my rooster attacked my sister when she stopped by

[Attack Chicken]

And I thought my hen was mean for sparring with me

AC

 

[crtrlovr]

I respectfully disagree with the numerous posts that advise killing him immediately. You said he was 7 mos. old -- that's peak time for raging hormones and the transition from adolescent to adulthood. Just think about hormones affect human teens in puberty, and you'll get some slight insight into the same process with a cockerel. He deserves the opportunity to live, and there are multiple pages on rehabilitation of roosters -- gritsar and rooster red have some excellent information and advice on dealing with uppity / aggressive roosters, and list some very effective retraining procedures. Give them a try and give this little guy a chance. The fact that you have been able to handle him gives much hope that as his hormones settle down, he won't be a danger to others either. Some reconditioning and maybe some separation from the hens for a while may do him a world of good. It wouldn't hurt to try.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I have a Blue Orpington cockerel who is starting to feel his oats and I can see he wants to stand up to me, but he hasn't yet. I think it is time for my dominance training with him. This includes knocking him off the girls if he tries to mount them in front of me, pushing him around with my boot when I get even close to him, picking him up when I go by and don't have stuff in my hands, etc. I have a NHRed roo who was like this too, he even would do the shuffle toward me with his wings down, and I would kick him. I didn't do it to hurt him, and I never did. I would also chase him down just for good measure. He got threw his teen stage and now he is a good boy. I think part of the deal is to never let them get to a point where they really think they rule the roost. It is YOUR roost and every bird in your yard needs to know it. I love my chickens, but none of them is going to best me without consequences. There are signs when they are reaching that age where they want to challenge and it is up to you as the owner to know what they are and handle it. If you are going to have your children, friends, relatives, etc. who are going to be by these chickens, it is YOUR job to teach them how to be in charge. My Daughter who is just turning 9 and is on the small size of the growth scale, takes no crap from the roosters. If that means she has to carry a broom or stick, then she will and hopefully never have to use it, but it is there just in case. She stands up to the boys without much problem because I taught her how.

If you are going to keep roosters, they pretty much all go through the stage where they think they have to be the top roo, so you have to know how to handle it or not have them. I am not trying to lecture anyone, but this is the mindset I have come to believe since I made that decision to keep roos. I have 9 of them now and I had lots more last summer before I sent some to the freezer and to other owners. I have not been hurt yet. And they smell fear, so don't wear it in the chicken yard.

All that being said, I hope you can make it through his teen years without ripping his head off. I am sure your job is easier than mine with my soon to be 15- and 12 1/2-year old sons. Is there a Smilie for ripping your hair out?

 

[Moabite]

It's true, us males mellow out. It just takes us awhile to get the hang of it.

 

[deedra11]

He is a silkie rooster. I never wanted a rooster in the first place, the lady I bought them from said if he turned out to be one she would take him back, but I got attached and decided to keep him. I could never kill him, the thought of getting rid of him breaks my heart. I just didn't know if he would grow out of this or if it would get worse. I'll just give it time & see what happens. I'll make sure to tell my husband & sister what you all said. Thanks!!!

 

[wannabchick]

Quote:
Now that was awesome

Lmbfao

 

[rolffamily]

Quote:

X222222222

 

[motoclown]

I've had the same thing here with a young Roo, he's about 8 months old now with raging hormones.
I've tried to establish dominance with him from day one.
We rescued him from a rabbit pen last November, and have been using all the techniques I've read about here but
he seemed to always challenge the weak.*(even if they are 250 lb men lol)
I keep reinforcing the men around here to not be scared of the 7lb cockerel to not back down.

And I thoroughly like hearing him crow.

Anyways yesterday at 10oam dogs came into the yard unbeknown to me.
This is the second or third time they have been here in the last two weeks.
(Our dog is usually tied out when the kids go to school in the morning
but not this day or he would have been loosing his mind)
Go outside when I hear the distress to see Our Roo=Claude laying lifeless
and the dog plucking feathers off his tail end to get to the meat.
Chase the dog off and Claude gets up slowly, missing a pound of feathers.
I go over to the coop with this awful feeling see my favorite girl dead, not eaten no blood just killed.
See a pile of white feathers from Claude our roo, who I know fought hard for his girls all over the yard.
Look in the coop, two of our girls were in their nest boxes laying and hiding.
One girl still missing, she came out of the woods several hours later.

Claudes heart grew 12 inches that day for he did his job and was willing to protect his girls till the end with his own life.
I love him even more now and I think he's come to a better understanding of what a real predator will do.

I knew he would be fine as soon as he saw his girls again and chassed her down to nail her.lol
I did clean up his small wounds and put triple antibiotic ointment on him so he is not out of the woods yet.
Now my ole man sees him with new respect.
And I hope it mellows him out.

Wonder if and when his feathers will grow back....?!