How do I deal with a mean rooster?

[SpeckledPullet]

My 8 week old BLRW roo that I plan to keep has been getting aggressive this past week. He has started running at me when I open the coop and puffing his chest up at me. He then proceeds to try and bite me, aggressively. He nailed me once hard enough that I lost my temper and grabbed him by the neck until he calmed down and then I let him go. What else can I do to teach him I am not a threat and calm him down? These were all hand raised chicks and all will eat out of my hand and are fairly tame. This roo in particulr is my prettiest BLRW roo, so I don't want to get rid of him unless I have to. Thanks!

 

[Guitartists]

There's a lot of good posts here about dealing with aggressive roos, do a search

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

He's that aggressive at 8 WEEKS? Usually they are pretty docile until hormones kick in. You might be abhle to train him up a bit, but I'm thinking that this is a bad sign in one so young.

Some of the others may turn out pretty, too! Sometimes you can't really tell until they get thier second set of true feathers.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

I would feed that little stinker very, very well, give him some garlic, oregano, basil, etc. and then at about 14-18 weeks make Chicken and Cacciatore with him. At 8 weeks it's nuts that he's that mean, I can't imagine what he'll be like as an adult. Definitely not safe.

 

[chicmom]

OH CRAZYFOWLFREAK I AM LAUGHING UNCONTROLLABLY! LMAO

AHEM....

Now, seriously, 8 week is a little guy....I mean, I've got one that is seven weeks old and it's just a BABY! Do you mean 8 months? Now, here's what you do: Everytime he runs at you, snatch him up and hang him upside down. Then proceed to carry him around while you're doing chores, tucked under your arm. Do that consistently, and he will run the other way when you come over.

If that doesn't work, go with CrazyFowlFreaks idea and cook that sucker up!

 

[SpeckledPullet]

Amazingly, TWO of my BLRW roos act like this. The other roo doesn't come at me (only because he is scared of me), but if I have to get near him he will aggressively peck. I was planning on taking him to the auction tonight and getting rid of him.

Would I be better off keeping the scaredy cat rooster? He has always been a mean little bird even as a very young chick, so I had planned on keeping the prettier one. However, now pretty bird is showing his mean streak this past week.

So, which is better to keep?

CrazyFowl - LOVE your idea and might end up doing it if he gets worse LOL.

 

[SpeckledPullet]

Quote:
Thank you! I will happily do that. I was thinking something along the lines of this ... if he is mean, he should learn things will be worse for him by doing that. I just didn't know how to go about it, lol.

BTW, yes they are 8 WEEKS. I thought maybe the hormones were already kicking in "Pretty" roo which was why he just started acting out this past week. The other roo "Scaredy Cat" has just always been mean, so I know its his nature.

Is 8 weeks too young for hormones to be starting?

 

[SpeckledPullet]

Oh, the other weird thing is, ONLY my BLRW roos are mean. My others, a Chochin and 2 SLW roos, are sweet as can be. Is this something common among the BLRW types?

 

[silkieroo]

Hi there first let me say that I'm so sorry this happened! i hatched three boys that started agressing with me and unfortunately they had to go to the big chicken coop in the sky.

Anyway here are the things i tried before i gave them away (hope they work better with yours):
- If he's not two aggressive squirt him with water from a squirt bottle(that will shock him out of his attack
- if hes really aggressive try kicking or hitting him if he attacks or if your really brave try and pick him up

Good Luck
Maddie

 

[chicmom]

Wow, I am amazed that the little 8 week old roo can be getting mean already! Wow! If I had two mean ones, I'd keep the best looking one because of genetics. Shouldn't be too hard to grab up that 8 week old and show him who is boss!

I had the MEANEST Black Copper Marans rooster! I bought him as a cockerel--he wasn't even crowing yet. Once you hear that crowing, I always thought that was when the hormones started......well, he would run up behind me and peck me on the back of the calf, but as he got a bit older, he started flying straight for my face. I wacked him with anything I had in my hand....a food dish, a broom! Finally I had to carry a rolled up magazine with me all the time because he was always waiting to pounce on me! It got so bad that I finally sold him (with warnings of course). He was probably the biggest rooster I've ever seen. HUGE.

I think you might have some good luck if you get after him right now at this young age. Be very very consistent in grabbing him up and carrying him around. He's got to know who's the ultimate boss around your place. YOU!

Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Sharon