Help! My Rooster tried to attack me!

[Peppercorngal]

Personally I wouldn't turn them out to free range until you have that guy under control. Turning him loose is only going to give him more room to try to out maneuver you. Get him to the point of understanding who's in charge, and I mean for at least a month, before letting him out. Do it now, and he's got the advantage again.

If you free range them late in the afternoon most likely that they will automatically return to their coop/cage/run when it gets dark. Chickens that have been caged will do that to ensure they will be safe for the night. I had a very, very mean rooster, but he pretty much left me alone when he was free ranging. If I went into the coop or run, he'd wait until my back was turned and attack me. You do what you feel is best. He may leave you alone if he has more space. . .or not! Good Luck!

 

[4rbar]

Hello 4rbar,
Glad to know someone in this area! I'm outside of Pontiac. I guess you think I'm an idiot! Oh well, everybody has to learn about what they care about. I'm learning the hard way! Nice to hear from you.

Absolutely not. Along with chickens we also run a parrot rescue and are constantly working with birds that no one has wanted in order to find them a new home. We have had some birds that don't like anybody, but we still try.

 

[Vegan chicken momma]

You wouldn't hit him with the stick, would you? I don't want to hurt him. But I will not let him hurt me!

 

[Vegan chicken momma]

I run a farm animal rescue, and have 6 roosters each with their own flock. Only one of the roosters is aggressive and he means business! I use a "pig board" (plastic board with hand holds to grip, approximately 4x4) to fend him off and I move directly at him now with purpose and a loud voice. I used to run from him and it made things worse. He has pierced through insulated carhartt pants and bruised my legs through knee high muck boots. U must show dominance (I am never abusive, I'm a vegan and don't even eat their eggs!) and strength. I think of him as a dog that needs to know u are the dominant one of the pack. Good luck, please try to work through this and not dump him on someone else (as a rescue we get a lot of dumped animals because people didn't want to put in the needed work). It's almost always a humans fault when animals are jerks. The pig board is a lifesaver, helps me be in control, safe, and he isn't harmed!

 

[Lomasi]

I posted in chicken behavior, and got no replies. Please, I need some advise. I have no experience with chickens. I bought three grown hens and a huge rooster at the auction about a month ago.
Yesterday Mr. Red wouldn't let me back in the pen to get my cleaning supplies! Thank goodness I had already fed and changed the water. Can somebody just tell me if a rooster can hurt me? I have to go back out there! Now, please?

I had a rooster for almost a year before he challeneged me. Idk why but he suddenly went after me. Shocked and a little scared i turned my back and he came at me again. I picked up a stick and went towards him, slashing the stick thru the air to make a whoosh sounds, stomped my foot and screamed NO! at him. He tried it again about a week later. I did the same thing but this time he came at me a 3rd time. I basically round house kicked him in the side of the head. He shook his head and backed down. That was over a year ago. Hes still not what i would call tame but he respects me and i him. Hes a really good bird who is the boss of the flock, but he knows im the boss of him. Hes actually let me get close enough to pet him just recently and doesnt freak out about it like he used to. I think he knows he has a good life and a chicken keeper who cares about his flock as much as he does. Well, maybe not to but it seems that way. Lol Anyway i do not advocate hitting them but if he plans to do another bird harm, I doubt they would hold back on him, so why should i? Obviously we have to be measured in a physical response, but they need to know you are boss and he will likely respect it. If not you may need to butcher him. But get a big sturdy stick that will make noise and keep space between you and him be prepared to go toward him and stomp your feet!!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

You wouldn't hit him with the stick, would you? I don't want to hurt him. But I will not let him hurt me!

You can also carry a metal garbage can lid and use it as a shield when you turn around after hearing foot steps running up behind you!

 

[RoseMar]

I've had many roosters during my lifetime. Some very docile, others terribly aggressive. From my experience I have learned they do not like water sprayed on them. I have a spray bottle filled with water that I carry and have handy near the chicken house for such occasions. My chickens free range inside the fenced in area of about 5 acres, but they are closed up in the chicken houses with a run during the night and at times when we can't be home to care for them. My little black cochin bantam rooster, named Rooster Pooster, sometimes wants to kick someone. He is my pet, but he does not like all humans. I keep the spray bottle handy when he is loose. You may try the spray bottle with plain water or you may want to add a bit of apple cider vinegar mixed in with it. For larger roosters I have sprayed them with the water hose in past times. It changes their attitude quickly.
And yes roosters can hurt you! Their spurs grow long if left untrimmed and rounded on the point. They can hit you hard enough for those spurs to stick into your body. Doctors will require a tetanus shot. They can be dangerous to children, and you as well, as they can fly up high enough to damage their face/eyes, etc. You need to keep up on the trimming of the spurs and the toe nails if they don't free range.

 

[Crow-ded house]

So lucky I have Mr Spot. He is so gentle but protects his girls. He eats out of my hand. Mr Toughie tested me once but lost so now is ok and he just became a daddy a week ago and is a wonderful papa.

Rudy was a hateful rooster. I would be doing my chores and he would try to attack me but I always met him head on and when he flew at me I would give him a right hook. That still did not work but then Mr Spot finally grew up and would protect me!! It got to where I did not even have to watch my back. Mr Spot is HUGE and i would hear this bam! Bam ! Bam behind me turn my head and Rudy would be rolling ass over head lol and Mr Spot would be in front of me like “ to get to her ya gotta go thru me”! Rudy met his end with a coyote. mr Spot is still a sweetie.

 

[ellie62706]

I was attacked by a rooster when I was little, he gave me scratches. I agree with junebuggena. Show him who's the boss!

 

[CatUT]

I've had 5 roosters so far with my flock. Because we live in the city, we can't keep them. My first one was great and I was sad to get rid of him. The next two were awful and I had to remove them from my flock as they not only attacked humans but they beat up the hens too. The next one was a wimp but very pretty. I found a breeder for him. The last one was great. He protected the hens but never attacked humans. Any of us could go into the coop and run and do stuff without any problem. I was sad to see him go but he was going to a new flock to be their protector.

My feeling is that if they are aggressive to you, it's not worth trying to 'train' them. I even had a hen that took over the rooster duties and started attacking that I had to find a new home for. I let the people know why I was getting rid of her, but they didn't seem to care.