Help! Should I get rid of rooster?

[ManedWolf]

I need your help! I have a 5 month old Brahma cockerel who has been displaying some usual signs of dominance. He dances up to me and my 3 year old. He has pecked me when I’ve been to close and just recently ran up to my kid and pecked him. I also noticed he attacked one of my hens and left a wound and she’s scared to come out of run for free range time which never happens. Weird thing is, I pick him up All the time and he always seems so easy going and nice! Generally, he is nice and fun. I really wanted to work with him and try to do anything to keep him. I’ve been trying to show him who is boss, thinking that will help. But now that he has focused in on my kid, who never bothered him before, I’m worried. It was a peck but will it get worse or can I stop it from escalating? I called a rooster sanctuary that will take him but We are devastated about it. I wish I could manage him. Should I try to work with the bird and keep my kid away? Or re home? Thank you. It’s so complicated. My kid comes first. Period. Even my kid is sad about it. Did I do anything wrong raising this rooster? Can I change anything to make it better? Is this a super aggressive bird? Would you keep him?

You should get rid of him. I assure you you probably didn't do anything wrong with raising that rooster. I've had many roosters and they all vary even when raised the same. I think it probably has to do with genetics, as I've kept the same line of roosters (3 generations in at this point) and they've all been friendly. I've had other roosters who weren't and they needed to be culled. I suggest not getting a rooster until your child is older, but if you must get another you should raise it as a pet (lots of handling, maybe even separate from your flock until it's older and tamed).
My roosters "dance" at my feet from time to time but never peck, spur, or charge me. The shuffle can be a greeting sign, not necessarily aggressive but when paired with pecking then it's most likely aggressive.

 

[ManedWolf]

You should get rid of him. I assure you you probably didn't do anything wrong with raising that rooster. I've had many roosters and they all vary even when raised the same. I think it probably has to do with genetics, as I've kept the same line of roosters (3 generations in at this point) and they've all been friendly. I've had other roosters who weren't and they needed to be culled. I suggest not getting a rooster until your child is older, but if you must get another you should raise it as a pet (lots of handling, maybe even separate from your flock until it's older and tamed).
My roosters "dance" at my feet from time to time but never peck, spur, or charge me. The shuffle can be a greeting sign, not necessarily aggressive but when paired with pecking then it's most likely aggressive.

I'd like to add that I keep Orpington roosters, which are known for being a friendly breed.

 

[Sussex19]

Sorry you had to re-home him, but I definitely think it was the right decision.

With my roosters and cockerels, they are all broody raised, so I don't handle them, except for health checks.
I just let them be chickens, not trying to tame them, and most of them just view me something that brings food, and you don't want to go to close to it!
There was one batch I had, were I thought I would try hand feeding them to keep them more tame; it was a disaster! 7 cockerels all grabbing hold of my jeans, and flogging me.
I don't really know why it went so bad, I have hand fed the occasional one before without problems.

But I think, if you can just let them grow up basically without human interferes, so they are a bit scared of one, and then gain the trust when they are older, may be the most likely method to work.

 

[ManedWolf]

Sorry you had to re-home him, but I definitely think it was the right decision.

With my roosters and cockerels, they are all broody raised, so I don't handle them, except for health checks.
I just let them be chickens, not trying to tame them, and most of them just view me something that brings food, and you don't want to go to close to it!
There was one batch I had, were I thought I would try hand feeding them to keep them more tame; it was a disaster! 7 cockerels all grabbing hold of my jeans, and flogging me.
I don't really know why it went so bad, I have hand fed the occasional one before without problems.

But I think, if you can just let them grow up basically without human interferes, so they are a bit scared of one, and then gain the trust when they are older, may be the most likely method to work.

That method has worked for me a few times, however I find it harder to handle the bird if it's sick or injured. My chickens let me touch their faces and feet without trouble if need be, since I've conditioned them to since a young age. My untamed chickens fight and struggle when I touch them, which makes medical treatment very difficult.

 

[Sussex19]

That method has worked for me a few times, however I find it harder to handle the bird if it's sick or injured. My chickens let me touch their faces and feet without trouble if need be, since I've conditioned them to since a young age. My untamed chickens fight and struggle when I touch them, which makes medical treatment very difficult.

