Help! My rooster is attacking me!

[PrairieChickens]

We have a barred rock rooster too that turned mean, which surprised us all because we'd gotten the variety because we'd also read that they were docile. I tried handling him, giving him treats, sweet-talking him, but he just kept getting meaner. We're to the point now that when we notice he's in one of his "moods" we just make sure we have a stick with us when we're in the run and we never turn our back on him. He's destined for the stew pot at this point, as soon as we can find the time to deal with him.

I've talked to lots of barred rock owners and every single one of them said that their roos were absolute gentleman. It's kind of comforting to know I'm not the only person in chickendom to get a rotten rock, even if yours may not yet be beyond saving.

 

[sourland]

I would respectfully disagree with any advice along the lines of trying to show dominance or act like a rooster. No chicken will ever be so confused as to think that you, a human, are another chicken. I'm not sure where this line of thinking began but it always strikes me as mildly funny that people think they can enter into the chicken world and become a part of the pecking order.

Any physical interaction that the rooster doesn't like will most likely be interpreted as aggression. Doing something he doesn't like continue to make him afraid of you and wanting to attack to chase you away.

Use treats to woo him. Teach him that it's rewarding to be near you. Teach him that you are safe to be around and non-aggressive.

Of course it's necessary to have animals that can be handled in the event you need to provide veterinary care, etc. But, I do this at night when they're on their roost and docile. Chasing them around the yard in order to pick them up to show dominance....it seems to me that the chicken would only interpret that as an attack upon them.

And I would respectfully disagree with this. The only thing roosters understand is dominance. Not kicking at, hitting, or pushing dominance, but complete physical subordination. With a child involved (your daughter) I would reccomend the crockpot.

 

[sourland]

Oops!

 

[Daisy8s]

The only thing roosters understand is dominance. Not kicking at, hitting, or pushing dominance, but complete physical subordination.

Sourland, I welcome your input here as I read many of your posts and frequently find good advice there. We clearly have different opinions in this area, though, I'm guessing based on different personal experiences.

I'm going to make a broad statement (which is always dangerous, but I'll attempt it) and say that generally when I read posts on BYC people who have nice roosters don't go the "show dominance" route whereas people who talk about their mean roosters are also those who advocate dominance as their method of interacting with their roosters.

Of course there will be exceptions to the point I'm making here but I'm serious when I say that I have noticed a trend. I have not yet encountered a post from someone who claims to have a nice roosters who also advocates the need to be physically dominant over their rooster. (Caveat: there are tons of posts from people who claim they've dominated their rooster into submission--but if you read closely they're talking about winning the battle but never the war. They're always on their guard for when the rooster reasserts himself and they have to intimidate him all over again.)

I will go further and say that I think any rooster could be turned into a mean rooster. I think that the main problem may be the people whose actions are read, by the rooster, as threatening. My own brother has a don't-mess-with-me-or-else demeanor and sure enough, every single one of his roosters (several dozen of various breeds over several years) are mean. I have a different demeanor and my roosters are nice.

I'm not saying that every mean rooster is caused by his owners, but I am saying that I think some roosters are inadvertently taught by their owners to see people as threatening and thus they react aggressively out of defense for themselves and their flock.

 

[leadwolf1]

Dominance does not have to be obtained through being mean. I do believe that roosters can be made to see you as leader, just as dogs can be made to view you as their pack leader. I do not believe in mistreating an animal in order to achieve this, however, I do believe that every animal is different and you need to learn how to deal with your own animal, no matter the species.

I have had the pleasure of hatching mostly roosters. I do not eat my roosters, I can not sell them due to Marek's. They all have the right to live here for their entire lives if, they chose to see me as their master. Right now, I have 7 Naked Neck roosters that run in a little pack..and, many others in their own little groups based on size. None of them are mean. They all move out of my way. I am boss. When they were at that wonderful age of cockiness, they started biting. I would pick them up and carry them around...under my arm, where they felt helpless. I didn't yell, scream, etc. I just went about my business doing whatever I wanted. I would pet them on the head, pull their wattles..while talking gently, but firmly. My way of saying, I will do with you as I please. I am king. Then one day, one of them bit hard. Caught me offguard and my reaction was to box his ears. He is now my favorite. He is gentle as a kitten...and, 8 months old.

I have yet to lose a battle. I have yet to have to send one to the big chicken coop in the sky. My 8 year old carries them around and can walk freely through them as can my 5 year old grandson and 3 year old friend.

Yes, roosters only understand dominance but, it can be gained in many ways. How that is achieved is up to the individual and, it can change drastically when dealing with different roosters.

 

[Mimiko]

Dominance does not have to be obtained through being mean. I do believe that roosters can be made to see you as leader, just as dogs can be made to view you as their pack leader. I do not believe in mistreating an animal in order to achieve this, however, I do believe that every animal is different and you need to learn how to deal with your own animal, no matter the species.

