Im so sad - my 6 month old Plymouth Rock rooster attacked me today - big time

[Scoutinspace]

Oh whoa is me.

I live on a farm - albeit I only have a few chickens in my stock. 2 hens and one rooster. The farm has about 5 other roosters - so imagine the mornings! My little chicks are in my yard freeranging - so my rooster named Rhonda (we thought that he was a hen at first and my daughters refuse to change his name lol) has his hens - Lemonade and Daisy. Long story short - Rhonda the Rooster has been having attitude the past few weeks - big time. At first it started as the typical going after the hens thing. Then - after they statred laying eggs - he was rejoiced and was kinder to them. He even soundsoff when they lay an egg - quite the celebration. Now...he is going after us - the humans! He started with me and then my 16 year old daughter - trying to peck her foot. Then he tried that with my ten year old yesterday. He has done that to me a few times, too...but generally I can get him to back off. I am the one who feeds them lets them out and in, so though he RUNS to me full fledged to get food - he typically will skid out when he gets to me (not fun though). After yesterday when he tried to peck my ten year old daughetrs foot - he was on HIGH alert with me. Ihad a broom and tried to get him to keep space - and had to gather him and put him back in the coop. This afternoon - he went after me full fledged! He was clearly mad at my defending my young one yesterday. Today - he ran towards me and jumped up with his claws! It was the first time that he has ever done this. There was a plastic outdoor chair nearby and I had to lift it as a shield because he kept trying - about three times! I feel sooo bad about that. He finally backed off and I had to get him back in the coop. I am so sad though. We had high hopes for this guy - but my girls obviously come first - WITHOUT QUESTION. My heart breaks because I also want to make sure that I am giving him chances - as he is also only 6 months old and rehoming him will be tricky. Should we give him another chance and maybe just keep him in the coop while the hens free range? Any advice?

 

[RosemaryDuck]

Oh whoa is me.

I live on a farm - albeit I only have a few chickens in my stock. 2 hens and one rooster. The farm has about 5 other roosters - so imagine the mornings! My little chicks are in my yard freeranging - so my rooster named Rhonda (we thought that he was a hen at first and my daughters refuse to change his name lol) has his hens - Lemonade and Daisy. Long story short - Rhonda the Rooster has been having attitude the past few weeks - big time. At first it started as the typical going after the hens thing. Then - after they statred laying eggs - he was rejoiced and was kinder to them. He even soundsoff when they lay an egg - quite the celebration. Now...he is going after us - the humans! He started with me and then my 16 year old daughter - trying to peck her foot. Then he tried that with my ten year old yesterday. He has done that to me a few times, too...but generally I can get him to back off. I am the one who feeds them lets them out and in, so though he RUNS to me full fledged to get food - he typically will skid out when he gets to me (not fun though). After yesterday when he tried to peck my ten year old daughetrs foot - he was on HIGH alert with me. Ihad a broom and tried to get him to keep space - and had to gather him and put him back in the coop. This afternoon - he went after me full fledged! He was clearly mad at my defending my young one yesterday. Today - he ran towards me and jumped up with his claws! It was the first time that he has ever done this. There was a plastic outdoor chair nearby and I had to lift it as a shield because he kept trying - about three times! I feel sooo bad about that. He finally backed off and I had to get him back in the coop. I am so sad though. We had high hopes for this guy - but my girls obviously come first - WITHOUT QUESTION. My heart breaks because I also want to make sure that I am giving him chances - as he is also only 6 months old and rehoming him will be tricky. Should we give him another chance and maybe just keep him in the coop while the hens free range? Any advice?

The thing a lot of people don't realize is, this is a roosters job! Their whole purpose is to protect the flock from outside harm and people sometimes happen to be part of that.

It isn't ideal when you have small children though, so a lot of people on here will say to kill him. I don't agree, but everyone has their own opinions on the matter. I've had many roosters over the years, 2 of which were very nasty. I had one that gave me a few scars on my legs from his spurs.

Just remember these are animals. It's their job to keep their hens and chicks from harm. They're also prey animals, which means pretty much everything (including you) is a predator to them.

 

[Scoutinspace]

Youre so right - and I feel sick to my stomach for being pretty strong with the plastic chair. I hope that I did not hurt him...but he was not giving up! He typically follows me around like a pup...but I know that he is b.s.ing me and pretending to eat dirt (like he pretends with the hens)...only to then ATTACK! My daughters are definitly fearful of him now - but also sad because they have raised him since a few days/a week old and love him. Just dont want to get hurt.

 

[Jenwisp]

Have you tried carrying him around like a football?

 

[Scoutinspace]

I have and he softens up, likes when I pet the back of his neck. Since todays attack I went out and gave him some lettuce - and he looks so sad. Im about to go out now to see if he will let me do the foorball/pet thing...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...hicken-directed-at-humans-man-fighting.75750/