Mean Roo

[Dgsnchicks]

I have a 9 month old rooster that for the last 2 weeks has been going at me. He will run/fly 25-30 yards and hit me. I need to carry eggs in a plastic carton or he will break them. I have stomped by feet, flapped my arms and don't turn my back on him. Yesterday while working on the automatic coop door he was just curious. He is always nice to our hens/pullets. This morning he came at me, flew up and hit my shoulder. Then he tried it again and hit my head. He is a beautiful EE that I really don't want to put into a soup pot! Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[abpatchy]

Invite him to dinner! Roosters like him taste very good.
If he is aggressive now, it'll probably get worse in spring when it's mating season. There is no way I would keep a rooster like that.

 

[fluffycrow]

"Fixing" an aggressive male has never worked here. If you have the mental and physical strength to manage him, here's a really good article to read



Article 'Understanding Your Rooster.' https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/.

If not, cull him

 

[TropicalChickies]

He's still a cockerel -- until he's one year old. Cockerels can really be at their worst when they are between 7 months and one year old. They're big enough to be scary and even hurt you, but not old enough to have any sense. Their hormones are raging and they are often trying to assume a position of authority in the flock without any real life experience.

My senior male, Lucio, will officially be a year old this week. He was a calm cockerel until he got about 8 months old, then he was a holy terror for about 10 weeks. He's starting to calm down and grow out of it. I don't think they necessarily get worse. A lot of folks say that age and roosterhood calms them down.

I kept Lucio because he's A. Fantastic with the hens. He treats, escorts, guards, finds safe places for them to lay, protects from aerial predators, and settles hen squabbles. B. Really handsome and C. I actually somewhat enjoyed -- in retrospect -- figuring out his moods and the challenge how to handle him. Not that I didn't say he was going to be a soup more than once. He does get more calm and predictable day by day, so I'm glad I toughed it out. But that's a choice only the keeper can make.

 

[Mrs. K]

it is one thing to risk yourself, it is another to risk someone else. Even if you get the boy to behave for you, chances are he is going to test everyone he meets.