My Rooster has been exiled?!

[RaleighRooster]

Hi There -
I've got two black Australorp Roosters - same age, both about 1 year and a half old now. Thor-a-doodle2 has been the head man until last week when unbeknownst to us, he seems to have been exiled! Rooster #2, Goldeneye, has seemingly taken over the flock now and actually chases Thor away. So much so that poor Thor now just wanders around by himself. None of the ladies hang out with him anymore either - it's quite sad actually.

Anyway, just wondering if this is normal...? There was normal rooster banter between the two of them before, but Thor was always the dominant guy - and is considerably bigger than Goldeneye. The only thing that has changed is the addition of another young rooster - he's maybe 2 months old - but he was hatched here so it's not really a completely new addition and he sticks to himself, and neither of the roosters really pay him any mind... Maybe it was just time for a leadership change

Thanks in advance!

 

[Matthew3590]

Usually there is change in position among the flock. I have two hens that stick to themselves away from the others, but I have never payed it to much attention.

 

[katyoh7]

Actually 1 of my 6 roosters (13 hens and 6 roosters raised from 1 day old peeps), has been exiled. The reason is he attacked me 2 days in a row and I beat the hell out of both times. Each time all the roosters jumped him also (I'm assuming in my behalf) and pecked the hell out of him also. I am surprised he lived. He was a bloody mess. He was not allowed in the coop or around the food, water or hens for 3 days and nights. I actually felt sorry for him even though I'm bruised and my arm has a hole in it from him; so I put out additional food and water for him. (I have 3 acres). The alpha roo chases him every morning now (it's been 8 days) to the very back of the pasture. A couple of the hens are just now being a bit tolerant of him. I go out every afternoon after work and give my babies treats and check their coop, food and water and their health. He has not tried another attack although I'm very wary of him. He has fallen from the "heir apparent roo" to "Zero". and I mean ZERO! He is back healthy but has scars physically and probably mentally as well. But from all appearances, he is a cock without a flock. Pardon the pun.

 

[eggspectation]

We raised Henry, the roo, from a 1-day old chick. Hand fed and petted him, but as soon as he became sexually active he would back away and not eat out of my hand or let me pet or pick him up. Shortly after he started raising his neck feathers whenever I entered the coop, but he didn't do that to my DH? Several times he came at me with his feet up and I had to defend my self with the cast iron sauce pan I used to dip out the feed with. I hit him hard, but he kept on coming. He finally got me in our last fight, I have a battle scar to remember him by. He was our only rooster of 23 chickens and his crowing was getting so loud neighbors started complaining of the very early and all day noise, so we were thinking about putting him in the pot anyways, but his attack that drew blood was the final straw!

 

[donrae]

Actually 1 of my 6 roosters (13 hens and 6 roosters raised from 1 day old peeps), has been exiled. The reason is he attacked me 2 days in a row and I beat the hell out of both times. Each time all the roosters jumped him also (I'm assuming in my behalf) and pecked the hell out of him also. I am surprised he lived. He was a bloody mess. He was not allowed in the coop or around the food, water or hens for 3 days and nights. I actually felt sorry for him even though I'm bruised and my arm has a hole in it from him; so I put out additional food and water for him. (I have 3 acres). The alpha roo chases him every morning now (it's been 8 days) to the very back of the pasture. A couple of the hens are just now being a bit tolerant of him. I go out every afternoon after work and give my babies treats and check their coop, food and water and their health. He has not tried another attack although I'm very wary of him. He has fallen from the "heir apparent roo" to "Zero". and I mean ZERO! He is back healthy but has scars physically and probably mentally as well. But from all appearances, he is a cock without a flock. Pardon the pun.

Why on earth are you keeping an animal that attacked you?

 

[Klutch]

Could be is a little under the weather and lost his edge, but it's just natural selection. Roll with it.

 

[Klutch]

Thor

 

[Klutch]

Actually 1 of my 6 roosters (13 hens and 6 roosters raised from 1 day old peeps), has been exiled. The reason is he attacked me 2 days in a row and I beat the hell out of both times. Each time all the roosters jumped him also (I'm assuming in my behalf) and pecked the hell out of him also. I am surprised he lived. He was a bloody mess. He was not allowed in the coop or around the food, water or hens for 3 days and nights. I actually felt sorry for him even though I'm bruised and my arm has a hole in it from him; so I put out additional food and water for him. (I have 3 acres). The alpha roo chases him every morning now (it's been 8 days) to the very back of the pasture. A couple of the hens are just now being a bit tolerant of him. I go out every afternoon after work and give my babies treats and check their coop, food and water and their health. He has not tried another attack although I'm very wary of him. He has fallen from the "heir apparent roo" to "Zero". and I mean ZERO! He is back healthy but has scars physically and probably mentally as well. But from all appearances, he is a cock without a flock. Pardon the pun.

My alpha roo used to do that, but after two light drop kicks no more. I tried to bait him into attack, but no response any more from him. He runs a tight ship with over a acre to govern and does it well. He is ever watchful, keeping and eye on the hawks and neighbors dogs. They got to have a little spunk to live free range.

 

[Beakz]

my roo is fairly docile, not aggressive, but if i he or any of my roosters ever even jumps at me he will be supper in a matter of days!!

 

[katyoh7]

That is a great question, thanks for asking! I've been struggling with the guilt of beating the **** out of this rooster and him living after a horrific beating from me for over a week now. I've read about roosters, etc. I've come to the conclusion after doing much research:
1. Roosters are born to protect their flock to the point of losing their own life to save the hen. I respect that.
2. This rooster, albeit, 1 of 6, chose to take me on, wrong move, however, I must respect that as he is just learning his job and doing it well.
3. After failing to die after the incredible beating, I do mean incredible, (if you knew me it would be like Mohammed Ali taking on a sixth grader) then surviving bad rain and the incredible beating and pecking of his fellow roosters, he survived.

Yes, if it would have happened to a child it would have been disasterous, and I would have literally ripped his head from his body. But it was me.

He has seemed to learn from it. He is ostracized, exiled from the flock. They have just now started allowing him into the coop at night. But he is not allowed to play "any reindeer games" with the rest.

That doesn't mean I have let my guard down. I will wait for one month to see how he behaves. I will not allow anyone back in the area he is in. The rest of the flock is completely free to roam my acreage. He is not. I do however go back to him and sit with him to see how he interacts with me. My hens, who love me, follow me and scratch and eat around me. He is a complete gentleman at this point. But believe me, I don't trust him.

I will say this, I respect him for being a rooster. I wont kill him for attacking me, but if he attacks me again, he's going to be rehomed. I don't eat chicken. I stopped eating chicken after I got my babies. Sorry.............The eggs are great, but I just can't eat chicken.

Thank you all for being so helpful to me. This is an amazing site. I''ve learned so very much from all of you. Thank you.