Mean rooster

[The Moonshiner]

I have six roosters and granted I have cycled out some of my boys that just seem way too rowdy for their own good. But over the last 22 years of having chickens I've learned a few things.

The first is never treat your roosters with aggression. They are acting aggressively towards you because they feel threatened BY you. Not that you've ever done anything to them. But your bigger, you come and steal the butt nuggets, the hens love you, and more ladies follow you around because your the Bringer of Food.

The second is understand that they are jealous of your role in the flock. Some roosters can get over this as they mature. Some roosters never have this issue in the first place.

Third f you have too many roosters this can cause conflict and fighting over hens, food, and places to lay.

So with those three things in mind it should help put into perspective as to why they are acting the way they are acting (some are just jerks).

Why no aggression back? Aggression breeds aggression. By kicking them, hitting them with water, using shaker cans or anything else you are teaching them to fear you and that you bring pain in addition to the jealousy. That will lead to a rooster that will someday snap. That's not okay for him or you. I fully recommend the carry method. By picking up the rooster that is out of sorts and tucking them under your arm (not hurting them, pinching their comb or anything else) you are making them gently submit. They cannot fight you in this position. You are not being aggressive and there is nothing threatening about what you are doing. Carry him around with you for about fifteen to thirty minutes a day or even thirty minutes twice daily, whenever you are doing your chores around the coop. This tells him firmly that you are bigger, you are top rooster, and that he's safe. Now. If this doesn't work after a few days it's probably best to rehome him. I've had a few that there were just not going to settle and I draw the line with them if they go after the kids.

I'm thinking just about the opposite of this entire post.
I don't believe a rooster will act aggressive towards you because they are feeling threatened.
They get aggressive when they don't feel threatened. I have many roosters and usually when one is feeling threatened by another they will submit and move on and there's no issue. Here it is a very rare occasion to have an actual fight but if it happens it is when two roosters neither feel threatened by the other and both have the idea that they can dominate the other.
As far as jealousy there is no such emotion in chickens. They do not have the mindset to feel jealous. That's just an emotion we project on them because we are misunderstanding them and thinking they have all the emotions we have and we feel the need to make sense out of a situation that's happening.
Of course the more roosters you have the more chances there are for issues.
With enough roosters there surely can be conflict over hens and food but I've never had a issue of lack of places to lay being an issue for roosters.
Mine must be all duds because none of them lay.
Also don't buy into the whole carrying them around thing. First off if a rooster is being aggressive trying to catch them and carrying them around puts you at more risk and just my opinion is that it teaches them nothing.
They don't understand what you are doing and it seems it would only aggravate the rooster and the aggression situation.

 

[cmom]

My adult flock includes four roosters, and thirty-seven hens right now. Everyone knows how to get along, and none of the boys are every threatening to any human, and they don't fight with each other.
It's about selecting the right individuals, and breeding the right individuals, and culling the undeserving. Last year I eliminated a very handsome cockerel who was too aggressive to the pullets and hens, and made everyone's life better. This year I have about fifty chicks, and many cockerels, and will be observing them very carefully over the next months. Very very few will be invited to stay, and another selection will occur next spring.
Hens and pullets can be pets, roosters, IMO, are held to a higher standard.
Mary

What breed is your avatar?

 

[Folly's place]

Solo is a white Chantecler. He weighs in at 8.5 pounds, and is a very nice bird.
Your boy is really good looking!
Mary

 

[Ms Biddy]

I stop an aggressive rooster by chasing him into a corner of the pen, picking him up by his feet and hanging him upside down for a couple of mins. He learned I was the dominant one and I never had another problem out of him. He was young and it was the first time he tried to attack me. I now walk all around the pen and he walks in the opposite direction. I guess I was lucky and this worked for me.

I did the exact same thing when my rooster charged the back of my leg. I held him upside down until he quit struggling. Then I held him on the ground on his side and told him how the pecking order goes. He took his time getting up and then hid under the picnic table the rest of the afternoon. He stays far away from me now, which I prefer to his dominance testing.

 

[cmom]

Bachelor coops.

 

[cmom]

Solo is a white Chantecler. He weighs in at 8.5 pounds, and is a very nice bird.
Your boy is really good looking!
Mary

He is a Rhode Island White.

 

[Folly's place]

Here in Michigan, I avoid single comb roosters, but do like your rose comb birds.
Chanties are very good cold weather birds!
Rose comb dark brown leghorns would be nice!
Mary

 

[cmom]

Yes I like my Rose Combs. I am from Traverse City, Michigan originally but have lived in Florida most of my life.

 

[GrannyHeeney]

Cmom, those dark fellers are breathtaking--those are Rhode Islands? How handsome!

 

[cmom]

Cmom, those dark fellers are breathtaking--those are Rhode Islands? How handsome!

Yes, they are pure Rhode Island Reds.