I have had the pleasure of hatching mostly roosters. I do not eat my roosters, I can not sell them due to Marek's. They all have the right to live here for their entire lives if, they chose to see me as their master. Right now, I have 7 Naked Neck roosters that run in a little pack..and, many others in their own little groups based on size. None of them are mean. They all move out of my way. I am boss. When they were at that wonderful age of cockiness, they started biting. I would pick them up and carry them around...under my arm, where they felt helpless. I didn't yell, scream, etc. I just went about my business doing whatever I wanted. I would pet them on the head, pull their wattles..while talking gently, but firmly. My way of saying, I will do with you as I please. I am king. Then one day, one of them bit hard. Caught me offguard and my reaction was to box his ears. He is now my favorite. He is gentle as a kitten...and, 8 months old.

I have yet to lose a battle. I have yet to have to send one to the big chicken coop in the sky. My 8 year old carries them around and can walk freely through them as can my 5 year old grandson and 3 year old friend.

Yes, roosters only understand dominance but, it can be gained in many ways. How that is achieved is up to the individual and, it can change drastically when dealing with different roosters.

I agree. I think you have to "think like a chicken" and not translate behaviors from a human's perspective.....kind of like the Dog Whisperer...

 

[chickngal98]

My rooster, Reggie is blind in one eye and he is the calmest roo you can find...I am very fortunate to have him...

 

[Daisy8s]

I was influenced by a comment someone made awhile ago along the lines that chickens are poultry, not mammals. More specifically, they are not those mammals that have been bred to serve/please man.

Whereas dogs and horses have been bred to see man as the leader and serve him, poultry have not. So, it does not make sense to me to attempt to train a rooster using the same techniques one would use to train a dog (pack leader, dominance, etc.).

The rooster's main motivation (other than mating) is to protect his flock. He must evaluate everything in his environment and decide if it is a threat. If he perceives it as a threat he may use vocalization to warn the hens to retreat, and/or he may attempt to intimidate the threat (e.g. crowing, flapping wings, cutting a wing). As a last resort he may even physically attack the threat (flogging). I believe a rooster would perceive physical restraint as a threat to him. It's one thing to handle a bird for medical reasons, it's quite another to do things like carrying it upside down or kicking and hitting at it.

I would rather teach my rooster that I, and other people, are not threats when they are young and then be done with it. I can't imagine an ongoing war in which I was constantly on guard for the next attempt by the rooster to challenge me. I also could not let other people onto my property where my birds free range all day long if I thought my rooster only behaved because he was afraid of me but he might attack someone else, especially a child.

When my roosters are young and starting to assert themselves in the flock I either stand still when they approach, or offer treats to get them to come to me. If I'm moving I am considerate of their perspective and make sure they don't feel cornered. I make sure they have no reason to perceive me as a threat. I teach my young children to do this as well.

If they peck at me in an experimental way I don't react at all. I make myself as uninteresting as a piece of furniture. They learn after a few pecks that nothing will happen and thereafter are safe to hand feed.

In summary: poultry are not dogs and should not be trained using those techniques. Roosters, specifically, are on guard for threats and so if we are careful to understand their thinking and teach them that humans are not a threat then that rooster will be safer for anyone to be around for years to come.

 

[Quahog]

I was influenced by a comment someone made awhile ago along the lines that chickens are poultry, not mammals. More specifically, they are not those mammals that have been bred to serve/please man.

Whereas dogs and horses have been bred to see man as the leader and serve him, poultry have not. So, it does not make sense to me to attempt to train a rooster using the same techniques one would use to train a dog (pack leader, dominance, etc.).

The rooster's main motivation (other than mating) is to protect his flock. He must evaluate everything in his environment and decide if it is a threat. If he perceives it as a threat he may use vocalization to warn the hens to retreat, and/or he may attempt to intimidate the threat (e.g. crowing, flapping wings, cutting a wing). As a last resort he may even physically attack the threat (flogging). I believe a rooster would perceive physical restraint as a threat to him. It's one thing to handle a bird for medical reasons, it's quite another to do things like carrying it upside down or kicking and hitting at it.

I would rather teach my rooster that I, and other people, are not threats when they are young and then be done with it. I can't imagine an ongoing war in which I was constantly on guard for the next attempt by the rooster to challenge me. I also could not let other people onto my property where my birds free range all day long if I thought my rooster only behaved because he was afraid of me but he might attack someone else, especially a child.

When my roosters are young and starting to assert themselves in the flock I either stand still when they approach, or offer treats to get them to come to me. If I'm moving I am considerate of their perspective and make sure they don't feel cornered. I make sure they have no reason to perceive me as a threat. I teach my young children to do this as well.

If they peck at me in an experimental way I don't react at all. I make myself as uninteresting as a piece of furniture. They learn after a few pecks that nothing will happen and thereafter are safe to hand feed.

In summary: poultry are not dogs and should not be trained using those techniques. Roosters, specifically, are on guard for threats and so if we are careful to understand their thinking and teach them that humans are not a threat then that rooster will be safer for anyone to be around for years to come.

Interesting and well written perspective! I trained my rooster with a crock pot.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Interesting and well written perspective! I trained my rooster with a crock pot.

Awesome!!!!