Evil Rooster: Advice Needed

[kandooshe]

i will kill it and eat it

 

[terrilhb]

I agree with you Ladybug99. I have 3 roo's. Most days they are really great. Everyonce in awhile they get fiesty. I get fiestier back. Mine are kept in a run. So I don't have to worry about them going after kids. But I do warn any adult who wants to go in the coop. I tell them enter at your own risk. My roo's don't like strangers around their ladies. Most will just stand and peek in the door. But I like you know how to handle them. They like to attack my hubby and son. But they hardley ever go in the coop so it is on them. My daughter and I are in and out all the time. Good luck with your mydog8it. sounds like you need it.

 

[Beekissed]

There is a great article on raising young male animals.....

http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/Bottle-raised males can be very dangerous.pdf

It can certainly explain why you are having this problem and how to prevent it in the future.

evey time we go into the coop we walk in with a broom and we swish it at him... we give him the stink eye first....and we even stomp our feet... if he even tries to get close to us we swish the broom.... we show the big boss behavior before he does and that makes us the leader. This has worked for us.. he gives us the space and respects us for our visit....but each day is a new day and we have to repeat it all over again. He will test us every once and a while. I feed my hens by hand but if he tries to get some, I swish him away, I can't allow him to eat from my hand because that makes me the weaker one.

And swishing a broom? It doesn't work....merely makes him a little wary. Try actually making some physical contact with the broom and you may not have to repeat it anymore. Retraining a roo takes more than a few feeble attempts to keep him out of your way. One has to impress upon this fella that you are not to be challenged or messed with in any way because you are an unknown and possibly dangerous entity that is not predictable. The roo in the above paragraph now knows that the broom is not really dangerous, it is just something to avoid. If you use it correctly, you won't need to use it anymore.​

 

[ladybug99]

Well I did forget to mention that the rooster and the broom have made contact on many occassions....he respects the broom as for it is in the coop with him all day long watching over him (LOL)..and I am just the provider of yummy treats, food and water..the broom and I are one when I have it in my hand there for he respects me to... I just went out to feed the ladies and totally forgot the broom and he was fine with me...he does need to know who is the boss.. but just like anyother teenager he forgets quickly and the broom is a quick reminder of that

 

[mydog8it]

Well, I may not have what it takes to be the "alpha rooster." Omelet has stopped attacking my husband entirely - avoids him at all costs, but seems to be even more determined to attack me now. I feel really bad about whacking him...I'm sure he senses my hesitation. I'm going to bundle up in thick clothing and give it one more try but my patience is worn pretty thin.

 

[Yazzo]

Hi mydog8it. I created a whole page on this topic, as people ask about it so much: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=63850-the-definite-guide-to-roosters. You have to make sure he knows you're boss, and let him know that pecking is not acceptable. Make sure your husband works with him too: have him hold the rooster's head down every time he pecks, until the rooster submits, or use a similar technique. Once you get the hang of it, it'll be a piece of cake to handle roosters.....no killing required.
There is a definite difference between picking your rooster up often and simply snuggling him, and picking your rooster up often but making sure he knows you're boss. Some people simply do the former, and end up with a rooster they treat like a baby who turns out aggressive.

 

[BillickChix]

Yazzo's advice worked well, mydog8it, when we had issues with our rooster. We are vegetarians as well and couldn't kill our friend LeMerde. After much debating, we realized that with such an aggressive rooster (he was my sweetest and then turned very antagonistic, and without warning every time) and with my disability (muscular dystrophy - lack of balance so I will fall down whilst running up the hill from the attack rooster, and paranoia from the vulnerability of my neuropathic limbs) we decided it wasn't worth it. Unfortunately we did straight-run chicks, so we had to give up about four roosters.

A few months after we re-homed LeMerde the attacker, my Olive Egger hen turned into a rooster (grr!) and became even meaner than the first. I found a home for him as well. If you can handle wearing thick clothing and being on guard all the time, I'd keep your rooster, especially if your girls are going to be outside and vulnerable to predators. But if he's attacked once, he'll do it again if you let your guard down.

My girls have been so much more docile without a rooster, by the way. I loved how beautiful my roosters were and I loved the crowing and protecting of the girls, but a peaceful flock was our top priority so it wasn't worth it for our particular household. Good luck!

 

[mydog8it]

Quote:
Thanks for the link. The problem isn't pecking. If it were just that it would be no big deal. And he's still friendly at least 75% of the time - I can pick him up, hold him, pet him, etc. But when he decides to be feisty, he flies up, kicks and bites - holds onto your skin and won't let go - and it really does hurt. So when he's in attack mode, how to I grab him to pick him up without getting injured? Is there some sneaky trick to catching an attacking roo and not walking away from the ordeal bruised and bloodied?

 

[memahenny]

I had a very MEAN Australorpe rooster.............................he got worse by the day..........tried the stick and believe me I can get mean too.............well that didn't work.......finally had to resort to drastic measures when he came flying at me..............NO MORE Australorpes of any kind........I think they are born that way.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Some roosters are born that way, for sure. And some breeds are more inclined, but Australorps are said to be generally gentle and tame. My very best roo was a Black Australorp, and all my hens are easy to handle. One reason some people get rid of people aggressive roos is they want to hatch their own and don't want the trait passed on. I don't even know that it is proven to be genetic. Others choose roos by how they treat their hens, how protective they are, and just deal with it if they are people aggressive. Personal choice.