Help...I hate my Rooster.

[sierradane]

Our Three Chickenteers (Silver Sebright roosters) who seem to not be able to do anything alone but have to do everything as a unit, sometimes think they should run up behind us to flog us. What puts the breaks on their attempts at their flogging is for us to turn around and walk toward them which makes them "tuck tail" and run like the 'lily-livered scaredy cat chickens' they are. Our white cochin that flogs... usually will behave when I talk sternly to him, telling him to "get over there!" "get in that corner!" Or "Andrew Lee! Help!" Andrew Lee is a black cochin rooster that will get in between Gomer (the white cochin rooster) and the victim to save the victim. Also, my brother used to pick up my mother's half breed Silver Sebright and drop him into a kiddie pool of about 6 inches of water. (that rooster would chase you out of the yard until you crossed the road and he stood on the other side staring at you)

 

[Coop de Grille]

My older boy started to do the dance of dominance while coming at me but wound up going for a ride across the pen courtesy of the end of my foot. He has not come near me in a dominating way since but he did go after my six year old.

 

[ClareScifi]

Interesting about your Sebrights, sierradane.

I have one Sebright, an 8-month old hen. Recently just within the last week, she has started charging my foot as if she is a rooster. About a week ago she did it. It was late in the afternoon and she had not yet laid an egg. The next few days she was just fine, no charging aggression, but today she did it again.

It was after she had been in her nest as if trying to lay an egg, but she hadn't laid one. I was doing some improvements in the coop and she came at my feet several time. She didn't peck, just charged.

When it was nighty-night time, the other hens all got on their perches, but she went under the nesting box, as if still trying to lay. I reached in and she pecked at my hand, which she has never done before. It didn't hurt.

So I think her aggression may have something to do with egg-laying difficulties, or feeling her privacy for egg laying is being invaded?

I have heard that hens of this Sebright breed will often crow like roosters. She hasn't done that yet, thankfully. I wondered whether the rooster had taught her to charge me, whether she'd studied his behavior and decided to copy it, but I don't think so. I have read that Sebrights as a breed are spunky and feisty and can be aggressive. But she's normally so sweet.

I am worried about her. One other time she spent the night under the nesting box and she was fine the next morning, and I found an egg in her nest. The other day when she charged my foot I found two of her eggs in the nest the following morning, so she had laid one of them late in the day on the day she charged my foot. I hope it's not a sign of a tendency toward being eggbound?

I read that Sebrights are poor layers, laying only an egg or so a week, but she has consistently laid an egg almost every day since she started laying this past February.

But if she thinks she's a rooster, maybe she will stop laying entirely???

 

[sierradane]

Our Sebrights lay anywhere from daily to every other day. Bertha, who is probably pushing 5 years old, has retired I believe as far as egg laying goes.

I do know that when all those baby chickens are tiny babies, it's not a good idea to sit and swing your foot to watch that tiny chick jump and peck your foot. I think that was the beginning of the late and great Chicky Poo being an attack rooster; the one that chased the mailman's vehicle.

I'd try to stand my ground with that rooster first and if that doesn't work, get a squirt gun and spray them in the face, that should stop their attack momentarily. (we used to have a warning sign on a tree with a water bottle hanging there for such attacks)

 

[ClareScifi]

I may try a water gun. My rooster was festy this morning. He has 2 blood spots that are new-- one on top of his head and one on top of his back. I can't imagine how he would have gotten them there unless the girls pecked at him. I see no sign of bleeding from his comb or anything.

I haven't seen the girls peck him, though, either, and he's taller than they are. Any idea what could cause small random blood spots on the top of a rooster like that? Mites?

 

[drohan]

ClareScifi,
Yes, my boys are in a coop at night, but it is a part of the pole barn that we have and it only has one solid wall. The rest is wire. Little stinkers can see everything, all the time! I am not sure why they choose to crow so early in the morning. I live in Texas, so it's not like it is light at that time of day. Funny thing is that they will crow and then stop until 5:30 or 6:00. It's like they wear themselves out and need to nap between crowing sessions.
Having a green house attached to your coop is a very cool idea! If we ever build a new coop, I am going to have to do that! Your rooster sounds like a doll! I can't believe he used to sit on your head and never pooped on you. Oh, I think all roosters are somewhat sadistic. I think Big Red may have gotten the message. I haven't had to show him a stick in a while. The last time I caught him in the little chicks coop, eating their food, I just had to point my finger at the door and tell him "Get out." and he left! I think he is learning English with Rosetta stone or something. Probably in an effort to hatch a plot to overthrow my dominance.
LOL! One of your hens took him to the wood shed! That is fantastic! I have a gray hen that will not put up with the boys and spurs them like she's a rooster, but she doesn't protect the other hens. I am hoping that my gigantic pekin duck will help protect the younger hens that he/she (not sure which yet) has been raised with. I keep the rooster from mating by running over to them with a my rooster stick. He hops off and runs a few feet away. Then he either acts like he was scratching for food the whole time, or just looks at me. Some of the hens have figured it out and when one of the roosters goes for them, they head straight for me. Big Red will still try if I look busy or distracted, and he doesn't stop if I holler at him, but as soon as I show him the stick, he's gone. He makes me laugh when he calmly walks off like "What? I was just strolling by. I don't know what her problem is." Now if I could just teach Chicken Hawk what shut up means......

 

[ClareScifi]

Very interesting, Drohan. I will try your stick trick.

My rooster tried to mate with me early on. He was still living indoors and was frustrated. He would bite the towel on his perching box as if it were a hen's neck, and he did the same thing to my hand. I was very afraid he'd jump on my head and try to mate with it, but he never did. I think he finally caught on that I wasn't of his species.

I tried the water gun method today, and he was very surprised, and it did seem to work very well. I might be able to try it when he mates with the hens. But I can use it only when the weather is very warm. I wouldn't dare use it in cold months. He might get sick.

It sounds like Big Red is very intelligent. So cute that the hens have learned that you are their protector! Who says chickens are stupid? I think they are very bright!

I love how my rooster will stand back when I bring fresh greens to the coop. He has always been a big chowhound, but he is considerate and generous around his girls, letting them get first dibs, standing back patiently until they are full. Only then will he indulge. Isn't that mannerly and chivalrous? I thought he would be self-centered, having been raised as an only child, like he was, but he has amazed me.

The half white leghorn girls love him the most. I think they sense on some level that he is half white leghorn, too? Chickens are just fascinating!

 

[ClareScifi]

I have changed my Avatar so you can see a picture of Baby standing on my head when he was much smaller. :>)

 

[drohan]

Well, it has taken me an eon to reply! I apologize! I did get to see your boy standing on your head. That was too funny!

I finally found a good picture of Big Red, the little booger. He tried it again the other day! Now I am going to carry a towel down there with me and we are going to become the best of friends.
How's your guy doing? Still attacking you? My stick still works, but I am going to try the towel. Will let you know what happens.


Oh, crazy egg picture! What happened there?

 

[ChickaBamBam]

He tried it again the other day! Now I am going to carry a towel down there with me and we are going to become the best of friends.
How's your guy doing? Still attacking you? My stick still works, but I am going to try the towel. Will let you know what happens.

I can relate, my 15 week old Jersey Giant rooster is becoming like that and I am ready to separate him for a while. A stick is a good idea....I actually carried a rake around the pen with me yesterday to scoop/push him away.

drohan, What is the towel for?