Instinct or Aggression and what to do?

[JoeInPA]

I've had some discussions here before about my rooster possibly being a little too aggressive with the hens but the general consensus seemed to be that it was normal mating behavior. Well I've been monitoring the situation and the behavior with the hens has remained pretty much unchanged, although I've heard some more audible "yelp" type squawks out of the girls and he has gotten physically larger so I worry he may be a little bit rough on them. Still I haven't worried too much about it.

Yesterday I changed out the straw in the run because it was getting pretty poopy after 2-3 months of deep littering. The rooster pretty much left me alone, but he was rounding up the girls and squawking a bunch. I pretty much expected that.

This morning I had to re-hang the dispenser for their grit because one of them knocked it down. While I had the pen door open, one of my white rocks snuck out. (I have three white rocks, and one welsummer hen and one welsummer rooster) The white rocks always hang out around the door and they usually try to sneak out when I open it, so that wasn't abnormal. After I fixed the grit container, I shut the door and went over and picked up my runaway white rock. Now I haven't really held or handled my birds much since they were chicks. I haven't needed to. The white rocks are pretty friendly and will immediately run right up to me and they don't mind being touched or petted. The welsummer hen is very skittish, she will eventually come over to me, but she will dart if you try to pet her or make any sudden movements. Not sure if that is her breed or personality.

Anyways once I picked up my white rock and opened the door, I set her down inside the pen and the rooster was pissed. He was screeching and stomping, and he jumped up and scratched me.

I'm fine, he did scratch up my arm a bit, nothing a bandaid and neosporin can't fix, but this is the first time he's ever come at me. Now to my untrained eye, I would say that is a notable change in behavior. Obviously I was picking up one of the hens and he got defensive about it, but I can't have him coming at me.

Also maybe a possibility, maybe not, but my hens were hatched around September and I still haven't gotten an egg, I'm wondering if he may be stressing them out and causing them not to lay? Is that a possibility or likely or unlikely?

Any thoughts? Time to get rid of him? Give him a little longer? I don't care to kill him or process him for meat but if necessary I'd be happy to give him away to a new home. I'd prefer to give him to someone who won't cook him but I understand the circumstances.

 

[wamtazlady]

As to your pullets not laying yet, if they were hatched the first week of September they are only 22-23 weeks old now. That would be young to be laying especially this time of the year with shorter days. I do not believe your rooster is preventing them from beginning to lay.

It certainly is not promising that your rooster attacked you. Only you know the extent of the attack. Personally after dealing with a couple aggressive roosters in the past, I don't put up with any people aggression anymore. With so many people looking for homes for nice roosters, why would I keep one I can not trust? As long as you are not afraid of the rooster and the rooster is not around children or other people I would say you could give him one more chance if you want. If he attacks again he would go to freezer camp at my house. I would not ever give an aggressive rooster away unless it was to someone who would process it.

 

[chickens really]

He is protecting his Hens. You are a threat in his eyes. If I have to pick up a Hen I lock my Rooster outside in the Run first.

 

[Henry&Friends]

He was protecting his lady, which is good, but he attacked you, which is super bad. If I were you, I'd try to pick up hens more often. Even pick up the rooster if you can (I can't catch mine) and if he starts coming at you, kick him back. Keep him a full meter away from you. You can turn your back, but stay attentive to what he's doing. Give your hens treats, and watch his reaction to that too. From what I can tell, he's tolerant of your being there, but not messing with his hens-- treat him as if he is a hen, and don't let him treat you as a hen (like doing a mating dance to you)

 

[Henry&Friends]

As long as he doesn't act aggressive in normal settings, I'd give him a chance. I had an aggressive rooster before, and he made my family's life absolute h*ll for 3 years. Now I've got a rooster who simply doesn't interact with people, like at all, and it's pretty neat to be able to spend time with my hens without bloodshed.

 

[David61]

Man, I would attack you to if you tried to mate with my woman.
LOL That is all he saw and is what you get. Go get him before you do anything with or to his women. You don't feed them, let them out, put them up... He does all of that, as long as he is with you, its was just his idea to bring you along. Pimpin' be hard. You got pimp slapped.

Pin him to the floor anytime he shows out at you. Not mean but make him submit or you will be putting him down or out of your flock.


You should be getting eggs any day. My girls are Aug 1 hatch and are starting to lay so...

 

[harice4806]

He definitely saw you as a threat to his hen which is good he's protecting them like others said. But he shouldn't go after you either. Carry him around, hand feed him treats, make him realize you are the boss without being mean/violent which can make him worse. My young 6 mo old cockerel (who is 3rd in line with 2 more dominant roos) was pacing the nest boxes protecting eggs. I went to collect and he bit me. Ok, he's young, I'll give him one chance. He immediately got picked up, scolded, I placed him on the coop floor and made him submit until he relaxed. No force or anything harsh other than "no". Since then when I walk in he's quick to greet me at my feet and squats to submit to me. No biting since. But agreed if he continues he may need to go. Good luck!

 

[tdan]

Mine attacks me but also saw the picture of him attacking a hawk after our girls. We come to an understanding when he braves me. I don't allow children or fearfull people in my run with him and the girls.

 

[JoeInPA]

Man, I would attack you to if you tried to mate with my woman.
LOL That is all he saw and is what you get. Go get him before you do anything with or to his women. You don't feed them, let them out, put them up... He does all of that, as long as he is with you, its was just his idea to bring you along. Pimpin' be hard. You got pimp slapped.

Pin him to the floor anytime he shows out at you. Not mean but make him submit or you will be putting him down or out of your flock.


You should be getting eggs any day. My girls are Aug 1 hatch and are starting to lay so...

I was gonna say, so in other words he the pimp and they the ho's.

He stays in the run and the coop all the time, so he really isn't a threat to anyone outside the run. And I was in the run for several hours yesterday and he really just left me alone.

He will eat treats out of my hand but I think he would get get pretty angry if I tried to pick him up.

I just looked at my pictures and it looks like I got him and my welsummer hen as chicks on August 8th, and they were probably 2 weeks old at that time. My White rocks are a little younger, I got them Sept 3 and they were probably a couple days to a week old.

 

[Folly's place]

So he's just six months old now? I'm totally not a fan of any bird who is willing to jump up and hurt me, and would be watching out for this cockerel.
I like cockerels and cock birds who get out of my way, and spend their time taking care of their flockmates. This does NOT include considering me a threat! I'm the giant who brings food, not a rival, or a flock member, or a target.
@Beekissed has a good article about managing difficult roosters, please look it up. It's not about chasing him, carrying him around, or whatever, it's about expecting him to move away from you, and not invading your space.
Idiots who attack the human who feeds them (not hand feeding!) make wonderful crockpot meals, for you or another family.
Mary