Jason's being a goblin

[Lgbchickie]

So one of our cockerels, Jason is 18 weeks old. This man-------\/

Is a buff orpington/ gold laced wyandotte mix and has been biting some of the hens and pullet's necks the hens both immediately tried to attack him when they wriggle free but the pullets are smaller then him and we had to separate him from nyx no e of the 3 girls he's done this too submitted and only a couple of the pullets have even started investigating the nesting boxes

What do we do?
I love this stupid man but he's being a hormonal teenager and Is biting out fingers a bit when we try to pick him up he used to love scoops
Bonus baby Jason pics -----\/

My little boy

 

[MysteryChicken]

So one of our cockerels, Jason is 18 weeks old. This man-------\/View attachment 4274338
Is a buff orpington/ gold laced wyandotte mix and has been biting some of the hens and pullet's necks the hens both immediately tried to attack him when they wriggle free but the pullets are smaller then him and we had to separate him from nyx no e of the 3 girls he's done this too submitted and only a couple of the pullets have even started investigating the nesting boxes

What do we do?
I love this stupid man but he's being a hormonal teenager and Is biting out fingers a bit when we try to pick him up he used to love scoops
Bonus baby Jason pics -----\/
View attachment 4274349
View attachment 4274357
View attachment 4274358
My little boy

I've had bitty cockerels turn out to be good boys with a slight punishment. I scoop them up in my arms, & with a finger, or two I give them a firm thump on their head like a hard hen peck. I do this until he realizes to not bite the hand that feeds him. I carry them around for a minute afterwards as away of shaming.

A truly mean cockerel will charge you, & or peck your leg, or shoe as an early warning signs of human aggression.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well...this will get better, (maybe) or worse (generally). Be aware around this bird. The darling you had is gone. And at this point it is really too late for training (I have a sneaking suspicion that it is always too late, rooster just are.)

This forum is full of posts where the darling turned into a nightmare. His behavior with the pullets is common if there are not older birds to give him some manners, (which sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't).

Generally speaking, aggressive birds become more and more aggressive. They tend to start by attacking children, women and then men. Some bite, some bump into you, not terrible in the beginning, more surprising. At this time, inexperienced people tend to blame themselves, (the color of my shoes, I scared the pullet...yada, yada) Really, he is just getting braver.

Thing is, a lot of people vastly underestimate how violent an attack can be. A child can be easily knocked over, or take the blow in the face. Deep puncture wounds from spurs, terrible scratches from beaks and toes.

Be very careful, they are opportunistic, so if you are bent over, crouched down or carrying something, or just not paying attention that is when they will try it. Often times they will sneak behind you, attacking at knee level.

"What do I do? I love him?"
Separating him from the pullets is a good call for the pullets. Some people have had good luck putting him back with them at about 6 months. Some people do not have separate facilities. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't.

Do wear long pants and good shoes when dealing with the chickens. Check when you had your last tetanus shot. Do have a 5 foot fish net, to capture a fighting bird. Do have a dog crate at hand near the coop to put him if need be for a short amount of time. Do start to make long term plans. Most people keep their first rotten rooster way too long, most of us have been there and understand.

Mrs K

 

[Lgbchickie]

Well...this will get better, (maybe) or worse (generally). Be aware around this bird. The darling you had is gone. And at this point it is really too late for training (I have a sneaking suspicion that it is always too late, rooster just are.)

This forum is full of posts where the darling turned into a nightmare. His behavior with the pullets is common if there are not older birds to give him some manners, (which sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't).

Generally speaking, aggressive birds become more and more aggressive. They tend to start by attacking children, women and then men. Some bite, some bump into you, not terrible in the beginning, more surprising. At this time, inexperienced people tend to blame themselves, (the color of my shoes, I scared the pullet...yada, yada) Really, he is just getting braver.

Thing is, a lot of people vastly underestimate how violent an attack can be. A child can be easily knocked over, or take the blow in the face. Deep puncture wounds from spurs, terrible scratches from beaks and toes.

Be very careful, they are opportunistic, so if you are bent over, crouched down or carrying something, or just not paying attention that is when they will try it. Often times they will sneak behind you, attacking at knee level.

"What do I do? I love him?"
Separating him from the pullets is a good call for the pullets. Some people have had good luck putting him back with them at about 6 months. Some people do not have separate facilities. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't.

Do wear long pants and good shoes when dealing with the chickens. Check when you had your last tetanus shot. Do have a 5 foot fish net, to capture a fighting bird. Do have a dog crate at hand near the coop to put him if need be for a short amount of time. Do start to make long term plans. Most people keep their first rotten rooster way too long, most of us have been there and understand.

Mrs K

Thankfully he hasn't done any of that he's just a little bitey when he's startled and him and nico (he's a nice polite little man) peck a little aggressively when hand fed

 

[Lgbchickie]

Speaking of nico he's a little angel, a couple hours ago Jason grabbed Nyx again and Nico immediately put a stop to that then they did that little size up thing where they flare up their hackle feathers at eachother and hop around this is nico he was the one who almost got taken by the dog

 

[DonyaQuick]

I love this stupid man but he's being a hormonal teenager and Is biting out fingers a bit when we try to pick him up he used to love scoops

Where is your hand when he bites? Does he just nip and release or bite and hold? When the hormones start to hit, certain hand approaches and approaching too fast can trigger the same bite-and-grab as a submitting hen's comb. Be cautious about moving hands too quickly around the area directly in front of his chest, kind of under his head where he can't see too well. Motion in that area has been a bite-and-grab trigger for all of the 9 cockerels I've raised even though they all grew out of it eventually. I find it's better when they're in that phase if you can teach them to approach you but then turn away from you to be picked up. If he really does like being picked up vs simply tolerating it, then he will be easy to train him what he needs to do to be picked up without problems. Also be aware that some roosters are just vey mouth-first about interactions when excited, with a lot of impatient nipping and tugging on clothing when they want something.

 

[Mrs. K]

Thankfully he hasn't done any of

Yet… be aware.

 

[Lgbchickie]

Where is your hand when he bites? Does he just nip and release or bite and hold? When the hormones start to hit, certain hand approaches and approaching too fast can trigger the same bite-and-grab as a submitting hen's comb. Be cautious about moving hands too quickly around the area directly in front of his chest, kind of under his head where he can't see too well. Motion in that area has been a bite-and-grab trigger for all of the 9 cockerels I've raised even though they all grew out of it eventually. I find it's better when they're in that phase if you can teach them to approach you but then turn away from you to be picked up. If he really does like being picked up vs simply tolerating it, then he will be easy to train him what he needs to do to be picked up without problems. Also be aware that some roosters are just vey mouth-first about interactions when excited, with a lot of impatient nipping and tugging on clothing when they want something.

Honestly it's usually my fault most of the time I try to give him a little boop or when I pet him

 

[Lgbchickie]

Honestly it's usually my fault most of the time I try to give him a little boop or when I pet him

Also it's usually just a nip but sometimes he holds it for a sec

 

[Mrs. K]

And you are blaming yourself. Hopefully this won't get worse, but do be aware, it could get worse. His behavior is not caused by you, it is caused by hormones and genetically caused aggression. Make a plan B in case it does not work. If you never use it, good, if you need it, you need it now!