my rooster does not recognize me!!!

[Ursuline Chick]

Please take the well intentioned advice from these well seasoned friends. An aggressive rooster WILL get worse.
Even a special ED one will still follow his natural instincts and behaviors. Many of the people here have years of experience with roos and they know what their talking about.
And please don't take offense to the advice. It's not meant as such. No one wants to find out later that you or another person were seriously hurt by this guy. Hence the sense of urgency that you set him straight asap. Many of us have personally seen what a mean roo can do. I do hope you'll consider all that's been said here and rethink your position with your roo.
And I mean all of this with kindness and sincerity.

@flappychicken , I know you would not want to see a child or adult for that matter have an eye put out, because you did not train your rooster properly. It is no different from training a dog. The animal gets a great life, because it doesn't harm humans. Just like with dogs, if your roo harms someone, it will probably be put down, as this is what happens with animals that harm humans. So if you love your roo and think he is really cute, do the right thing by him and train him before it is too late and you don't have him anymore, because he harmed someone. Good luck

 

[flappychicken]

thank you so much!

Sully is like almost my life I raised him by myself and himself. we were bff's (I know "Crazy chicken lady") but it's true we were living in the same house, I gave him some of my food, we played outside together, watched Avatar together and climbed a mountain together. So I am a little distraught. that he attacked me.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Oh I was never offended by anything anyone said. I was just too stupid to see they were right . lol Sully I now know is a problem.

And I am worried I offended people with my Ignorance. I am knew here. Like one week new I have never seen anything like this. And I love BYC I am online almost every day. I now know that I should take all of the advice I get to hart

Thank you all so much!!!

-Amelia

Please keep us up to date on how your training is going, I am sure we are all interested in what works for him and what doesn't.

 

[flappychicken]

thank you I tried to train him to peck a nerf dart but he coulden't understand lol I think I am going to do more reserch before I train him.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

thank you I tried to train him to peck a nerf dart but he coulden't understand lol I think I am going to do more reserch before I train him.

I do understand your relationship with him, my first chicken was a cockerel. for the first few weeks he would peck on the glass on my back door to come out and play with him. When we got him 3 hens he got kind of agressive. He pecked DD and I, but not DH. DH swatted him and I think he got the point of who's hens were who's. LOL I still miss him, wasn't supposed to have him (but had him 4 years) had to re home him, but he got a great home on a small farm about 50 or so miles away. Good luck with your boy, will say a prayer for you both.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

thank you I tried to train him to peck a nerf dart but he coulden't understand lol I think I am going to do more reserch before I train him.

I think continued research is a fantastic idea. And you didn't offend, If anyone else was offended by you, id say the same to them...Rethink what offended. Most times it's simply because something is read in the wrong tone. I have trouble with that myself..Lol so I reread from a different perspective.
You're fine and we're here to help all we can.
I'm glad you're sticking around and learning.

 

[STxChickenman]

Human males have testosterone and we act a bit crazy from time to time when our levels get high. (I've passed those years and am on the decline...but I remember those days). Rooster's have rooster testosterone which I think is probably much more potent than human testosterone and they can get a bit aggressive and macho. I totally agree that you have to show them who's the boss. I like the peck them back with your finger technique as suggested. Once he realizes that you are the "number one rooster" around he will stay clear of you. Be aware that others, family and friends will get the macho treatment from him until you can convince them to do as you will do and show him who is the boss. If they can't get it across to the rooster who is bigger and stronger he will attack them. So keep in mind that if you are able to gain his respect it doesn't really make him afraid of everyone.

 

[mustangrooster]

But what I don't understand about sully is that he is the sweetest thing he will snuggle (willingly), he likes good attention, and I have brought him to a convention, before he started attacking and little kids were poking him and all this stuff "Oh can I pet your chicken" and he didn't care. He has never harmed a hen and is afraid to even fight one. Then out of the blue he just started head butting me with hackles up!

I have around 18 roosters at the moment, and I have had some very aggressive ones. They are now happy and calm roosters because I sorted them out. In fact, one of the roos that started attacking me during his adolescence is now one of the best roosters I own---- because I set him straight. But, in saying that, I have had some roosters draw blood, and leave big scars, they do have sharp spurs and claws...and beaks.

How old is your rooster? It sounds like he is reaching sexual maturity, and his 'new' hormones are racing through his body. This is the consequences of treating cockerels like pets when they are chicks. You get a mean cockerel that sometimes can be hard to change his ways. You'll find, for instance, a rooster raised by a broody hen will not usually attack during his adolescence. Why? because he hasn't been treated like a pet. It's always important to treat roosters like livestock. Not a pet. If you get him past this, he can very well be that sweet rooster again. As long as you don't backtrack. You need to educate yourself a bit about roosters in order to help your rooster out as best as possible.

Here are some links that might help:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dealing-with-roosters-roo-behavior.48152/
https://www.mypetchicken.com/backya...should-I-do-about-a-rooster-that-has-H68.aspx

I just need to add something, though. You need to be prepared to put a lot of work in setting this rooster straight. It sounds like you used to do everything together, and a rooster who is spoiled to that extent can be a bit of a harder case. I have experienced that before. I used to have a lovely little roo called Jasper. He would fly onto my head, sit in my lap (and even sleep there), he would follow me everywhere, and he even came to me when I called his name. I hatched himself and raised him myself. Oh, I loved that little rooster. He reached sexual maturity and he was like a little devil. He took a lot of work to set straight, but unfortunately, he got into a fight with my cochin bantam show rooster (they were always separated...for they never got along) and he got killed as well as killing my bantam cochin rooster and my sweet little frizzle bantam cochin hen. So, before something like that happens, please, start to set this boy straight.

I'm wishing you the best and please keep us updated.....

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Human males have testosterone and we act a bit crazy from time to time when our levels get high. (I've passed those years and am on the decline...but I remember those days). Rooster's have rooster testosterone which I think is probably much more potent than human testosterone and they can get a bit aggressive and macho. I totally agree that you have to show them who's the boss. I like the peck them back with your finger as suggested. Once he realizes that you are the "number one rooster" around he will stay clear of you. Others, family and friend will get the macho treatment until you can convince them to do as you and show him who is boss. If they can't get it across to the rooster who is bigger and stronger he will attack them. So keep in mind that if you are able to gain his respect it doesn't really make him afraid of everyone.

Agree, DD was about 8 and was afraid to go in the yard, so we gave her an old broom stick. She never had to use it, except to wave in the roo's direction if hackles were up. Eventually she went into the yard without the stick and roo did not get his hackles up. In fact he was the only rooster at the blessing of the pets at her school that year. We have a picture, and she sure looks proud with her rooster.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

See...You are getting the most awesome advice and support you can get. We all really do care. Keep checking in and reading, if you don't understand a comment, say so and ask for help understanding.
Keep us posted on what you try and what does or doesn't work. It'll help us help you.
Best of wishes to you and Sully..