I don't want to cull him, help....

[Wildsky]

Rooster Red has some good tips and tricks in his sig line or his My page... go hunt him down.

Here you go
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2588-Roo_behavior

 

[ranchhand]

My first rooster was a HUGE Golden Comet- he got more agressive as he matured. I had never heard of BYC, no one I knew had ever had chickens, but I knew how pecking order works. He didn't respond to any friendly overtures, and finally I just flat got mad.

I backed his big ol'self into a corner of the pen, reared up as big as I could, loomed over him with my "wings" up and over him, made a bunch of really terrible noises and basically scared him ****less. I mean I really flapped and roared at him! I had to do it one more time, which was unfortunately witnessed by DH, but that did it. I was established as the alpha roo. Even though I'm not a roo.

I have a Golden Sebright roo, itty bitty guy, and not even that has worked with him. He has spurred my leg twice, and I intend to try the "hanging" approach with him. Gently as possible, of course.
Now I have a brand new 6 month EE roo. He is a rescued bird, and terrified of people as a result. He has real panic attacks when I enter his pen. Before I put him in with his betrothed 7 BR hens, I intend to spend a lot of time trying to let him know he can trust me to never hurt him. So I'll just sit down with a beer, (therapy for me, too!), and let him approach me.

I guess I'm saying it depends on the roo as to what approach to take. Good luck!

 

[chookchick]

Why would you want to keep a rooster that isn't even nice to his hens? and scary for visiting kids? Life's too short to be constantly looking over your shoulder....

 

[thechickenchick]

Quote:
You're right. Thats where I am at with this now. I am going to try the suggestions given to me here first. If I can't change his behavior he will have to go. I have to admit, I thought it a little funny that he seemed to like only me! I do the majority of caring for the chickens anyway. So if I am afraid to go in there then we are all in trouble!

Thanks again everyone for your helpful tips and suggestions!

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

When my roo started acting up I grabbed him and carried him around for a while and made sure al the girls saw m carrying him around. When I put him down if h acted mad or aggressive toward me or the hens I would pick him back up. He occassionaly mouths off at me - head wagging and such. So I scoop him up again....

 

[gretchenhau]

My golden comet roo is very aggressive and tries to spur everyone, also pecks everyone. He is 1/2 as big as my 8 year old. When it is short weather, this will be a problem. He is great with his girls, but the humans are another story. He makes me mad. I tried treats, he bites my arm.

BUt I can pick him up at night and put him in the roost. but after he is in the roost don't turn around or bite and spur.

What breed has nice roosters?

Golden comet roos are not nice. I had to get rid of another one that chased my 8 year old all over the yard, never did anything to me, but this on is another story.

 

[thechickenchick]

Well someone must have told him I was talking about him because he avoided me like the plague this morning! When it warms up later today I am going to spend some more time with him and see if I can accomplish some of the suggestions made to me. Thanks again!

 

[gckiddhouse]

I read an article called "keeping your rooster sane" http://shilala.homestead.com/roosters.html
The techniques have really worked. It helps explain the social structure of the chicken flock and tells how to place yourself in the structure as the top roo Super important that everyone in the family gets put in a position above the roo.
I find it interesting that 2 of you have mentioned that you have gold comet roos that are not nice. I also have 2 gold comets/sex-links. One is a hen who is just nasty and a rooster who is really unfriendly. Is this just a nasty breed?
Our rooster is not mean, yet... But he is not at all friendly, and it is almost impossible to catch him.
He did earn his meals today. We had a coyote in the yard. I didn't se it, but he must have been defending his hens because the coyote bit 2 hens, but didn't get away with them, and there were just as many of his feathers out there as there were of the 2 hens. Unfortunately, we had to put the hens down, but it made me realize that even though they don't lay eggs, roosters do serve an important purpose. If mine turns mean, I will just replace him with a nicer one.
And that would be my suggestions, get a nicer roo.

 

[thechickenchick]

Quote:
Thank you for that link. It is an imformative article and even a little entertaining! I don't understand why Vick only attacked DS and DH at first, and now me. I am trying to let him know I am the top roo using the techniques that I have learned here and from the article you shared. Yesterday was better. Unfortunatley it has been so cold here that my time with them has been a little limited. I shoveled 4 ft driftsof snow out of the run yesterday. I did notice he would not come near me when I had the shovel in my hand!! ( I would not hit him, that was just a joke!) I am guessing that it made me more intimidating.

As far as a nice Roo, I have heard from people that BR are usually very sweet, mine is not. Also out of my 2 BR hens 1 of them is as mean as Vick. Does anyone have a suggestion?

We have never culled a bird. So if it comes to this we will call the Hutterite Colony up the road and trade him for a jar of pickles or some onions!

 

[Guinea Goonie]

thanks for the link.

Roos are NOT suppose to be our friends. They are NOT suppose to be sweet and gentle. They have a purpose in the flock. They protect, find treats for his hens, calls them in to roost, warns of danger and keeps the hens in line. If you find a roo that is mean to his hens then you need to rid the hens of him. i had a RIR roo that we called "the rapist" , he was given away and in the end given away again by the receiver. I do believe he is probably in someones freezer by now.