Hi
I started the year with 2 roosters. I could not keep them together because the leghorn kept challenging the cream legbar and loosing. The leghorn Horace would also have a go at me but the legbar, Harry was a gent. I moved the leghorn and gave him his own little flock. He continued to have a go at me and I had to keep a broom handy when I went near him, until something more savage.... a dog or a fox.... got the better of him and all I was left with was a lot of feathers scattered about. Interestingly, Harry, who had never been any bother at all, started having a go at me as soon as Horace was moved. He was coming at me with spurs and latching onto my leg when I tried to fend him off with my foot. I would strongly recommend not bending down to pick up a rooster that is having a go at you, as spurs/beak in the face would be unpleasant and dangerous. I used a shavings fork to fend him off and pin him down and hold him for a minute or so and then let him go and make sure he walked away. If he didn't, he got pinned down again and then released until he walked away. A few days later he would try again and I had to go through it again. Eventually I realised that if I reinforced my authority every day, by walking towards him and staring at him with intent, he would walk away. As soon as he turned and walked away, I could forget about him and get on with my chores. It has been several months now since we had a set to and if I go anywhere near him he is in a hurry to move out of my way and we seem to have a good understanding that I'm boss, but I have to remember to mentally reinforce it by making a conscious effort to stare at him and make him move every day or two.
It was odd that he was dominant rooster but didn't bother me until I removed his competition. I tried the same system with Horace and although I won each battle, he was always keen for the next one and I would have culled him eventually if a predator had not got him. I guess he fulfilled his role in the end by sacrificing his life for his ladies and judging by the amount of feathers strewn across the garden, he put up a good fight. For all Harry was dominant over him. I can't really see Harry having a go at a predator.
It's surprising how quickly you learn to read their behaviour. I must confess it was pretty intimidating having a rooster coming at me with spurs and beak and drawing blood through my clothes on more than one occasion, but I'm pleased I persevered with Harry because he has settled down how and is a real gent with his ladies.
I tend to get angry rather than frightened in such situations though, which I think gives me a mental edge.
Hopefully you will not need to deal with such behaviour. The last time I had chickens, they were all very well behaved with me, although a couple of the roosters would fight amongst themselves.
Best wishes
Barbara
I started the year with 2 roosters. I could not keep them together because the leghorn kept challenging the cream legbar and loosing. The leghorn Horace would also have a go at me but the legbar, Harry was a gent. I moved the leghorn and gave him his own little flock. He continued to have a go at me and I had to keep a broom handy when I went near him, until something more savage.... a dog or a fox.... got the better of him and all I was left with was a lot of feathers scattered about. Interestingly, Harry, who had never been any bother at all, started having a go at me as soon as Horace was moved. He was coming at me with spurs and latching onto my leg when I tried to fend him off with my foot. I would strongly recommend not bending down to pick up a rooster that is having a go at you, as spurs/beak in the face would be unpleasant and dangerous. I used a shavings fork to fend him off and pin him down and hold him for a minute or so and then let him go and make sure he walked away. If he didn't, he got pinned down again and then released until he walked away. A few days later he would try again and I had to go through it again. Eventually I realised that if I reinforced my authority every day, by walking towards him and staring at him with intent, he would walk away. As soon as he turned and walked away, I could forget about him and get on with my chores. It has been several months now since we had a set to and if I go anywhere near him he is in a hurry to move out of my way and we seem to have a good understanding that I'm boss, but I have to remember to mentally reinforce it by making a conscious effort to stare at him and make him move every day or two.
It was odd that he was dominant rooster but didn't bother me until I removed his competition. I tried the same system with Horace and although I won each battle, he was always keen for the next one and I would have culled him eventually if a predator had not got him. I guess he fulfilled his role in the end by sacrificing his life for his ladies and judging by the amount of feathers strewn across the garden, he put up a good fight. For all Harry was dominant over him. I can't really see Harry having a go at a predator.
It's surprising how quickly you learn to read their behaviour. I must confess it was pretty intimidating having a rooster coming at me with spurs and beak and drawing blood through my clothes on more than one occasion, but I'm pleased I persevered with Harry because he has settled down how and is a real gent with his ladies.
I tend to get angry rather than frightened in such situations though, which I think gives me a mental edge.
Hopefully you will not need to deal with such behaviour. The last time I had chickens, they were all very well behaved with me, although a couple of the roosters would fight amongst themselves.
Best wishes
Barbara
