How to put a rooster in his place

[Chic Chick]

After reading a couple of the topics about rooster behavior and not wanting to hijack, I'm curious as to how to train them before trouble happens. I have an 8 year old gs that goes to gather eggs every so often and I sure wouldn't want him to get attacked. I do warn him to always keep an eye on the roo every time he's visiting. The roo (ameraucana) is very good at causing a commotion and protecting his girls from any animal that comes near their yard and so far is respectful of me.
So is the best way to show that people are the boss ,picking him up and holding him? What do you do if he pecks you when you've got him? I've read to hold him upside down for a minute - is that right? Any hints would be helpful.

 

[birdsofparadise]

Luckily, I seem to intimidate roos but my wife has this problem with getting charged. At first, I told her to flap her arms and crow so he would think she was a bigger roo. It worked for awhile, but then the charging started again. So she imitated a roo again and kicked him (well, more like punted him) across the chicken yard. It sounds mean, but it certainly worked.

 

[SussexInSeattle]

I can't have a rooster so I can't tell you from experience BUT if an animal is respectful, there is no reason to intimidate him, only if a problem develops. If you are that fearful for your grandson, I would suggest that you not let him go in the coop unsupervised.

Doesn't matter if you took rooster by his feet and flung him to the moon, it would only make him fearful of you, it would not stop him from aggressing on a lone child going into his coop. I would keep doing everything the same and simply accompany your grandson out there. Good chance for quality time anyway.

 

[Frizzledhen]

I had an ameraucana roo. My grandkids and I handled him since he was just a couple days old. He was a favorite of the grandkids. He grew up and was given some girls to take care of and decided to do his job of protecting them to the highest level. Everything was just fine until one day I had to catch one of his girls to doctor a wound. I then became his #1 enemy. I tried all the suggestions given here at BYC but his aggression only became worse over time. I wouldn't even let the grandkids go out to the barn unless that roo was locked up. I know he was only doing what roos do but it got so bad that I was becoming afraid to go in his coop or in the yard if they were out. I am too old to be fighting with a 12# roo even if he is only doing his job. Since nothing worked in taming the the beast, his last contribution was teaching me how to process my own chickens.

 

[Chickapooh23]

I don't know. I have an EE Roo that is starting to be a problem. He is only 6 months old. He harasses my 3 yr old when she help me with eggs. He even chase my son 13 who is taller then I am. Me, he leaves alone. He'll try to stare me down if he is on the roost with the hens but I usually just pen him up by himself until he behaves.

I don't know if you can fix a problem one. You just have to show them who is boss.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Mine got a boot to the caboose this morning after he chased my poor 16 year old Tabby. Trust me he's got enough tail feathers to take it. He walked away pouting with the girls following.

 

[kodiakchicken]

I hatched some eggs in November and ended up with five roos out of seven hatched. They are 16 weeks old this week and I've decided I have absolutely no use for roosters on my property. These guys were hand raised, got tons of attention from everyone in the house but still got mean. One in particular was the sweetest bird I've ever been around and then overnight he started biting and being mean. I picked him up and carted him around, held his beak, did it all and he still would wait for his next chance to bite (serious biting, not pecking).

Even after I moved them outside and gave them more room he kept it up and now the others do it - and they do it when I'm pouring feed in their bowl! Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! I was pouring feed in their bowl the other night and one of the others reached over and bit me and drew blood. I nailed him with my mag light and he's been more wary, but still challenging me.

I have a mixed flock with girls that are probably never going to go broody, so any chicks I get would be mutts and would have to be brooder hatched. My dogs are far better at guarding the flock than any rooster could dream of. I've got a young child and like my yard to be a haven for her friends. I don't need that kind of behaviour from any animal.

As with a previous poster, these boys' contribution will be teaching me how to process my own - this weekend!

 

[FaereChicken]

Agreed. My beautiful SS roo spurred me in the kneecap a couple of days ago - this weekend I will get processing practice. Life's too short to be nervous about going outside because of a freakin' BIRD!

 

[vfem]

Troubles can happen! I had the sweetest roo every until he hit 7 months old... then he got aggressive toward my daughter and husband... and eventually bit me.

He was even over powering the girls every chance he got... then crowed constantly day in and day out!!! Like he just wanted to hear himself speak. I was ready to take his head off!!!

My husband punched him when he tried to bite him. A few days later he tried to run after my daughter so I scooped him up and walked around with him for about 30 minutes and put him back up in the coop when I was done showing him who's boss.

He's gone on to be 10 months old now, and the crowing has slowed down, and he acts like he's going to DO something when he's around me... but I make a jerking motion at him and he decides to just stay clear of me instead.

I think a big stick is a good idea

 

[Beekissed]

I don't know if this has anything to do with it at all, but a common thread I have been reading throughout this forum about roos that become aggressive starts with....."hand-raised, lots of affection, handled all the time, carried him around all the time, used to be our pet, let the kids hold him and pet him, spoiled him all the time,etc."

I've also heard that rams who were bottle fed and made into pets were a terror to have around upon reaching sexual maturity.

Maybe the key is that everyone is treating these roos with too much familiarity and a certain amount of disrespect comes with that. A rooster is not a pet, he's a male animal and as such is hormonally driven to do a few things very well....none of these include playing nice with kids, dogs, cats, etc. One wouldn't make a pet out of a bull and expect you could never turn your back on him, same with a billy goat....one day they get an idea to turn on you and it always hurts. I'd say its the same with a rooster.

Of course there are always exceptions, but not enough to make it a rule.

I don't handle any of my chickens unless I need to do so. Especially the roos. I want my chickens flighty....this means they are more alert and have a better response time with predators. I also don't want my roo to think I'm a push over, or beneath him in the social chain. ANY invasion of my personal space is rewarded with an advance towards him with a purposeful stride or stance. I don't respond with any rooster-like activities like flapping or crowing....I'm not a rooster and I don't want him even thinking I may be. To him, I'm the alpha predator, top dog in the food chain. My corrections are quick and aggressive...not painful but they certainly leave a message:

I'm dangerous and not to be messed with.

I think kids of a certain age can be safely around a rooster, provided that kid is farm savvy and smart about reading animals. Kids shorter than a roo or only slightly taller are in danger, no matter what. They are vulnerable because their size makes them so, because they have young, uncertain voices, strides, movements. This makes them a target for aggression.

A "tame" rooster has forgotten that humans are predators and will take advantage of that if the notion strikes him.

Lesson: Don't treat roosters like pets or big parrots or even like your hens....they need to be somewhat aggressive to protect the flock, to breed vigorously, to be male. Give them their personal space, make them respect yours. $.02