My rooster hates me :-(

[K0k0shka]

There is no correct way to raise a rooster to prevent aggressive behavior. Some people just get lucky, and let that go to their head. Roosters are individuals like any other living thing, so they differ somewhat in personality and it is possible to just get lucky and get a calm one, but that won't be because of anything you've done. It's just luck. Or you can get one that will respond to certain handling tactics, for a while, and usually not apply to others in the household or guests, so it's pointless unless you live alone. And then some roosters won't respond to any attempts no matter what you do. Roosters are a crapshoot and usually not worth it unless you need them for something specific, like breeding.

He's not attacking your husband as much as you because of your husband's testosterone. That's why roosters go for women and children, as they view them as inferior and easier targets to assert dominance over.

Like others have said, yours sounds like he's not worth all the stress and injuries on yourself and others. If you can't bring yourself to cull him, and can't find a farm that will let him live, but you still need to get rid of him one way or another, post him on some local groups as free to a willing dinner table. I bet he'll go quick.

The chicken, bless her soul, tries to stop him when he attacks me.

Roosters are chickens, too. "Chicken" is the species, "rooster" is the male, and "hen" is the female.

 

[Barbours]

Happy New Year everyone!

I am at my wits end with my rooster. He has hurt me badly on many occasions, and will violently attack me every chance he gets. He will literally wait outside my car and attack me as soon as I get out. He will chase me to the door and attack me from behind. The other day, when my husband was holding him, he was trying to hand him to me so I could hold him and try to get him to understand that I'm not the bad guy, he bit me twice while I was trying to get him! That he has never done before, holding him was the only way I could get him to not attack, but honestly I can see the look in his eyes, he really hates me! He is much friendlier with my husband, and while aggressive with the others who live at my house, he is the most aggressive with me. The chicken, bless her soul, tries to stop him when he attacks me. I have heard that neutering or estrogen treatment could calm him. Is there any way I can use hormones to reduce his testosterone? I don't want to get rid of him, but if he isn't calm by the summer, I will have to, as I don't want to risk my grandchildren or others playing in my yard of getting pecked to death. He is very nice to my husband, although he does bite him on occasion, but not the full blown feather raising pterodactyl attacks that he does to me! I could never bring myself to cull him, and I'm not sure if there is a farm or rescue that will accept an aggressive rooster. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Ya what I've noticed is they tend to live one person and the others they're mean to. My roos all only liked my brother. Sooo I would wear water boots, thick jeans, a jacket and working gloves go outside several times a day and pick them up and carry them around with me while I was doing stuff outside. They hated it at first but eventually got used to it and me. They still aren't the friendliest but won't run at me and attack me and I can walk up to them now without all the protection and pick them up.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

I had a rooster like that!
I gave him several chances and then it was time for him to go bye bye.
I decided it wasn't safe to have a rooster who attacks people. And I have young grandkids.
As much as I love my birds - safety first!
I had several roosters some rehomed and most ended up in freezer camp. Such is life on the homestead...good luck!

 

[bobbi-j]

I keep chickens because I enjoy them (and these days I appreciate the eggs). When a bird takes away that joy, the bird leaves the flock. It goes to my freezer because I will not take a chance on giving an aggressive one to anyone else. I’ve found that pressure cooking in my Instant Pot tenderizes them quite nicely.

 

[Shern]

Get yourself a walking stick and walk towards the rooster, when he comes at you push him away with your stick. You don't have to be rough, don't back away just keep walking at him. Hopefully he will move on to something else and leave you alone. If he comes at you again, turn around and walk at him with your stick and punt him out the way with stick and/or your foot. I have started this with one of my young cockerels thanks to reading several posts on how to handle aggressive roo's and it's working. Always have your stick and be alert. I'm like you, I want to keep him and am willing to try for a good while to give him a chance. You will know when you have had enough or just can't keep him off of you. Just don't let your grandbabies around him, put him up! If we decide to get beat up on by our hormonal roosters other people should not suffer the same or worse pain so confine him when you have ANY company coming over to visit. And don't try to pick him up, just let him do his thing and you walk tall, confident and carry that big stick. Good luck! I hope it works out.

 

[Sinadrea]

Get yourself a walking stick and walk towards the rooster, when he comes at you push him away with your stick. You don't have to be rough, don't back away just keep walking at him. Hopefully he will move on to something else and leave you alone. If he comes at you again, turn around and walk at him with your stick and punt him out the way with stick and/or your foot. I have started this with one of my young cockerels thanks to reading several posts on how to handle aggressive roo's and it's working. Always have your stick and be alert. I'm like you, I want to keep him and am willing to try for a good while to give him a chance. You will know when you have had enough or just can't keep him off of you. Just don't let your grandbabies around him, put him up! If we decide to get beat up on by our hormonal roosters other people should not suffer the same or worse pain so confine him when you have ANY company coming over to visit. And don't try to pick him up, just let him do his thing and you walk tall, confident and carry that big stick. Good luck! I hope it works out.

I carry a stick at all times too for mine. It works pretty well! I have a baby who will be 1 so I am keeping it in mind that I may have to remove him soon.

 

[sniper338]

You don't want chicks from him either. That trait can pass down. Suck it up, it's livestock... they aren't pets, never were meant to be. Manage chickens like you manage a garden. Throw out the rotten potatoes and try again.

 

[FrostRanger]

I carry a stick at all times too for mine. It works pretty well! I have a baby who will be 1 so I am keeping it in mind that I may have to remove him soon.

With a young child a rooster like him is an accident waiting to happen. It's very easy for a rooster to do serious damage to a small child and he's already proven himself very much untrustworthy and there's no way to make him trustworthy especially around small children, I would make arrangements to have him culled as there's no reason to keep him around any longer

 

[Sondraa]

What did you wind up doing with your aggressive rooster? I hope you put your well being first in whatever decision you made. You deserve it.

 

[Sinadrea]

With a young child a rooster like him is an accident waiting to happen. It's very easy for a rooster to do serious damage to a small child and he's already proven himself very much untrustworthy and there's no way to make him trustworthy especially around small children, I would make arrangements to have him culled as there's no reason to keep him around any longer

Can you eat a 2 year old rooster?