embarrassed to ever chase humans again. I've been begging our buddy (who ironically has an evil leghorn Roo, too) to do that just to see if it works.

I wouldn't turn them upside down if they have food and water in their crop it can come back up and get in their lungs.

This^^^...plus chickens don't get 'embarrassed'.