I had to kick some SERIOUS rooster a_ _ this morning. We had a little "come to jesus" meeting.

[Morganwood]

I feel Kelly G did what "came-to-her" at that moment. Drawing from her experiences with animals she immediately knew what she needed to do. A commendable job to say the least. As Morganwood's dog has demonstrated in their situation it came down to who's in charge. (you can have it but you'll have to go through me to get it). Heirarchal authority is a common thread that runs through nearly all (if not all) mammals.

I'd have done the same thing, my daughter's dog just got there first. My daughter is 3 so having a rooster jumping at her is potentially dangerous. That dog now goes with us whenever we feed, water or collect eggs. I feel better knowing someone else is keeping an eye on her if my back is turned. I understand it's mating season and he's more wound up than usual, but he rules the roost...we rule him and everything else.

 

[RedIII]

This has been a great thread to read through, and it's interesting to see some of the different scenarios people deal with and how they're handled. My cockerel has been pretty decent toward me, but he's only eleven months old and I hope he doesn't take a turn for the nasty soon. I keep forgetting about how wearing different clothing can alienate you from the rooster. I have heard my cockerel give his warning growl a few times when I come into sight - the one that says, "Danger, Will Robinson!" - but I think I understand now that it was because I was wearing a coat or different heavy clothing that he didn't recognize. I make it a point to talk to him and tell him hello when I first see him in a day, as funny as it may sound. I tend to talk to my birds a little bit as I'm walking around the yard and doing things, and I think it helps them recognize me. I have seen my cockerel loosen up after I talk to him and he realizes who I am.

And then on the other hand, I have some eight-week-old cockerels who have gotten it into their heads lately that they need to start challenging me when I come around. At first I thought it was because they were worried that I was going to pick them up and they didn't want to be handled, but now I'm not so sure. I've had two of them peck and bite at me for no reason when I'm reaching into their pen to retrieve an empty dish. Of course, I don't like this behavior and even if they're being raised primarily as meat birds, I peck them back on the neck or body with my finger, sometimes repeatedly. And sometimes I grab them and hold them for a minutes just to show them who's boss. They're large enough that they can mingle with the flock of adults in the daytime without incident, so they've now graduated to that flock for the next little while. I'll let my older cockerel school them if they get out of line any more, at least enough to humble them.

Oh, forgot to add something. Someone was asking about their rooster biting when they put a diaper on him. I've had my cockerel bite me a couple of times, but they were gentle bites and nothing serious, and each incident had only one nip, not a repeated, aggressive bite. Both times were when he was feeling particularly stressed and I was handling him, so I believe it was his way of letting me know that he wasn't happy, nothing more.

 

[jak2002003]

Oh, I don't recommend separating him (unless he is out of sight and ear shot of the hens).

I found that separating a rooster makes them get more and more frustrated and then when they are let out they will let fly all that built up frustration - either on another rooster or the hens!

 

[County Boy]

What kind of rooster was/ is it.

 

[Kelly G]

What kind of rooster was/ is it.

I'm sorry I missed your post! It is a Silver Laced Wyandotte.

And just an update for everyone - he has been as good as gold! Not even one fluffed up feather and he gives me a wide berth as I do my chores.

I'm really, really glad because I do like him!

 

[welasharon]

I should have clarified. When I was speaking of natural instincts I meant that a rooster's instinct is to defend his flock so aggression towards him could be interpreted by the rooster as a predator attack.

Dogs and horses have been developed for the task of working for humans. We have selected them for the desire to please humans. Chickens, though some may become friendly through treats/handling, do not have the want-to-please instinct that a dog or horse has. This makes a huge difference in the relationship between humans and chickens vs. the relationship of humans and dogs/horses. 

We use intimidation/dominance/aggression towards dogs or horses to establish that we are in charge for the purpose of getting that animal to do what we want. These techniques only work because ultimately the animal wants to please us. However, sometimes there are horses or dogs that don't want to please us and the end result is usually a mean animal that gets put down or lives an isolated life. 

I think that when we start with a rooster, which, because it is a bird and not a mammal, does not have that want-to-please instinct we are likely to create a mean animal if we are aggressive towards it. I've been reading comments on threads regarding roosters carefully and generally it seems that people who use serious physical aggression towards their rooster (hitting, kicking) have a recurring problem. They win the battle but not the war. In contrast, there are other posts from people who write about understanding their rooster's motivation--seeing that he is in defense or breeding mode--and giving the rooster space. 

When my rooster hit adolesence and began testing me I simply didn't react. Didn't retreat...but wasn't aggressive either. His attacks never escalated beyond exploratory pecks and they quit altogether after about two weeks. I feel like we have an understanding now and he knows I'm not a threat he needs to defend himself or his hens against. I'm there for food and shelter and he's there for breeding and protection. I'm not a part of the pecking order so he doesn't need to dominate me. I'm not threatening his safety or his role so he doesn't need to defend himself by attacking me.  

Please understand that I'm not making a rule about all roosters all the time, there will be exceptions, of course. Also, I do want to acknowledge that people have different motivations for owning chickens. If someone's main purpose is to have pets and their rooster cannot fulfill that role then it is best they do not have roosters. It would be kinder, ultimately, to the rooster to be removed rather than to live a life of conflict where the rooster's instinct to defend is continually being activated by an aggressive human. 

The rooster that attacked me is one that would come to me to be picked up and held so him attacking me was a complete shock. Since then I have given him as much space as possible but if we meet head to head in the yard...he wants to attack again. I can only do so much. I want to keep him but I refuse to walk around me yard having to watch out for him.

 

[Kelly G]

Welsharon - this is just my opinion - and others may feel differently, but I find a rooster respects me more if I did not treat it as a pet. I treat my hens as friendly as I want, but the roos (as soon as I identify them, they are not coddled...I use my body to push them away from me and/or everything they want - food, water, other chickens. I don't torture them, but I move them away and hold them away, and then I walk away.

*shrug* it has worked for me...so far...

Sometimes a rooster is just not going to suit our needs...whatever those needs are (I need a respectful and attractive rooster).

 

[highpointfarm]

LOL

A Rooster Whisperer is available in many sizes.

 

[GlacierHen]

It has been my experience that you will have to risk being injured and hold him by the legs every time you go out to the coop from now on. Gets old quick. I don't put up with it. Time to trade him for a new young rooster if you must have one. There are breeds of chickens to choose from where there is a greater chance of getting a rooster that will always be nice.

 

[Hyline]

What breeds are those GlacierHen? I wouldn't mind rehoming a NICE roo in need, but it would have to be a NICE one lol.