I have that problem when they are young, but as soon as they get past around 6 to 8 mouths, they calm down, and although with some catching can still be a bit hard, once I have them they settle right down.
Maybe I've just been lucky with my chickens and the temperaments

 

[puddle_drinker]

I'd like to add that I keep Orpington roosters, which are known for being a friendly breed.

Orpington's certainly are a friendly breed. Just don't stand between them and a slice of fresh baked bread, then they're like a pack of sharks! I'm hoping at some point to hatch a Jersey Giant / Orpington rooster!

 

[Browniethechicken]

Sorry you had to re-home him, but I definitely think it was the right decision.

With my roosters and cockerels, they are all broody raised, so I don't handle them, except for health checks.
I just let them be chickens, not trying to tame them, and most of them just view me something that brings food, and you don't want to go to close to it!
There was one batch I had, were I thought I would try hand feeding them to keep them more tame; it was a disaster! 7 cockerels all grabbing hold of my jeans, and flogging me.
I don't really know why it went so bad, I have hand fed the occasional one before without problems.

But I think, if you can just let them grow up basically without human interferes, so they are a bit scared of one, and then gain the trust when they are older, may be the most likely method to work.

Thank you! I appreciate your comment a lot

 

[Browniethechicken]

You should get rid of him. I assure you you probably didn't do anything wrong with raising that rooster. I've had many roosters and they all vary even when raised the same. I think it probably has to do with genetics, as I've kept the same line of roosters (3 generations in at this point) and they've all been friendly. I've had other roosters who weren't and they needed to be culled. I suggest not getting a rooster until your child is older, but if you must get another you should raise it as a pet (lots of handling, maybe even separate from your flock until it's older and tamed).
My roosters "dance" at my feet from time to time but never peck, spur, or charge me. The shuffle can be a greeting sign, not necessarily aggressive but when paired with pecking then it's most likely aggressive.

This is a very compassionate and helpful response and I thank you! I ordered all sexed female chicks but that’s not always 100 percent so I ended up with this Brahma rooster - I thought brahmas were a very gentle breed. I handled this rooster from day one and a lot of tlc and here I am. Like you said, biology and genetics. Still sad about it though.

 

[MountainWoman73]

Sounds like you got plenty of good advice already, but I thought I'd share my story for moral support.

I had a bielefelder rooster who was a good protector and very docile around people. He was my daughter's favorite. When he started occasionally being aggressive toward me at about 2 years old, I gave him a pass because I liked him . He'd been good for so long, and he didn't hurt me, just flapped at my legs a bit. I still felt comfortable letting him out in the yard with my daughter. On the day he went after her for the first time, she got a spur in the arm and a nasty bruise and cut above her eye from falling down. He died that same day. I dealt with him as soon as I got her cleaned up and calmed down. We had him for supper the next night. I lived and learned. I should have known better and killed him the first time he went after my ankles. It really isn't worth it with a kid around. She still has a small mark from the spur and a faint line above her eye 18 months later. They may be her first permanent scars. We have chicks right now, and she told me, "I hope one is a rooster, but you can kill him if he's not safe around babies." And she is 100% comfortable with that concept.

 

[Browniethechicken]

Sounds like you got plenty of good advice already, but I thought I'd share my story for moral support.

I had a bielefelder rooster who was a good protector and very docile around people. He was my daughter's favorite. When he started occasionally being aggressive toward me at about 2 years old, I gave him a pass because I liked him . He'd been good for so long, and he didn't hurt me, just flapped at my legs a bit. I still felt comfortable letting him out in the yard with my daughter. On the day he went after her for the first time, she got a spur in the arm and a nasty bruise and cut above her eye from falling down. He died that same day. I dealt with him as soon as I got her cleaned up and calmed down. We had him for supper the next night. I lived and learned. I should have known better and killed him the first time he went after my ankles. It really isn't worth it with a kid around. She still has a small mark from the spur and a faint line above her eye 18 months later. They may be her first permanent scars. We have chicks right now, and she told me, "I hope one is a rooster, but you can kill him if he's not safe around babies." And she is 100% comfortable with that concept.

Can’t thank you enough for sharing and the moral support! I really need it! I’m sorry about your daughter.