How can I fix this

[Show chick]

My rooster queso has recently started attacking me all the time when I walk in to the run when I am even walking by the fence he never. Takes his eyes of me I would love to keep him but he hates me the only person he likes is my father I have genuinely grown a huge fear of him he keeps my from loving on my chickens I never go down to the pin because he scares my so much I am afraid that he will attack my neighbors young grandchildren because she loves to feed them grass he does fine with her now but I am so scared that one day he will change against her I have never did anything to provoke him or hurt my flock and make him mad I don’t know it just. I begged my parents to bring him home and now I can’t look him in the eyes

Plz any tip will help
(If I can’t fix it then I will sadly have to get rid of him one way or another I really don’t want to do it but I am on the edge of it)

 

[Kiki]

"he scares my so much"

Get rid of him.

 

[Show chick]

"he scares my so much"

Get rid of him.

I would but I can’t part with him I know it my fault for be a “scaredy cat” because he has attacked me so many time that he has made me grow a fear I am “too soft” to not do anything about it
show chick

 

[Ecarroll]

I would but I can’t part with him I know it my fault for be a “scaredy cat” because he has attacked me so many time that he has made me grow a fear I am “too soft” to not do anything about it
show chick

There is no way to fix him, you have to cull him, or give him away and accept that the person you give him to probably will. I’m so sorry but there is no way to “fix” mean roosters.

 

[Jener8or]

There are too many good roosters to keep a bad one. I know you say you, "can't get rid of him," but you can and will be better for it.

Plus, those aggressive genetics can be passed down to his offspring so breeding him is not a good idea.

 

[DobieLover]

I’m so sorry but there is no way to “fix” mean roosters.

This is not true.
Based on the original post, the OP has been making plenty of mistakes in her behavior around her cockerel and her flock.
I had a cockerel that would regularly flog me. I learned what I was doing wrong and he doesn't attack me any longer once I changed my behavior. But you have to have a realistic outlook on a different species behaviors and needs and be able to accommodate them. And the rooster/cockerel has to be worth the effort. My guy absolutely was. He is still running the flock at 6.5 years old.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I would but I can’t part with him I know it my fault for be a “scaredy cat” because he has attacked me so many time that he has made me grow a fear I am “too soft” to not do anything about it
show chick

You may feel bad about giving him away, but you’re going to feel a whole lot worse if he attacks those children.

 

[Show chick]

This is not true.
Based on the original post, the OP has been making plenty of mistakes in her behavior around her cockerel and her flock.
I had a cockerel that would regularly flog me. I learned what I was doing wrong and he doesn't attack me any longer once I changed my behavior. But you have to have a realistic outlook on a different species behaviors and needs and be able to accommodate them. And the rooster/cockerel has to be worth the effort. My guy absolutely was. He is still running the flock at 6.5 years old.

I don’t know what I have been doing wrong I was really hoping that I was the problem not him we have had a bond since day one that’s why I can’t stand to part from him because he is way to special because I brought him home from my school because we raised them and I would feel like a disappointment to my self because that rest of the chicken that were hatched out with him have died because of natural causes I just don’t know what to do. I know he could be a wonderful rooster if he mine and his bond could be good again . Is there any tip to try to rebuild his bond with me or try to help with his behavior I could never see my flock without him (I would like so positive feedback if possible) he is only 7 months old I don’t know if as he ages he may get calmer

 

[DobieLover]

we have had a bond since day one

That was the first mistake. Cockerels are born flock protectors. Chickens are prey and you are a predator. When they are tiny chicks, their behavior is very different compared to when their hormones kick in.

7 months old I don’t know if as he ages he may get calmer

He will be worse in the spring when he gets a hormone surge.

I have genuinely grown a huge fear of him

This is another major issue. You can't fear them.

keeps my from loving on my chickens

This is a big red flag for me too. You are not treating your chickens like chickens. You are treating them more like puppies.

Every species has their own specific needs and behaviors. Cockerels are hard wired to fight. They are flock defenders. Something in your behavior (I imagine it's your attempts to "love on" your flock that triggered most of it) made him think you are a threat and must be kept away from HIS flock. That's another misconception. You think the pullets and hens are yours. They aren't. They are his. He is the one who is with them 24/7.

When you attempt to pick up his hen or even reach out and look like you are going to grab a hen, that is a threat to him (at this point).
When you attempt to give your hens treats, you are a threat to him because he perceives this as attempting to take his hens from him by offering them goodies. That is HIS job!

Do you see where this is going?

Yes, I believe he can be rehabilitated but you need to completely change your attitude perceptions and behavior and from what you've written, I don't think that practical. For you, I think he should be rehomed to someone with experience raising cockerels. You need a lot more experience with chickens before you should consider raising a male in the flock. He has no bond with you. He just wants a flock of ladies. I would advertise him and hopefully someone will want him for a flock leader.

On a side note, it doesn't look like you have anything for enrichment in the pen for your flock. They need perches, stumps, old wood chair, etc to hop up on to hang out and preen. They do well with organic substrate to scratch around in. I would just get down to an all female flock and work on enriching their space.

 

[Show chick]

That was the first mistake. Cockerels are born flock protectors. Chickens are prey and you are a predator. When they are tiny chicks, their behavior is very different compared to when their hormones kick in.

He will be worse in the spring when he gets a hormone surge.

This is another major issue. You can't fear them.

This is a big red flag for me too. You are not treating your chickens like chickens. You are treating them more like puppies.

Every species has their own specific needs and behaviors. Cockerels are hard wired to fight. They are flock defenders. Something in your behavior (I imagine it's your attempts to "love on" your flock that triggered most of it) made him think you are a threat and must be kept away from HIS flock. That's another misconception. You think the pullets and hens are yours. They aren't. They are his. He is the one who is with them 24/7.

When you attempt to pick up his hen or even reach out and look like you are going to grab a hen, that is a threat to him (at this point).
When you attempt to give your hens treats, you are a threat to him because he perceives this as attempting to take his hens from him by offering them goodies. That is HIS job!

Do you see where this is going?

Yes, I believe he can be rehabilitated but you need to completely change your attitude perceptions and behavior and from what you've written, I don't think that practical. For you, I think he should be rehomed to someone with experience raising cockerels. You need a lot more experience with chickens before you should consider raising a male in the flock. He has no bond with you. He just wants a flock of ladies. I would advertise him and hopefully someone will want him for a flock leader.

On a side note, it doesn't look like you have anything for enrichment in the pen for your flock. They need perches, stumps, old wood chair, etc to hop up on to hang out and preen. They do well with organic substrate to scratch around in. I would just get down to an all female flock and work on enriching their space.

The only reason I thought of having a rooster is because my school was trying to get rid of him and he was really friendly around me (I am still pretty young) they do have a perch in the pin with them you just can’t see it in the picture I am going to try to add more I am sorry I even asked for help I don’t always want to love on my hens just once in awhile there is a whole story behind why I want to keep him but I will make it short .( so he was friends with my one lavender Orpington when I brought him home they were instantly friends and when she passed away I knew I couldn’t never get rid of him because he was the last little part of her I had ) I am one of those people who can’t stand to get rid of animals from day one it makes me so sad when I have to get rid of my animals.
I am so sorry for being a huge burden