Help...I hate my Rooster.

[Mimiko]

We had a Buff Orpington that was 21 1/2 weeks old that we culled this weekend. He was so rough with the hens. He tried to mate while one was laying and tore up a bunch of back feathers. He tore one of their ears almost all the way off. Our Barred Rock is the same age and when I turn my back, he attacks me with his feet. He drew blood on my knee the other day. I carried him around, separated him from the girls, penned him by himself.....I have tried several tactics. He won't attack me if I am facing him, but if I turn my back, he is right on me, and then he runs. It irritates me. How can I assert my dominance?

 

[Flowerchik]

I am really beginning to think that some roosters just don't get it that they are not the dominant ones where we are concerned. My husband says that maybe my rooster thinks I am one of his girls. He does go after the girls if they get too far away. It almost seems as if it has become a game we play he starts acting like the boss man, I start chasing. Those days when he is feeling really bold and doesn't back down, I wrestle him to the ground and hold him down then pick him up and he goes with me as I do chores. He immediately calms down and stays away from me for a few hours after that. I hate the holding down part. I worry that I may hurt him and on some of our battles he loses a few feathers. I don't know what else to do other than that. He does a really good job looking after the girls for me so I don't want to get rid of him. I guess our battles will continue. I read somewhere on here that they calm down as they get older. I wonder if that is true.

 

[dolittle7]

My roo crows off and on all night long. He roosts in our barn but can see the pole light. I love him, but waking me at 2, 3 and 4 am isn't exactly fun.

 

[drohan]

I am not sure if they calm down as they get older or not, but I would think that would be true. Instead of wrestling him to the ground, try taking an old towel or light weight blanket out with you. Seriously, when you drop it on his head, if he can't see out, he will freeze and you will be able to pick him up with no problem. I would worry about possibly breaking a bone, but I totally understand why you would do it!

 

[drohan]

Mimiko, try carrying a small diameter stick around with you. It really deters my rooster. Also, don't let him mate with the hens in your presence. That is a sign of dominance. If other chickens are squabbling, he will step in to end it. If you are in the pen, you need to end the arguments. You have to show dominance. It may sound strange, but I actually crow right along with them some times. You should see the look on their faces when I do it! LOL! Good luck.

 

[Flowerchik]

I think I will try the light blanket. I am sure he will feel bold again within the next couple of days.

 

[jenifry]

I have read roosters crow at night when they sense a predator around, my dad said his RIR rooster crowed consistently at night before he lost a good portion of his flock to foxes.

 

[jenifry]

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......

I hit the wrong button *blush* I have read roosters crow at night when there is a predator around... my dad said his RIR rooster crowed consistently at night before he lost half his flock to foxes.

 

[galanie]

I have a dark cornish hen that is The Chicken Patrol. If she sees a chance to kick my young roo's behind she takes it. If he tries to mount one of the others when she's close by, she knocks him off and chases him. What a chicken. LOL All muscle and she means it!

 

[drohan]

Well, Big Red is acting a little nicer the last couple of days. The neighbors dog found her way onto our property and he is missing some tail feathers. Thankfully the dog only killed two of our chickens. Unfortunately, she did get my favorite rooster, Batman.