How do I pick up my crazy roo??

[mamadrake]

I’m new to chicken raising, and have 6 beautiful olive-eggers, one of whom is an aggressive rooster. A couple of weeks ago, he attacked my toddler, and has since run at me twice, scratching my leg up today. I had to kick at him today, and eventually push at him with a shovel to get him to stop running at me.

I don’t want to eat him or get rid of him (who wants a mean rooster??), and would love to try to work with him, but I’m afraid to pick him up as others have suggested. If I try to pick him up, won’t he attack me again? Or will he bite or peck at me? I want to try picking him up and holding him, but I’m afraid. Im not to afraid to be outside with him, though I do carry a broom around.

The chickens have all been pretty timid, and don’t really like for me to pick them up. At night, they let me pet them, but I know they are skittish. For the first time today, they came running for me when they saw me come outside, which was encouraging. So, the thing is, how do I deal with an aggressive rooster who is already naturally timid and averse to being handled much?

And no, I don’t want to serve him for dinner. I’m attached to my birds...yes, even him. Though I was pretty irate when he went after my son and terrified him......

 

[kkenney]

You can throw a towel over him to make it easier to pick him up and once you're holding him give him treats. I've had 9 roosters in 7 years and honestly every one of mine was either nice or mean. There was no in between. Good luck, I hope yours can be an exception to the rule. Unfortunately every nasty one of mine got shot after injuring my kids and the nice ones stay as pets.

 

[mamadrake]

Aww. I’m sad to hear that, but I understand. Right after mine attacked my son, I thought about grabbing my pistol. But I think that might freak out my neighbors! And, strangely, I love the little meanie.

 

[redranger209]

There’s an article somewhere about working with roosters. I’ll find it and link it.

 

[redranger209]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dealing-with-roosters-roo-behavior.48152/

Here it is.

 

[kkenney]

I loved my roo's too and I was heart broken but my 2 year old ended up with a nasty infection that required two weeks of antibiotics from being spurred. After the dr visit, kids went inside and I grabbed the gun to put an end to it. Some people are fine with aggressive roosters but they have no place on my acreage with having little kids around.

 

[redranger209]

I would keep all little kids away. My nieces and nephews hate chickens and are terrified of anything bigger than a day old chick, so it’s not a problem for me. Just don’t have them in the same place at the same time.

 

[Rose Quartz]

I’m new to chicken raising, and have 6 beautiful olive-eggers, one of whom is an aggressive rooster. A couple of weeks ago, he attacked my toddler, and has since run at me twice, scratching my leg up today. I had to kick at him today, and eventually push at him with a shovel to get him to stop running at me.

I don’t want to eat him or get rid of him (who wants a mean rooster??), and would love to try to work with him, but I’m afraid to pick him up as others have suggested. If I try to pick him up, won’t he attack me again? Or will he bite or peck at me? I want to try picking him up and holding him, but I’m afraid. Im not to afraid to be outside with him, though I do carry a broom around.

The chickens have all been pretty timid, and don’t really like for me to pick them up. At night, they let me pet them, but I know they are skittish. For the first time today, they came running for me when they saw me come outside, which was encouraging. So, the thing is, how do I deal with an aggressive rooster who is already naturally timid and averse to being handled much?

And no, I don’t want to serve him for dinner. I’m attached to my birds...yes, even him. Though I was pretty irate when he went after my son and terrified him......

yeah, not sure I would ever trust him around my kid again.

but carrying a towel or pillow case with you is a good Idea. just throwing it probably wont work, but using it to cover his face as you are reaching to pick him up. If he's posturing hes less likely to take off if you reach for him calmly, throwing something at him will likely get him jumping away and coming at you.

if you're worried about him pecking you, you know the "football hold" stick his face backward instead of forwards. there won't be anything within his reach to peck at. just your shirt.

what I've noticed sets off some roos is when a human is moving in sudden bursts. watch how he reacts to slow continuous, movements versus say someone backing up and turning around, bending or reaching suddenly.

also, try different footwear. (I had a roo that went completely psycho around rubber boots.) he wasn't exactly nice with shoes, but he wasn't as bad.

good luck hope you can train him to be a gentleman.

 

[snow5164]

I’m done at “ it attacked my toddler “ do you know how fast your son could loose an eye? He’s shorter then you just the right height for that aggressive rooster to get him.

I can’t believe you found someone to feed this .. I like my Roosters too but not more then my child . Do the responsible thing and kill that beast , they’re either mean or nice .. that is true !!!

 

[redranger209]

In the article I linked, it said that picking him up is useless. It doesn’t mean anything to a chicken, you have to speak his language.