How should I fight a rooster?

[patandchickens]

My Little Sister's Farm :

My real solution requires you slipping in at dusk and then watching the sun rise together. As long as he's in the crock put by 8 he'll be ready to go at dinner time.

Oh, that is just *brilliantly* put. If there were a page of highlights of BYC wisdom, that for sure should be on it!

To the O.P., I hope he at least tasted good

I processed three cockerels last weekend, one of them because he was always causing an uproar and had started looking like he was keeping a secret diary of plans for revolution in which I would be the first one up against the wall... made a very good curry last night.

Pat​

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Good answers, everyone!

I'm going to re-read these when I get back home tonight. It's crazy Wednesday, so we'll be going non-stop till 7:30 p.m. with 'activities', and tonight is my first night as a Daisy leader. Maybe I can keep the little girls in line by recounting my rooster saga, ending with POW! That should set the tone for the year.

(Just kidding. Maybe.)

(Gotta check that link when I get back...... MAN! I hate Wednesdays!!)

 

[ella]

It would be nice if you could buy a roosters affection with treats, but honestly, as long as you are afraid you will be a target.

If you act tough, but are anxious, afraid, or aggressive they will always respond to your anxiety, fear, or aggression. That's the wonderful and sometimes inconvenient thing about working with animals.

Maybe spending some time outside the fence, just watching your flock and how the rooster talks to them and cares for them, might change the way you see him. If you can understand the nuances of his body language maybe you won't be so nervous when you have to deal with him.

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
I have to agree with #4. Our Big Blue opr roo was really agressive in a small pen so we let him free range with the eating egg girls. He's much better. However, if one of his girls starts sqwaking, he comes running loaded for bear. We have one hen who likes to "talk" alot and she follows you around so you have to be careful that there isn't a "misunderstanding".

We have had to "punt" him once or twice and that tends to readjust his attitude. The other day I was checking for eggs and you know who started sqwaking at me since I disturbed her on the nest. He comes running giving me the hairy eyeball. I told him, "Blue, I'm already taking one rooster to the butcher this morning for attacking me, don't think I won't box you up too." It was no doubt my tone, but I'd like to think it was the words that turned him around!

As for the other rooster - who is now in the freezer - he would attack me through the fence! I tried to be firm with him. I was physical with him. I did all the rooster taming tips, but when he attacked me while my back was turned and bit me, that was the last straw. He was mean to me and the kids. He was afraid of DH. Dh took care of him mostly, but there were times where it just wasn't feasable(sp).

I only kept him around because he was fairly expensive and I bought him for his gene pool. I think, though, everyone has their line in the sand. He crossed mine so kamp Kold he went.

 

[MandyH]

I have a big old Welsummer roo that attacked me for the first time last week. I was shocked when he did it too. I had slipped DH's green Crocs on to run out there and that's what he attacked, those stupid green shoes. I had to fight him off of me with the feed bucket to get out of the coop. I asked DH had he been harassing the roo or had any trouble while he was out there and he said no. I told him what happened and he laughed. Well the NEXT day DH goes out to feed with his green Crocs on and WHAM, he gets tagged by the rooster LOL LOL LOL!!! Neither one of us have worn the green shoes out this week and we had no troubles,, until today. I was using a purple feed scoop to fill their feeder and he came at it so hard he knocked it out of my hand and then jumped up and tried to spur me. Well I grabbed the scoop up real quick and knocked fire from him. I guess this roo has something against colors. He would have been dead the first time but he's the only wellie roo we have.

 

[Big C]

On ours:
At the first sign of any agression toward us we drop kick them like a football when they aren't looking. After they get over the initial shock with either one of us standing over them we do it again.
Freaks them out totally...
Also helps with their agression toward the hens.

 

[RonB]

LOL I have to laugh at some of your stories! Its funny how we can be afraid of something thats stands maybe two feet tall! But I do understand!
I have a 4 1/2 month old barred rock roo. he will come with my two ducks and eat out of my hands. but in the open field he won't get too close. The last three nights he has been on one roost on one side of the coop while my eight hens have been on the other roost on the other side of the coop. When I walk up to him he kind of puffs himself up and leans a little forward like he's ready to peck me. and he does once or twice then I rub his chest and he stops. I know I have to show him who is boss right from the start. don't want him going after my wife or he'll end up on the grill!

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Quote:
What I do when our roo comes at me, I actually chase him down and grab him. I only had to do that a handful of times before he found out I was boss and that I wouldn't back down. I don't blame him b/c he only is protecting his flock but at the same time I am not the one he needs to be protecting them from. It's kind of funny when I grab him and then hold him tightly b/c he starts to then fall asleep in my arms.

 

[Davis5454]

What I do when our roo comes at me, I actually chase him down and grab him. I only had to do that a handful of times before he found out I was boss and that I wouldn't back down.

Personally...I like that one.

It's late, so I hope I don't sound rude....but i'll just throw a few thoughts out.

My kids were scared at first...but now know that the chickens are nothing to be afraid of and handle them quite well. I had them do the following....

1 - wear long pants
2 - wear shoes (not flip flops)
3 - carry a walking stick to put between you and the rooster when they come around (they tend to stay on the other side of the stick when you keep it between the two of you and gently hold them back or prod them a little with the long side of the stick)
4 - be the boss......but don't antagonize them

My oldest used to kick back at the roo's ....they still look for him to "get him"
I actually start taking steps toward the roos (left, right, left, right) and hold my hands out (leather gloves help if you are scared) to look bigger than him. This backs him up and he eventually backs down and walks away. No kicking or flogging.

With the right clothes on, it doesn't hurt, no blood, and you realize that it's really nothing to be scared of. Even the BEST of roos will sometimes challenge to see if he's big enough to be the boss yet. It's worked pretty well so far....the now mostly ignore me or back right away and leave us alone.

I decided LONG AGO.....I'M THE BIGGEST CHICKEN AROUND HERE !!! (hehe) So they better BACK OFF !!!

Hope this helps....​

 

[Eggs4Sale]

I read most of these this evening before leaving for town, and went out to feed the animals one last time. I carried a stick with me just in case. I kept watching Blue Andalusian, really looking for the best in him, and I was surprised to see he was circling me. He didn't look crazy, like Splash had, but he seemed to be considering the idea. He did this two or three times.

At this point, he doesn't have a real place in the flock as he's too new. He has positioned himself easily over the Golden Campine roo, but the ladies do not pay him any mind at all. He tries to feed them, and he gets nothing in return.

I don't know what to do now. I'm not sure if all the advise here is contradictory or if I'm just in denial. Some say kick him now. Some say don't be an aggressor because he may not have thought of it yet. I don't know. I DO know I'll wear heavier pants, sturdier shoes, and carry a big stick.