Mean Rooster: Cull or Tame

[Ivy Love]

I am sorry. I know it is hard to part with them even when they are horrible and mean. Just think of it like a friendship gone bad. Find another Merlin.

I will. Thanks

 

[LilJoe]

So he just tries to spur ya or what?

 

[Dawnclucks22]

So he just tries to spur ya or what?

Pecking. Really, really hard pecking. And draws blood.

 

[BantyChooks]

If he draws blood, then soup. Rooster 'rehab' can be done but they are never truly safe, IMO. Did it with an Australorp of mine but he was still unsafe to be around, and since I have kiddos, into the soup pot he went. I have raised many roosters and some are just psycho, though I don't think those are too common. Some turn as a result of improper handling.

If you are head over heels in love with him and have no small children around then you could attempt rehab due to his small size. Sounds like the root aggression cause here is not fear, so you need to get him to respect you. Stop cuddling him. Shove him away when he attacks. Keep him out of your space, about a 5' diameter or radius depending on how bad he is. He should not come in that 5' circle for any reason. I am not suggesting to 'beat' him like the first article is all oh-no about, you just need to get him out of your space.

Said article's suggestion of carrying just makes my bantams madder. They're gamey little fellows. So, I do not suggest it.

 

[LilJoe]

Does he just run up to you and do it or are you messing w/ him?

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Does he just run up to you and do it or are you messing w/ him?

When I was there it was one I was holding one of the girls, but I think overall it happens randomly.

 

[LilJoe]

Hbu @Ivy Love ?

 

[Ivy Love]

I will be in the pen, or just walking around when they are out, and he follows me and tries to attack me. I don't provoke him. He also does it after I hold the hens...he gets mad or something i guess.

 

[Ivy Love]

If he draws blood, then soup. Rooster 'rehab' can be done but they are never truly safe, IMO. Did it with an Australorp of mine but he was still unsafe to be around, and since I have kiddos, into the soup pot he went. I have raised many roosters and some are just psycho, though I don't think those are too common. Some turn as a result of improper handling.

If you are head over heels in love with him and have no small children around then you could attempt rehab due to his small size. Sounds like the root aggression cause here is not fear, so you need to get him to respect you. Stop cuddling him. Shove him away when he attacks. Keep him out of your space, about a 5' diameter or radius depending on how bad he is. He should not come in that 5' circle for any reason. I am not suggesting to 'beat' him like the first article is all oh-no about, you just need to get him out of your space.

Said article's suggestion of carrying just makes my bantams madder. They're gamey little fellows. So, I do not suggest it.

Yea, i have started carrying around a piece of wood or something, just in case.

 

[BantyChooks]

As for humane culling solutions, I am of the opinion that cervical dislocation is the quickest lights-out for the bird. It does not bleed them out so if you wish to eat him decapitate shortly after. Birds culled this way are still for a second or two then go into death spasms. None of the very coordinated flapping and attempts to escape that look more than a bit like the bird is still alive for a few seconds. Pipe cutters also work but they're a bit more mentally tough on the human due to having to look the bird in the eye.