My 4 yr old got attacked by my roo- any advice for prevention?

[swampwander]

I agree with many of the prior posters. NO small child should be alone with ANY roo. If they can fly up to a roost, what's to keep them from flying at a face?? There is always a risk that the roo may see the child that is their size as a threat to their dominance or flock.

DSD called one weekend to tell us that the BO roo we had raised for her had attacked DGS in the coop. SO, after getting the details it was down to this. She sent DGS alone into the coop to collect the eggs as the chickens were let out. The roo attacked him as he was collecting. DUMB DSD. Told her to collect the eggs from now on and make sure DGS knows to carry a stick if the flock is going to be out when he goes out. DSD called again to let us know the roo tried to go after him in the yard near the coop. Asked if DGS had a stick to fend off the roo. He did and used it. The roo stopped going after DGS after being thumped a couple of times when he tried to go after DGS. And, DGS doesn't go into the coop alone now.

That roo is otherwise doing what he is there for -protect his flock and provide for contiuation of the flock. He's taken on some pretty loose big dogs and won. Even a feral peacock that was trying to muscle in on him, kept tossing eggs from the nest boxes and chasing the hens.

 

[CA Bean]

Well I will never let my dd in the coop or run with out me there at every moment. I was stunned since he HAD been such a sweetie and she always picked him up. Actually she had been holding him and she let him down and he jumped back and attacked her. Anyway I will need to get rid of 2 of my roo's I think anyhow as I know 3 is too many for 1 pen. I am contimplating keeping him and just putting him up when we are around? Not quite crock pot yet..? Still thinking this over on keeping him on a short leash so to speak or get a new roo or keep my 3rd on pecking order roo( whick we don't even pet or pick up)..I do want fertile eggs so...

 

[dangerouschicken]

Soup pot works.

 

[skeeter9]

I think you're on the right track. Keep one of your other roos and get rid of this one. Good Plan!!!

 

[sandypaws]

.. i would have taken my child in the house.. then gone back out to the coop and killed that rooster on the spot....

if it was ONLY you.. then i dont care, take as much time "training" that mean old rooster as you want.. but we are talking about a CHILD.. didnt your "motherly instincts" kick in and want to attack the thing attacking your child????.. yup that would be one dead rooster ...and i dont have children.. just HEARING about yours attacking a little girl, makes me want to come kill it for you!!!!
there are too many NICE roosters in this world to keep a mean one alive..

 

[banter]

Doused mine with water the second time he jumped at me-he is very wary now. Depends on if your roo is worth keeping it as a breeder. Mine free range, and are rare breeds. This particular one has kept the hens very safe! He s only shown this behavior in breeding season and if something is upsetting the hens (other animal). I would never let him around a small child, anyway-not worth it. I feel some breeds have to retain some self-protection, they ARE NOT people and don't reason. We all tend to get too anthropomorphic about animals, and don't give them the benefit of the doubt. They do not think the same as we do.

 

[sandypaws]

and i also thinkJMO.. anybody with small children (that DO go into the coop) should NOT own aggressive breeds.. for the safty of their kids,
(i am talking about anybody, not the poster of this thread, so dont get mad).. if they KNEW the rooster was aggressive and the the rooster did hurt the child i am sure they could be charged with child endangerment (by law)

 

[the1much]

Quote:
ALL roosters are aggressive,,,, ALL ,, and if you let your child in the pen, with a nice roo, a gentle roo, a friendly roo, and wasnt standing between that roo and your child,,, you should have cps called,,, and can you tell that a bird is just 1 day get aggressive? and do what he is suppose to do? thats like saying its a dogs fault when he bit a dude 1 night that was broke down, lost,and ended up in ya backyard,where, that stupid dog couldnt tell the difference in someone in need of help,, and a thief.

 

[sandypaws]

i think it is pushing it just a bit to say, ALL roosters are aggressive..ALL!!!?????....
if you go that far.. then people with small kids should NOT own CHIHUAHUAs(nasty little buggers).... or cats.. or bunnies... or hampsters..... or ponies... or reptiles,, or even play football or soccer,(those are aggressive sports)
where does it stop????
i am saying KNOWN aggressive breeds, or spacific roosters.. that are aggressive...
you can not sheild your child from everything in life... LIFE is dangerous just to live it... yes protect where you can but dont sheild a child from living life.... roosters are neat creatures, i remeber owning a black rosecomb bantie rooster when i was 5,, his name was KITTY.. (because when i would go in the backyard and say "here kitty kitty" the rooster would come running to me)..
so if it was up to you,, i would not have that really neat memory of my little kitty???

 

[the1much]

heh,, nooooo ,, i was going on your line of thinking,,,, and yes.. ALL roo's are aggressive,,,, every single breed,,,,,, their not domesticated like dogs,, their instincts are still stronger then their "training",,,, and i think every household should have a rooster, i have small children, and many many roo's,, and have never, and will never have an incident of a roo attacking 1 of my kids,,,, ever,,, and i have roo's that take chunks out of ya if their not handled right ( they were given to me, not raised by me) and i have my roo that started out as the kids, they still consider him theirs,, but they never get in his pen unless i am there,,, but he isnt mean, not 1 bit, but he will attack anything small, strange, or anything that makes him nervouse,,,,except me of course

,, but he isnt mean,, he's a rooster doing his natural instinct to protect, and dominate...... what your saying, is like mentioned above about cows,, bulls,,, oxen,, pigs,,,, people who have kids shouldnt have farms with known killer animals? or if they have those farm animals they shouldnt have kids?

a roo is a 2.5 foot high 2 legged bull,, and ALL bulls have the potential, and i bet some sort of history,, hurting people.


edit: ta add,,,,,, o.k. everyone,, were not arguing, or bickering,, this is a civil conversation on "our" way of thinking,,, so noone go over board plz...