Help! My rooster is trying to kill me

[blogachick]

Last April I brought six tiny Dark Cornish hen-chicks home to my backyard farm. Two months later one of my hen-chicks turned into a rooster. I named him Randy because he is.

Now Randy grew into a fine, handsome rooster and I was very fond of him. And then one day I was minding my own business and suddenly BAM! It felt like someone had thrown a sack of sand at my legs. I whirled around and discovered that is was Randy who’d rammed me. “Bad Rooster,” I said.

Over the next few months the sand-bag attacks persisted but were more irritating than harmful. But then Randy grew these evil-looking spurs on his legs and suddenly I was dealing with a weaponized rooster. Clearly the situation required some sort of intervention.

I tried negative reinforcement. I got a big stick and when he came at me I came at him. This made him more aggressive.

I tried positive reinforcement. Every day for three weeks I gave him food which he gently took from my fingers. Every day for three weeks he rammed me when I walked away.

I tried intimidation. I warned him that if he did not change his ways I would turn him into soup. He didn’t care.

Now I’m at a loss. If it was just me, I could probably manage but I’m afraid my friends will stop stopping by. (One of them told me I should either get a gun or google “Mean Rooster, ***” and take care of business).

So I’ve come here hoping there’s someone who knows how to readjust Randy Rooster’s bad attitude. I’d really like to keep him. (Yes I know it’s an abusive relationship but I love him). On the other hand, I suppose there’s always the soup option.

Any advice?

 

[Venevee]

Hi there!
I've definitely had my share of bad roosters during my five years of raising these birds. I've been told that the moment a roo attacks you, you shouldn't react. At all. Do not give them any attention of any sort, and do not attack them back. This encourages the behavior and makes you a competitor. Aggressiveness can be influential. My first Mille Fleur d'Uccle rooster, Apollo who I fell in love with (and still do miss and love him) was a aggressive little turd. He attacked me and everyone, and when I got another rooster, he learned from Apollo and attacked people as well! I eventually had to get rid of my rooster (Neptune) who has learned to be aggressive from Apollo because my three year old niece loves playing with the chickens and I couldn't have a aggressive rooster roaming the yard. As for Apollo, I would keep him confined in his own area. I just couldn't give him up, he was my favorite rooster, so I understand what your going through. Apollo eventually passed away, and now I have six roosters, all of them are non-aggressive.
Unfortunately, it's too late to un-do his bad behavior, but what you can do is try to hand feed him and don't handle him. I found that handling aggressive roosters a lot can stress them out, and irritate them. It's okay to hold them every once in a while, but they usually do not like being held. Hand feeding roosters will show them that you are not going to harm them. Lastly, separate him. Or at least when you have people over.
Good luck with your naughty-handsome rooster!

 

[RodNTN]

I am glad you joined us! I experienced the same problem last year. With my red sex link rooster Colonel Sanders:


No matter what, I loved him. But finally he began hurting the hens, so I rehomed him. He was taken to a farm with lots of hens, and he stopped being aggressive. Usually, when a rooster is aggressive, he isn't gonna stop just because you scold him or spank him. For the safety of yourself and your hens, I would rehome him. But of course, this is your own decision.

I hope you enjoy your time here, best wishes and best of luck with that rooster!

 

[N F C]

Personally, I don't think any reason is good enough to keep an aggressive rooster...the risk of him seriously injuring you or a friend (or a child) is too great.

However, there are a couple of articles in the Learning Center on roosters you may be interested in:
Dealing with aggressive Roosters
Keeping a Rooster

Best of luck to you!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Some will say to soup him. Some will say rehome him. The entire situation has gone on for a while, unfortunately. I'm not sure if things could be turned around. It could be possible. I have 50 roosters all together and 15 young ones just hitting puberty. I had one the other day eying me and I was ready when he thought he'd challenge. I would never hurt an animal but I did exactly what any other rooster would do. He flies to the other side of the building when he sees me now. No hard feelings.

From my perspective, roosters...and most animals aren't that much different than children. If they get away with something...it usually escalates. You're the person in charge and you're supposed to be the person in charge...the alpha animal. Your rooster has challenged you and hasn't been put in his place. For example, people will get a puppy and think it's cute when he nips when he's a puppy...but when he grows up it's not so cute, correct? Then he gets reprimanded for biting and he doesn't understand because it's been ok all the way along to nip. When I had house dogs, they knew they didn't set foot on the floor until they had let their paws melt off or dry off...and they had to wipe their feet. My house, my rules. There was no laying on the bed or on the couch. That was my husband's and my spot...we're dominant and in charge.

Your rooster was most likely doing things to establish his dominance long before he actually hit you. You may have not noticed it but his position and his manner around you was a process. He didn't just one day decide to "hit" you. If you have an animal/bird you have to be able to be the dominant one and as they say "rule the roost" Most of my animals are male but I set the tone and they never challenge me. That starts at day one. When a person doesn't have control of their animals...that's when people can get hurt. But it's a fine line to walk as well.

Did your rooster do the one wing down and dance around you show? Did he approach you from the front if you were approaching or did he ignore you or walk out of your way?

 

[braehedge]

I use cages for my roosters. You can use the rabbit feeders and water bowls that don't require reaching in the cage, just make sure that it's big enough. Wire bottom cages can be made easily enough at home and can be cleaned simply by lifting them and sweeping up the dirt. You can pad them with hay to make it easier on their feet.

 

[CuzChickens]

Hello there, and my warmest welcome to the flock! I am quite pleased you decided to join us, please pull up a chair and make yourself at home here! I hope you enjoy it here as much as I have!

~Cuz

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I didn't notice that this was posted in introductions but I see others welcoming you...lol.

It's great that you've joined us!

Just a note that you may get more responses to your issue if this is posted under managing your flock or chicken behaviors. Aggressive roosters are a somewhat hot topic because they can hurt you or others and not everyone deals with them the same way.

No one is right or wrong...each method /suggestion has it's own merits. What's key is what YOU feel is right for you and will work for you. Everyone has great information on here. You just have to pick and choose the best information for yourself and your situation.

 

[blogachick]

Hi Wicked,

Thanks for the information about posting. (I'm still finding my way). And thank you for the advice about wayward Randy.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings and

! Pleased you joined our community! I'm afraid I am in agree some of the earlier posts - either re-home him, isolate him, or rename him Crockpot Randy. Best wishes whatever you decide to do!