I've had feather picking issues this winter, likely due to space issues (first winter with chickens, learned a lot). So I've been letting my chickens free range for a few hours a day, with supervision. Yesterday and today my roo attacked me while we were outside. Today he did it also while I was putting the chickens back into their run. I'd tossed in some treats but, one treat got stuck on the door as I was closing the door. I bent over to pick up the treat and he flung at me. I'd just given him a decent kick about 20min earlier that stopped him flogging me (after 2 or 3 lesser kicks)
A couple of days ago I followed some the chickens into their coop to check for eggs. The roo was in there and he flew at me then also. That time I managed to put my foot on him and hold him down until he calmed. He then walked calmly away from me. BUT, my 9yr old son saw this happen. Today he saw the roo go after me again. My poor boy was bit by the other roo we had and culled at 19weeks (because he bit my son) Now he is afraid of this roo too.
He was a good roo up until I started letting them free range! He had one time pecked at me but, I was picking a hen off the roos and she happened to be right beside him. When she squawked he pecked at my had that was about 6" from his beak. He would not have gotten me if I had been further away.
I'm so sad I have to cull him. I was hoping to be able to keep a roo around for flock protection since I wanted to free range them more this summer.
A couple of days ago I followed some the chickens into their coop to check for eggs. The roo was in there and he flew at me then also. That time I managed to put my foot on him and hold him down until he calmed. He then walked calmly away from me. BUT, my 9yr old son saw this happen. Today he saw the roo go after me again. My poor boy was bit by the other roo we had and culled at 19weeks (because he bit my son) Now he is afraid of this roo too.
He was a good roo up until I started letting them free range! He had one time pecked at me but, I was picking a hen off the roos and she happened to be right beside him. When she squawked he pecked at my had that was about 6" from his beak. He would not have gotten me if I had been further away.
I'm so sad I have to cull him. I was hoping to be able to keep a roo around for flock protection since I wanted to free range them more this summer.