Intractable rooster

[Leo1]

This question is only for those of you who take time to work with roosters in a non abusive manner.
I've had bratty roosters in the past, but I've always managed to work with them and quickly convince them to be gentle birds. Most decided they'd be lap birds.I've got a one year old barred rock. The hatchery threw him in and if he goes, he won't be, intentionally, replaced, so he's not taking a home from a nice rooster. I keep roosters I end up with, but don't seek them out. I've tried everything with him from the behavioral to deslorelin. I thought I had him doing well. I'd had no incident for a couple months. What was working...He sleeps in a rabbit hutch. Before I let him out, I would hold my foot up above his head(not as if he were going to get kicked, just to by above him) until he dropped his head. Then I'd pick him up and carry him before I let him down. Yesterday, he came at me. Held my ground. Held my foot up. Not kicking at him, or anything, just held it up. Didn't work, he kept coming and managed to spur me on the ankle bone. Grabbed him, held him for a bit, and put him back in the hutch. This morning, he tried to rip a hole in my face when I picked him up. So, the question is: do you think this is him making one last attempt to get the upper hand or is it time to give up on him? Or, is there maybe something i can try that I haven't. I dont want to give up too soon, especially, since he's had long spells of being good, but i won't take this behavior, obviously. Again, only people who work with roosters from a place of respect, please. I feel it's probably time to give up, but he's the first that's pushed me like this, so I'm having doubts, and having him put down will destroy me. Thank you!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I don't want to waste your time. I have only had nice roosters that I got from places that needed to rehome their rooster due to having too many. But I also love mental challenges with animals, I am not someone to give up easily. I think you have been doing an amazing job! I know some roosters can't be broken from the aggressive behavior which can feel like defeat. Only you can truly determine if there isn't anything else you can do. I'm wondering if he too is playing the mental game with you, just when you thought he was good, you let your guard down just a little and he knew that. I personally would raise my guard again and put him back in his place and try really hard to not let that guard down. If this doesn't work, I would except defeat. Hopefully others with more expert advice have great ideas.

 

[Leo1]

I don't want to waste your time. I have only had nice roosters that I got from places that needed to rehome their rooster due to having too many. But I also love mental challenges with animals, I am not someone to give up easily. I think you have been doing an amazing job! I know some roosters can't be broken from the aggressive behavior which can feel like defeat. Only you can truly determine if there isn't anything else you can do. I'm wondering if he too is playing the mental game with you, just when you thought he was good, you let your guard down just a little and he knew that. I personally would raise my guard again and put him back in his place and try really hard to not let that guard down. If this doesn't work, I would except defeat. Hopefully others with more expert advice have great ideas.

Oh, no, you are not wasting my time. I only meant, I didn't want to hear from people who would beat him or kill him just for looking at them sideways. Sorry, if I sounded otherwise! Thank you for your input. Yes, I probably do drop my guard, after awhile and you are probably right, he knows that.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Oh, no, you are not wasting my time. I only meant, I didn't want to hear from people who would beat him or kill him just for looking at them sideways. Sorry, if I sounded otherwise! Thank you for your input. Yes, I probably do drop my guard, after awhile and you are probably right, he knows that.

My comment was because I personally don't have experience at the moment with a rooster like your barred rock. Another thought I had was to consider de-spurring him, I personally have never done this because roosters need those spurs to protect the flock but it may give you that extra protection from his surprise attacks and make it easier to grab his legs.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I've only had a couple mean cockerels. I usually turn them into dinner if they're really, really aggressive.
I had 1 Barred Rock rooster along time ago that was mean. He became dinner.

We have a mean cockerel that I put blinders on which helped with correcting his behavior. We are gonna be doing him in, cause we have to many boys, & we need to knock the number down.

I'm not mean to any of my misbehaving roosters/cockerels. I normally push them outside with my foot so they don't attack me. Alot of the time I do this they'll attack my shoe which is expected.

 

[Leo1]

My comment was because I personally don't have experience at the moment with a rooster like your barred rock. Another thought I had was to consider de-spurring him, I personally have never done this because roosters need those spurs to protect the flock but it may give you that extra protection from his surprise attacks and make it easier to grab his legs.

His spurs are still rather short, maybe because of the deslorelin implants. Still hurts when I makes contact with bone, though! And , I think, he nipped a tendon; hurts to move my foot. I'm wearing my knee high boots around him again.

 

[Leo1]

I've only had a couple mean cockerels. I usually turn them into dinner if they're really, really aggressive.
I had 1 Barred Rock rooster along time ago that was mean. He became dinner.

We have a mean cockerel that I put blinders on which helped with correcting his behavior. We are gonna be doing him in, cause we have to many boys, & we need to knock the number down.

I'm not mean to any of my misbehaving roosters/cockerels. I normally push them outside with my foot so they don't attack me. Alot of the time I do this they'll attack my shoe which is expected.

I'm thinking barred rocks are trouble.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'm thinking barred rocks are trouble.

I have a thread asking about Heritage Plymouth Barred Rock rooster/Cockerel behavior.
Not the same as a regular hatchery Barred Rock though.

 

[Leo1]

I have a thread asking about Heritage Plymouth Barred Rock rooster/Cockerel behavior.
Not the same as a regular hatchery Barred Rock though.

I keep seeing websites saying they are friendly. But, a friend of mine, tells me, she's heard from several friends, all with mean barred rocks. This boy was snuggling in my lap, in the morning, and then attacked me that afternoon. His temperament, under the testosterone is super friendly. So, I was really thinking I could bring him around and he'd chill after he got thru teenager hood.

 

[cmom]

Freezer camp...