I’m intimidated by my rooster.

[Mrs. K]

A couple of ideas. A fish nest with a 5 foot handle is a good way to catch a rooster. Once they get wrapped in the net, they will quit struggling, pop him into a cage or dog crate - then work with you hens.

Send the teenager out there at night, grab him off the roost, put him in the dog crate or cage, next day in the daylight handle your hens.

Personally, I think he is just beginning, and he will get worse, no matter what you do, how you dress or what you do to him. I would not keep him. I have a rooster that is very good to his hens and just moves away from me.

Why people think keeping an attacking animal is a reasonable thing just baffles me. I am more important than the mate of my hens. He is not nearly as important as he thinks he is. If you like the idea of a rooster, get a good one, keeping a rotten rooster is just keeping you from getting a good one. A rooster that flys at you and knocks you down is a rotten rooster. If you don't want a rooster, that is fine too.

Mrs K

 

[Slothinc]

Roosters are a dime a dozen, I would never keep a mean one. I also wouldn’t rehome because that passes the problem of a dangerous bird onto another caretaker. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[pac]

Very informative thread.
I am getting into quails, and had hens/chickens in the past, but had no idea a rooster could behave this way. Definitely food for thought should I ever get the urge.

And so sad. He's a beautiful bird.

 

[FrostRanger]

Very informative thread.
I am getting into quails, and had hens/chickens in the past, but had no idea a rooster could behave this way. Definitely food for thought should I ever get the urge.

And so sad. He's a beautiful bird.

Fortunately, most roosters are fine. Unfortunately many places don't pay enough attention to the temperament of their birds so you do run into a human aggressive one every now and then. I wouldn't let that necessarily put you off keeping a rooster if that ever fits into your goals, it's just something to be aware of

 

[Lulu-vt]

P.S.
He's beautiful! What do you call him?

we are so boring. His name is Roo!

 

[Sinadrea]

TLDR; I’m afraid of my rooster and he won’t let me close to the hens. I need to check one specifically for some health issues I am worried about.

We got chicks last May so he’s almost a year. I got the rooster specifically to take care of the hens. And he does. He’s an amazing caretaker and he’s gentle with them. He had a great upbringing! Lots of human interaction between myself and my teenage kids. But now he’s very defensive of his flock…as he should be.
He hasn’t attacked anyone but he side eyes anyone coming towards the coop and run. If you towards him, he flaps his wings then flies up with his feet first and he’s very large!! It so intimidating.

Two weeks ago he did this to me when i went to change his water. I fell over backwards and landed flat on my back, water from the bucket all over me. Freezing cold. (too bad i didn’t have a camera running!) It was kinda funny but jokes aside, my back still hurts and i’m dealing with it every day.

I have heard to grab them and hold them down to establish dominance. I don’t think there is any way I could grab him safely.

I think one of my hens has something going on with her vent and i haven’t been able to pick her up to check her. I don’t necessarily want to do it at night. I have time in the day but can’t get close.

Please help! I don’t want to get rid of him, I just want to tame him a bit so i can sit in the run or check the health of them all. View attachment 4070788

Just so you know, I don't have a solution and I feel your pain. Mine has attacked me a number of times and I usually have to scream to get him to quit charging at me. I carry a stick to push him away when needed.
You may have to visit your hen when its dark because the chickens are more docile at night.
Also, Roo is beautiful, what is his breed?

 

[Sinadrea]

Hey all.
Mean roo rehabber here. Let me explain his behavior first, which is very relatable to ours people (see yourself in others, the lack of this, is all that is wrong with this world):

1. Fear is over thinking manifesting itself as a perseive problem.
2. Chickens have 3 respnoses Freeze, Flight & Flight.
3. It is a combonation of his nature(instinct) & nurture (stimulus). His instinct, per say, male hormones (a survival aide, everything fuctions as a perserving tools).

"Nurture"/ a Stimulus; the presence of hens and a persieved threat (something about you, or on you, i.e. shiny boot clad foot).

"Nature"/ an innate behavior or instinct; React. You have a good roo. He chose aggression, a tool more likily to ensure the survival of his flock (he is the steward/leader).

DO NOT USE THE "BOSS" METHOD! Anyone who tells you to make him submit, or to domiate him, does not know what they are talking about. It is bad advice. You will only show him he is right to fear/react to you like that, because you are showing him you are a threat! Most of the "mean" cocks I get, were handled this way.

1. Change the persective, you change the perseption. He is wary about you, now, beacuse somthing has changed. He is reacting to that change.
2. Show him you come in peace/ your presence is good/rewarding to him.

I suppose I understand why you are also wary of him (him=pain), but someone has to show him he has nothing to fear (no sudden movements, or flailing please).

Do you have a person whom is not afraid of him?

My first advice is to pay him no heed if he jumps you, no swatting, no reacting to him. If he continues, when I do the chores, I will calmly, gentle, but firmly, pick him up and finish my chores with him!
This is a kind method that strongly says "I am here, but will not harm you," and "If you keep this up, I am going to carry you around every morning buddy!"

If you cannot correct this now, my advice is to give him to someone willing to positvely help him or take him under thier wing

I have a few questions, how do you handle a rooster when he tries to use his spurs on you sometimes? I'm afraid to get cloae to him.
How do I grab eggs with him present?
Is it possible to acclimate a rooster to a small child?
I know a lot of people say to cull him at this point but I'm looking to see if there's any way to spare him.

 

[Evadig]

I have a few questions, how do you handle a rooster when he tries to use his spurs on you sometimes? I'm afraid to get cloae to him.

Mine is in a coop/run that I never have to physically enter. If I do need to handle him, it's at night with a flashlight.

How do I grab eggs with him present?

I have a Dutch door at the entrance of the coop (which is inside a shed). The nesting boxes are right next to the door, so I just reach in and grab eggs. He never bothers me while doing this.

Is it possible to acclimate a rooster to a small child?

Some - not if they're already aggressive to adults, though.

 

[FrostRanger]

I have a few questions, how do you handle a rooster when he tries to use his spurs on you sometimes? I'm afraid to get cloae to him.
How do I grab eggs with him present?
Is it possible to acclimate a rooster to a small child?
I know a lot of people say to cull him at this point but I'm looking to see if there's any way to spare him.

If there's a small child involved the rooster REALLY needs to be culled. Small children can't defend themselves well from an attack at all and they can take an attack the face. A rooster can easily blind a child or completely mess up their face. Do not underestimate how much damage a rooster can do. We had a case last year where a rooster sent someone's little sister to the ER twice before he was finally culled. Roosters are a dime a dozen, a child's eyesight, not so much, don't chance it

 

[Sinadrea]

If there's a small child involved the rooster REALLY needs to be culled. Small children can't defend themselves well from an attack at all and they can take an attack the face. A rooster can easily blind a child or completely mess up their face. Do not underestimate how much damage a rooster can do. We had a case last year where a rooster sent someone's little sister to the ER twice before he was finally culled. Roosters are a dime a dozen, a child's eyesight, not so much, don't chance it

Thank you. I am replacing him with a hopefully gentler breed soon.