Help with an aggressive cockerel?

[Amber.charlie]

Hi,
After more advice from you all regarding my mums aggressive cockerel.
She’s had him from young- not sure exactly how old but before he was crowing.
She’s got 5 bantam hens ( two of which have or have recently raised chicks) and the cockerel in question.
Recently he’s become extremely aggressive towards anyone that walks in the garden or any where near him. Mostly to my mum.. he leaps at the back of her legs, scratches and pecks even if she doesn’t approach him.
Now the weather is warming up, the grandchildren are in the garden and he’s often chasing them And attempting to kick or peck them too.
Just wondering if there anything that can be done to try and tame him? Or just stop him attacking everyone?
Our worry is if he does catch someone off guard he’s going to actually hurt us, or one of the children.
He’s also very aggressive towards the chicks?
Thanks in advance.

 

[WhiteWyan]

Time for soup it sounds like!

 

[Amber.charlie]

I was hoping this wouldn’t be the answer. Is it that difficult to Stop the aggression?

 

[bobbi-j]

The following is a good article if you want to try to rehabilitate a rooster. Frankly, I would either lock him up when the grandkids come or eat him if he’s chasing them. He could cause some serious damage if he spurs them. (Credit to member Beekissed for the article)

I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything tohim. If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant onesand subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation. There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down andgiving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck. Noholding him down and nothing else. That's a rooster on a henmaneuver, not rooster on rooster.

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate inthis picture. You are gettingdominated by your bird simplybecause you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to bewalking when a dominant is in the area. What you never see is a dominant rooster gettingattacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose. So far you are losing and not evenchallenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive. He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner. Some people never have to go on the offensive because theirmovements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked yourhusband. Most men move more decisively than do women andchildren and they rarely steparound a bird, but walk throughthem.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all. Hisenvironment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language heunderstands. Because they are quick on their feet and can evadeyou, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that willlengthen your reach by 5 ft.really helps in this. Don't use arake or broom because they aretoo clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when youdon't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements andwalk directly towards yourrooster. Move him away from thefeeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leavesthe coop. The stick will help you guide him. Then...wait patientlywhile he gets his bird mind around what just happened. He will try to come back in the coop...let him. When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim itwell. If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs andkeep at it until he leaves the coop once again. Repeat thisprocess until he is too wary to come back in the coop.

Feed your hens. When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack thewall by the pop door just as he tries to enter. If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stickeither smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry.Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching yourhens eat. Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him. Don't worry about the hensrunning and getting excited whenthis is happening...they will get over it. This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.

When the hens have had a goodtucker....leave the coop and let him come back in. Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...toproosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock. You shouldn't either. Take your stick and startle him with asmack on the floor next to himwhen he is least expectingit...make that bird jump and RUN. Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder andtrying to get out of your way. THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together.Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands. You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need toestablish that when you move, he moves...away. When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster. If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop. Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate. They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space. If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him. At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door. If he feelsthe need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops. He doesn't get to crowwhile you are there. He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along. And it can be fun if you venture into it with the rightattitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly. This can work onstrange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn. Yourule the coop...now act like it. Carrying is for babies...you havea full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby.

 

[SueT]

When there are children involved, it is best to get rid of the rooster asap. He may learn to respect you, but still attack children, and even once is too much. Don't risk it.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I have to agree with @SueT on this. If it was just you having to deal with this rooster, I'd go through the article that @bobbi-j posted.... but with your young grandkids there, I'd have to put him in the crockpot.

 

[bobbi-j]

I have to agree with @SueT on this. If it was just you having to deal with this rooster, I'd go through the article that @bobbi-j posted.... but with your young grandkids there, I'd have to put him in the crockpot.

I totally agree.

 

[Ducksandchickens]

M

View attachment 1393735 Hi,
After more advice from you all regarding my mums aggressive cockerel.
She’s had him from young- not sure exactly how old but before he was crowing.
She’s got 5 bantam hens ( two of which have or have recently raised chicks) and the cockerel in question.
Recently he’s become extremely aggressive towards anyone that walks in the garden or any where near him. Mostly to my mum.. he leaps at the back of her legs, scratches and pecks even if she doesn’t approach him.
Now the weather is warming up, the grandchildren are in the garden and he’s often chasing them And attempting to kick or peck them too.
Just wondering if there anything that can be done to try and tame him? Or just stop him attacking everyone?
Our worry is if he does catch someone off guard he’s going to actually hurt us, or one of the children.
He’s also very aggressive towards the chicks?
Thanks in advance.

i would re home it

 

[Amber.charlie]

I did think this was going to have to be the outcome
it is worrying seeing him around the children. Like he’s seeing them as an easy target. Especially because they are both so young, my sons 3, and my daughter is 18 months... so both me and mum know that if he were to catch one of them off guard he could do damage... more to their love for chickens... and I wouldn’t want either of them to
Become weary of our own chicken & cockerels at home.
He was guarding their play house this afternoon... my son went to go in and the cockerel chased him away side kicking .. then went and stood on the roof of
It crowing whilst staring at him.
I’ll pass what you have all said onto my mum. You’ve all
Been externally helpful as always thank you!

 

[SueT]

Toddlers are much too small to be around that rooster, ever. If he went for the face, it could be devastating.