How to tame aggressive rooster?

[Skipper81]

He is a teenager I wouldn’t chase him or hold him down or run away either
He is just checking his boundaries with you and acting out like a teenager does
I had 1 rooster act that way I did nothing about it and I’m glad he stopped after about a month
In my opinion your making a chasing game by running after him your teaching him how to act and that you are there to battle him
I know some roosters just don’t turn around there behavior but I’ve read good articles on carrying a rooster around while you do chores and stroking the back of his neck works

 

[Alexandra33]

The way I see it, fitting yourself into the flock's pecking order can only encourage bad behavior. Consider the fluid dynamics of the pecking order.....there comes a time when head male is challenged by his subordinates. Whether he ultimately remains at the top relies on circumstances.

If we're aiming to attain the position of dominant "rooster," wouldn't the same conditions apply to us? And who wants to deal with the stress which comes with repeatedly reminding the cockerels of their place? Bossing them around isn't the answer, at least, in my experiences.

No, it's best to remain outside the pecking order, to potentially minimize future problems.

Speaking of which; I brought two of my favorite young men inside today, for a little lunch date. They associate me with positive things, such as delicious morsels.

~Alex

 

[cassie]

Yeah but, roosters don't know about 'manners'. Your trying to teach a human concept to a rooster!

Oh good grief. Teaching manners means teaching what is acceptable behavior and what is not. It is not an exclusively human concept, by the way. Ever watch a mother dog with her puppies? A dog, or horse, or rooster will not learn to behave by osmosis. Someone has to teach them. I have been successful with my dogs, horses, and goats. With my roosters, not so much, but then I didn't put all that much effort into teaching them, either.

 

[333113]

Oh good grief. Teaching manners means teaching what is acceptable behavior and what is not. It is not an exclusively human concept, by the way. Ever watch a mother dog with her puppies? A dog, or horse, or rooster will not learn to behave by osmosis. Someone has to teach them. I have been successful with my dogs, horses, and goats. With my roosters, not so much, but then I didn't put all that much effort into teaching them, either.

Chickens are so very much smarter than most people give them credit for. My dad's chickens knew he always carried the chicken feed in the metal bucket and never bothered the yellow plastic bucket with the rabbit food. When I housed a pair of chickens next to rabbits, they quickly learned the rabbit technique of putting their greens in the water to keep them fresh. In the winter when I go out to check on them before I go shopping, they don't call me to feed them like they do when I go out in my barn coat....they go nuts when they see the barn coat.
That's just a few small examples. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you will see all kinds of ways that your chickens are paying attention to you while keeping track of everything else in their world. I think a lot of people are actually training their birds all the time, and just don't realize it. It's important to be aware and be consistent, as any animal trainer would tell you.[/QUOTE]

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Eehhhhh.....no.

 

[Shadrach]

Chickens are so very much smarter than most people give them credit for. My dad's chickens knew he always carried the chicken feed in the metal bucket and never bothered the yellow plastic bucket with the rabbit food. When I housed a pair of chickens next to rabbits, they quickly learned the rabbit technique of putting their greens in the water to keep them fresh. In the winter when I go out to check on them before I go shopping, they don't call me to feed them like they do when I go out in my barn coat....they go nuts when they see the barn coat.
That's just a few small examples. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you will see all kinds of ways that your chickens are paying attention to you while keeping track of everything else in their world. I think a lot of people are actually training their birds all the time, and just don't realize it. It's important to be aware and be consistent, as any animal trainer would tell you.

[/QUOTE]
They are at least this smart and we've only just started looking.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/thinking-chickens.74680/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think the comments of @Alexandra33, @Skipper81 and @Shadrach should be considered for their value.
What I saw is the OP reporting that the birds were handled regularly. IMHO, quit handling the birds.
The rooster is trying to do his job as flock protector. If you handle the hens, you are getting in the way of him doing his job.
We all have different breeds, different methods and you should do as you please. However, I never handle a chicken till after dusk. I currently have about 30 or so roosters, have had hundreds of roosters and haven't been attacked by a rooster in about 10 years or more.

 

[333113]

They are at least this smart and we've only just started looking.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/thinking-chickens.74680/[/QUOTE]
Thank you for posting this great research paper. I have read some of the underlying articles, but this overview is very helpful! I have bookmarked it, and also printed it out for future reference.

In line with our current theme, I found this sentence in the article to be completely relevant to our discussion:
"Dominant males who hear subordinate males giving the tidbitting display will often attack and then displace the subordinate male."

If we call our hens and give them food without reference to the senior rooster, he may well decide we need to be attacked and displaced!

 

[Shadrach]

I'm pleased you liked the article. I've also read some of the referenced sources but this is the best overview I've found so far.
You might like some of my articles. Two are in the featured article section at the moment.

 

[Ms Clucky]

One of my roosters did that but wasn't to aggressive. He was a Murray McMurray hatchling, but we loved on him when he was a baby because the other babies would pick on him. We finally had to give him to someone. But I think he is happy, cause the people who tool him has 10 acres and they let them free range.