I kicked my rooster, now he's hurt!

[Clay Valley Farmer]

Works well to follow them around the run, not chase but just track them for a few minutes every once and a while to to let them know they are below you in the pecking order.

 

[pinkwindsong]

A trick Ive heard of is that instead of getting physical with him which is what another roo would do is.. give him a goodie right then and there.. because another Roo would not give him a goodie.. also could try while he is breeding dont kick him but knock him off of her and you stand over the hen there for you have become the bigger roo..

 

[blefky]

Happy to hear that he's doing better, as much for you as for him.

You might want to consider carrying a broom or rake with you into the run for a while, it helps if they get their hackles up. Also, I don't believe that your actions were at all inappropriate yesterday. Roosters can do a lot of damage, and you protected yourself - end of story. You might want to look into removing his spurs, there are threads on the forum as to how to go about it - not difficult, and really not traumatic for the bird either, couple drops of blood at most and then you'll have less chance of serious injury from him (at least til they grow back, and that takes a while). If his behavior continues to be aggressive in the future, I personally would not keep him around. There are good roos out there, having a roo that you can't turn your back on takes all of the pleasure out of keeping a flock. Good luck and

 

[Marcymom3]

All of my chickens are pullets. I thought I wanted a rooster but after hearing this I don't know. I am new to chickens also. Just wondering if the nest box head draped over the roost wasn't him just sulking at letting himself get punted. I don't think I'd have the heart to do that, but really we don't really know what we'd do until we are in that situation. What I can tell you is that you shouldn't second guess yourself. You did what you thought was right at the time and probably acted on instinct more than anything. It's over now, and you can't go back. If he continues to attack you and your husband and you can't reform him using the others' advice, maybe you could rehome him.

Good luck.

 

[Godsgrl]

Don't feel too badly about what you did. I have kicked many a rooster when they get too big in the britches. Maybe you just knocked the wind out of him or something. Glad to hear he is feeling better now, anyway.

 

[JD4570]

Glad he's alright. I've learned to never kick straight on at rooster instead I use the side of my foot and not to hard. Then I follow him around 3 to 4 minutes to let him know who's boss. Get a walking stick, that way you can tap on the back or"gently" poke them in the behind. As for removing spurs I don't because all the predators around here. Back in June my rooster fought off a peregrine falcon that tried to attack a hen. The roo is a RIR and weighs over 10 pounds.

 

[foxypoproxy]

Good to know hes ok

You probably just hurt his pride alittle when you kicked him and he went to go hide or moop.
Roosters are strong determined little things so i had a feeling a kick wouldn't take him down.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I agree, don't feel bad, you may have just really scared him, all that holding and giving treats etc, hasn't been very effective for me with roosters, I think it's a normal reflex to kick em when they attack you - the rooster has just learned you are not a rooster, you are a human and humans can kick, hard! so he prob learned not to mess with you.
I kinda know how you feel though, so I'll share a story...I let mama hen out for the first jaunt out of the baby pen with her six week old chicks...I carried a long piece of wood to 'herd' them, so she wouldn't wind up in thick woods, sheparding them in the side yard with weeds and good bugs...so the reject rooster comes running over and tries to hop on the hen - no courtship, she's fluffed up and warning to stay away, but no, idiot boy won't back off, (I was worried about the chicks getting hurt too) So I whacked him on the neck really hard, hard enough to break the stick (okay it was kinda rotted in places) and the rooster falls on the ground flopping around - wow - I thought I broke his neck, or maybe hit him in the head and he's having a seizure or something, then I realize he's humping the ground:/
I couldn't see all the chicks and thought one might be caught under him, so I kicked him ...like a football...fortunately the chicks were all in the tall grass...that day he became slated for thanksgiving (since there's no turkey season in fall here)
He was fine, ran off but kept looking back, dodging the rocks I threw at him...
So for the next week or 2 when I let the hen and kids out I have a pocket full of rocks and got pretty good at winging them where he was going be....the other day, I saw him hanging around too close, and was about to modify him when I noticed he was actually trying to offer the hen treats and keeping his distance, and actually behaving like a gentleman...I guess some just have to learn the hard way.
we'll prob still eat him though.

 

[Mamapoint]

AChickenWrangler#1, you had me laughing to myself picturing you hurling rocks at your roo! LOL! That really cheered me up! LOL!

Thanks everyone for all your kind words of support and your suggestions. One of my coworkers also told me this morning to bring a broom in the run with me. So that is what I'll try next. I never dreamed that I could really hurt him when I went to kick him or I never would have done it! Live and learn!! And if he continues to be agressive, he'll have to go on Craigslist. However, I do hope we can live in peace because it is nice to have him. He does a good job of keeping the hens safe and close to home when we let them out. I told my DH last night, I never dreamed I could be this attached to a BIRD!

Thanks again, everyone! Your support has been immeasurable!!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Good, I;m glad it cheered you up! I also use a broom to keep em all off the poarch, I've tried using it as a scarecrow, but it only works when I pick it up, or yell, get off the poarch, and then pick it up...they still make it a routine to walk through looking for bugs, and wander into the house if someone leaves the door open.....