If roosters are going to get mean, when does this usually start?

[bbecca]

I have a 4 month old rooster. He just started crowing about 2 weeks ago and he has always been one of the friendliest out of my bunch of 6 other hens. He used to let me pick him up and he'd sit on my shoulder but since he started crowing and flapping his wings a bit more he hasn't let me catch him. I usually let my small kids into the run with me and they chase/ pick them up etc. my Roo has NOT shown any aggression so far but I have read so many threads that have scared me that he might turn on my kids so I'm not letting them in anymore. If a roosters going to get aggressive when does it usually happen? And if it hasn't happened by now, can I be less worried about it with my kids?

 

[junebuggena]

It can happen anytime, really. Some boys completely lose their minds when they start to reach maturity. Others will always be well behaved, their entire lives. Some seem well mannered for their first year, but as spring nears, they can turn nasty.
You are never 'in the clear.' It should always be a concern, and children should always be supervised.

 

[wamtazlady]

My last rooster didn't get aggressive until he was a year old. I tried to keep him until he was 18 months old. At that point he would attack everyone so he had to go to keep my grandson safe. He was a skinny Polish so I didn't even bother to put him in the pot. Wasn't worth the trouble and time of plucking to me. Was just happy he was gone.

Have ordered a couple Salmon Faverolles chicks for next spring as I love to listen to the rooster crowing. Had one this spring but I became ill, couldn't lock the chickens up one night, and a fox got my Salmon Faverolles rooster before my room mate got home to lock them up for me. Loved his pleasant temperament and he was wonderful to the hens.

 

[shortgrass]

I've had some that never got aggressive, and one that I needed to get rid of. A silkie lol; my most aggressive roo of all time was a silkie

Springtime. That's when i be had to keep a close eye on the boys, especially if there's only 1. Oddly enough, I've had the best boys when there's a few of them; keeps them preoccupied with each other and not worrying about the hens so much. That's when they can get dangerous; when they're the dominant roo and are protecting their hens. My Blue Andalusian got himself kicked off the farm for pouncing me when I went to grab a hen that was not where I wanted her to be. She squawked and he was immediately on my back. Didn't hurt me and didn't mean to, but its an example of how protective they are over their flock. It was my fault for making his hen squawk! I was due with a new baby and didn't want to have to deal with chicks, so I culled all my roos, otherwise I would still have him; he was my best roo, very good boy. He wasn't scary mean, just protective. That's why little kids are more prone to being "attacked" than we are. They're usually an unfamiliar presence and his job is keeping unfamiliar things away from his ladies.

They can be trained, and letting the kids in with them as much as possible can help, but come springtime, hormones can indeed take over, and they can lose their brains and get overprotective. That's when the training will either save him, or send him to the stew pot. The biggest thing is making sure he knows from day one that he can't rule the humans; they are the real roosters in a sense. I teach my kids to not ever turn your back on a roo, and never move out of his way, make him move for them. They also get to pick him up and thump him on the head and hold him there until he figures out that he has to submit to them, too.

They're unpredictable until you get through the first spring, then they either calm down, or become Sunday dinner; just never know until it happens.

 

[chickens really]

You did the right thing by not allowing your kids to Chase or handle the Cockerel anymore....He may never attack or it could happen at anytime.....Mine is 7 months and still docile enough with me...He only started crowing and breeding hens a couple of weeks ago...I can see that he is maturing and takes his job very seriously....I had an awful one that attacked me daily....He is gone......Just never turn your back to him.....Only time will tell.....

Best of luck!


Cheers!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

We keep a very well behaved line of birds. These cockerels/cocks have never shown sign of human aggression excepting a few minor stand offs to me when first let out of coop during full blown spring breeding season. You'll see the legs, between toes, get red during this hormonal phase. Cockerels get it in fall of first year when first sexually mature too. That said I don't allow my son around the birds unsupervised. My boy is four now but still does stupid young kid things that test the best behaved cocks. He comes into the run with me all the time as he needs to learn how to behave around animals. Not chasing them, not running between the cock and his harem, to watch the cock bird for any flaring of neck and above all to close his eyes if a bird comes after him- which has never happened but it only takes one well placed strike. I've had birds that flog and don't tolerate that behavior at all anymore, really enjoying this new to me line of birds in that regard.

 

[bbecca]

Thank you everyone for your input!