My rooster has started to attack.

[Standard Hen]

ME that is. He is an EE, probably around 6 months old now. He has done it twice and keeps it up until I kick him to the moon or grab a stick if one is close. He is not aftaid and just keeps on coming at me. I believe he is just starting to come into himself but need to know if this might be one for the soup pot. This is my first real rooster aside for a little bantam who is harmlessly adorable and gentle. Any input will be appreciated.

 

[lurky]

I just got rid of my EE Roo. He was about the same age and although he never attacked me, he sure looked like he was wanting to. He seemed jealous that the girls liked me. He had tiny bumps starting where the spurs will be, so i decided to re-home him now. I was very lucky the guy i got him from wanted him back. It made the decision easier. I think by fight back it will only get worse. Maybe read up on it. Someone here posted a thing about how to deal with them. I think you are supposed to swipe at them to shoo them off rather than actuall hit them as it only makes them madder. I was more worried about what they would be like when the spurs grew. I also have a wicked nice bantam. Sorry i cant tell you what to do, but that reading thing must be under a post about roo's in the behavior topic. Good Luck......I think its harder to vote against an EE because they are so beautiful, you dont want to get rid of them. That was how i felt.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I have a leghorn roo that is heading for the pot. He had started with attacking me then he became agressive with the girls and they virtually quit laying. I removed him and penned him elsewhere and the eggs started appearing. I'm keeping one of the Black roos instead.

 

[Dawn419]

This link should help you...Keeping Your Roosters Sane. Someone else had posted the site, I made sure to bookmark it since my boys are "coming of age" also. I've had no trouble, except for the first time I wore long pants into the run. Cocky Joe (Banty Mottled cochin) decided to test me out...first reaction...send my foot where the sun don't shine on him. Surprised him as bad as he surprised me!

Dawn

 

[lurky]

Hmmmmm I wonder if that might be why I have not gotten any eggs yet, (23 1/2 weeks). I got rid of mine because he seemed like he was getting mean to the girls. I felt bad for them and figured I better let him go while i had a good place for him to go. I think he might have been stressing the girls out. But i also wondered if that was just the way they operate.

 

[seminolewind]

My first rooster was a joy, never attacked anyone, slept with the dogs. He did guard the property, LOL. The last rooster , real sweet when I got him, I could pet him, etc. My husband told me one morning that the rooster attacked him. I really didn't believe him. Then he attacked me! Me, who fed him bread. Well the neighbor wanted him, and got him a hen. I'll just stick to hens now. If I want chicks, I'll borrow a rooster for a week. Karen

 

[rooster-red]

He doesn't see you as being the alpha.

You have to make him submit to you.

Try this... at the first sign of aggression grab him, hold him no matter how much he struggles, do not let him go.
Walk around with him, pet him, etc... after he calms down, Let him go when YOU want to.

Its important to repeat this everytime he gets aggressive, make him submit.

It usually doesn't take more than a couple of weeks for him to realize that you can restrain him anytime you want, making you the Alpha.

 

[Standard Hen]

That is exactly what I was thinking,,,I am not the alpha, he is. I will have to make sure that I have gloves and long pants on when I do this as he just keeps right on coming at me. Like I am another rooster to spar with! He is even coming at me with his feet and at least he does not have any spurs yet. Thanks everyone for your advise. I need to work on being his boss,,,,lol

 

[lurky]

Good Luck. Mine was getting so big and i was a little intimidated so i figured i was going to lose anyway

Thats why i gave up.....My little bantam is not big enough to make me feel that way so i think we will be ok. I hope this works out for you. I think that link about Roosters should be helpful. I read it and thought it sounded good.

 

[speckledhen]

rooster-red is absolutely correct. My Blue Orpington is so large that he could be extremely dangerous if he was aggressive, but he's a big blue baby. The boy falls asleep in my lap. You shouldn't even allow a rooster to dance around you like he's flirting with you, IMO. He's bringing you to the level of one of his hens-not allowed here. My Barred Rock is also a love as is my Ameraucana and he's a youngster at 23 weeks old. I refuse to be bullied by a bird so that I can't walk among them with ease. I wont keep a bird that I cannot turn my back on. And they can be really lethal to a small child since often they're at rooster-eye level. If I ever acquire a rooster who attacks me, even one time, he's OUT, one way or another.