I think I have to cull our roo. He's mean. I'm sad.

[TinyLittleFarm]

Our one year old Light Brahma has always been a doll until this spring. He has turned downright mean. He attacks me, my husband, and the kids (10 and 8). I now only go out there wearing my tall rainboots. I won't let the kids out by the chickens at all anymore because of Jack. Such a bummer.

We have tried the usual things to show him who's boss. He's still ornery. Is there a chance this behavior will subside on its own once his spring hormones chill out a bit? I'd like to think so. I just know I'll never trust him again. He used to come and sit on my lap. He's like a totally different chicken. He's still very good to his ladies, he's just awful to his humans. I'm just not willing to be nervous around my own birds.

Sad, though.

 

[azygous]

I know how you feel. I also have not one, but two roos that age, and one is a Brahma. A chicken psychologist who goes by olychickenguy and occasionally posts on BYC gave me some terrific guidance in rehabbing both my boys. The Brahma has a biting problem and the Cochin is extremely skittish. Both have improved beyond all expectations.

Go here http://olychickenguy.blogspot.com/s...d-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=2 to read about how he handles problem roosters. It's a revelation! He invites e-mails if you need special guidance.

Do not give up hope! I've now had three problem roos that have all been converted from stew pot candidates to lap cuddlers.

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

Thank you so much for that link. We'll try anything.

 

[stroller]

I know EXACTLY how you feel. My adorable little rooster Darrell (feather footed bantam) used to be amazingly gentle with the hens and very affectionate with my husband and with me. Now I don't dare turn my back. I figured I'd wait until the flock went into their spring/summer coop and pen where there's more space and a good dose of daily sunshine and plenty of room to run and scratch so he could settle down and be happy with us humans again. But tonight, totally unprovoked, he attacked me. He's small and it's not particularly painful (although he drew blood once this winter) but I don't want to live with that kind of untrustworthy attitude from my roo. And, I think it's a poisonous attitude he presents to the girls, telling them the humans are a major threat. It's too bad. He's absolutely gorgeous, and his disposition used to be perfect.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I know how you're feeling. Give it your best shot but don't feel terrible if you have to process him. He's had a good life, much better than a cockerel raised for the meat industry. You need to be able to enjoy your chickens and your kids should be safe in their own yard.

 

[Chicken-Rage]

NO bigie it's just dinner that's all. Part of the lifestyle.

 

[mulewagon]

My gosh. That man housetrained his chickens! Will wonders never cease.

On the roosters - I train them to keep away from me from the start. Not meanly, I just wiggle things in front of their faces and walk at them. But I don't wait for them to become aggressive. There's just too much risk, and once it's attacked I couldn't trust it again, even with retraining.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

I agree that you can try a few things but if things work out you shouldn't feel badly. Some chickens were born to be eaten.

 

[Mak]

I just had to cull my rooster. He was just plain mean to all of us. No one could go near the pen without him attacking the fence, and if I wanted to go in, I had to lock him in the coop. When I needed to go in the coop, I had to lock him in the pen. I tried everything: picking him up and carrying him around, hanging him upside down, knocking him away from me when he came at me. Nothing worked. He'd just pick himself up and come right back at us. We finally took him to a local farm and had him processed. It was not an easy decision to make. I had that guy since he was two days old. But I was afraid to go out to the chicken coop and I did not get chickens to be afraid of them.

He made the best chicken and dumplings I've ever had.

If it has to be, it has to be. What we have in our backyards is very different from a large farmyard with plenty of room to stay out of the way of roosters and for them to stay out of ours. It's just a fact of life. If he can't be a good small flock rooster, he'll be a good dinner.