My docile roo has gone off the deep end! Updated, making progress!!

[crtrlovr]

FWIW, I'd not be quick to kill him. Think about some of the things you've mentioned: you've got other cockerels about to become grown up boys. Hormones abound. The hen is running the young ones away now and is laying. Hormones abound. The days are getting longer, and Spring is getting nearer. Hormones abound. (are you starting to see a pattern here? ... ) Try the behavior mod. techniques and some separation therapy, and give this roo every possible chance before you give up on him. I would NOT want to have a flock without a roo; I love my guys (and yes, they went through that aggressive weird stage too, and now they're wonderful flock guardians and take their jobs very seriously) and would never want to have an all-girl flock. I hope you have success in retraining your roo.

 

[Mesa]

I had a hand raised Buff Orp roo that was called "little Jerry Seinfeld" He was the nicest chick out of the bunch and a real nice looking bird. He'd always run up to greet us when we out in the backyard. I joked and called him a chicken dog. He was like a little friendly dog.

Then it happened..... I was hand feeding him and his girls when he attacked me. I yelled at him and stood up. He kept flogging me and even bit (or pecked me whatever.) me several times. I was bleeding and ran for the house with him chasing me the entire way. It really hurt! I tried going back out the next day and he ran at me from the other side of the yard and started flogging me again! This went on for a few days and I found him a new home. I have 4 young kids and I dont need the added stress of a mean rooster being near my kiddos. Had I known about carrying them upside down, and all the other tricks to get them to settle down. I'd have given them a try before giving him away. I hear he's still a mean roo, and he only attacks women.

I have 3 chicks now that I'm raising and when they get older I'm going to start carrying them around like babies and embarrass them in front of their girls. I'm the boss around here... not the roos. Dont mess with me or I'll send you packin' buddy!

Good luck with taming the beast, I hope it works for you.

 

[fivestring]

Chicken Lickin, As I was reading your post I was thinking, "yeah, that's us! Exactly! How did they tame their roo?", hoping for a magic cure at the end.

Alas, it seems for most of the people, once they cross that line from nice to nasty, they don't go back to their old, lovable self.

crtrlovr, I really want a roo with my flock, too. I have a constant threat of hawks here and I feel the group needs someone really looking out for them. And I have read that flocks without a roo, the alpha hen can become roo-like. I don't know if a hen would become a flogger or not.....?

But I shall not give up easily. No more fighting back against his attacks. He will get picked up and held by the attackee today. I plan on having DD go into the run today with shin guards on. And she will have a slice of bread in her pocket. If he attacks her, I will have her display the bread and see if his attitude changes. If it does, she and DW will be on feeding duty for a while. Let's see if roos bite the hand that feeds them, figuratively speaking.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

My buff roo did something similar the first time he was out with his girls and someone he didn't know was in the yard. Thankfully that someone was my father and he grew up with chickens so it didn't panic him.

My buff is too fast for me to catch, but what I found to work was a long bamboo cane. When he's feeling hormonal, I make sure to take it around with me. Originally it took a wack on the head, but now all I have to do is pick it up. I read on here somewhere that it mimics the peck that alpha roos give to subordinates. You can kind of tell when he is considering whether to come at me and I've learned to just quickly pop him on the back of the head. That is the end of that.

My worst roo is my banty. He was the one that I babied as a chick (before I knew any better!). He routinely charges when he thinks that I'm messing with his girls. Thankfully he is only 10" tall and has no spurs. The bamboo pole works with him as well, but I find I also have to have little heart-to-hearts with him. I can catch him and tuck him up under an arm, or hang him upside down for a bit. It takes for a couple of weeks and then I have to do it again. He's a brat, but he is a really good rooster to his girls.

Good luck. I know it's frustrating when you have to deal with hateful roos. They do mess up the tranquility of the coop.

 

[donnaIL]

My roo is usually pretty docile, but about once a month he decides he's gonna challenge me. I carry a baseball bat, I don't want my legs involved (just an idea, in my case the bat becomes the target). He has pecked at the bat and I have hit him with it also. Usually after an encounter he backs off for atleast a few weeks and is a sweet bird.

 

[the1much]

get a fishing net,,,, tell her go out there and catch him, get him in the net, hold it to the ground, cause they will fly and climb out of the net,, hold to ground, reach in grab by the legs, yank him out, walk round for 2 or 3 minutes,, throw,, and YES i mean THROW, him in the coop, close the door,, walk away. 30 minutes later,, tell her go in there with the net, and grab him again, walk outside with him,, do the walk around thing, and throw him back in and walk away.
next day, first time she goes out, grab the net, and chase his butt down, and do the same thing again.
after that, have her chase him down without the net,, 3 or 4 days of this, and he will learn she is alpha

NOW,, when i say throw him, i do mean throw, BUT i dont mean at 50mph and into a wall,, but i dont mean gentle either.
he sounds like he's gonna be a VERY good roo, and will do his job GREAT!

 

[Wynette]

How's it going, fivestring?

I'd caution against the scenario you described with your DD going in with a slice of bread, and if the roo challenges her, for her to show the bread...in essence, that's TEACHING him to be aggressive, and then he'll get a treat.

Good luck - hope you're doing well with your boy!

 

[jjthink]

Gentle and determined dominance perhaps, but nothing that could conceivably injure them, such as hitting, kicking, etc.
JJ

 

[crzychickenlady]

I see so many threads like this and feel so lucky I have never had these issues with any roo's have I had.
Every once in a great while I have had one step out of line and lunge and maybe chase a bit, but never had the flogging and drawing blood issues.
I don't know if it is because of how I raised my birds, that I don't have these issues, or If I just got lucky with docile boys??

I have heard about the retraining techniques, some of which I used on my birds from day one, but not as a retraining thing.

Any one of my birds can be picked up and held and coddled at any time, males and females alike.
I started when they were day olds and just showered them with attention and handled them often. Had my kids do the same thing, now ANYONE can walk into my yard and pick up a bird, my biggest roo included and just hold them.

I agree with another poster that hormones are playing a big part in your misery with this bird. Give him a chance and try picking him up and holding him. Do this daily, several times a day, hold him and walk the yard and talk to him.

I now only have one roo and he is the biggest baby you will ever see as far as roo's go.
This is him and you can see how much a big baby he is, LOL:

If things do not work out with your roo, try to start training one of your younger ones now to replace him. I'm telling you it makes a world of difference!!

 

[fivestring]

To date, I haven't asked the kids or wife to go into the pen. I am giving the roo time to calm down but tomorrow is the day to test him again. I am thinking he is going to attack again as he follows them from inside the run, watching their every move. I want to free range everyone again tomorrow.

I will not have DD bring the treat in, I agree that wasn't the best idea, Wynette.