new roo's killed my dela-horn.

[monster1]

well all the birds are happy and well. everything is fine. no more dead birds! the roo is still flogging me, but at least he didn't bite when i picked him up. that is a step in the right direction. hopefully he'll stop his aggressive behavior or he'll be dusting my furniture soon my son is already afraid of him so i think that he may have a short career.

 

[dancingbear]

You don't have to wait that long for birds to know where their new home is. They should be ready to let out by now. I've never kept new birds in more than a day or two before letting them range. They've all found their way back in at night.

WoodlandWoman is correct, chickens do sometimes kill each other, (it isn't very common) but roos don't normally kill pullets. Are you certain that pullet wasn't a cockerel? The most trouble I've ever had with chickens killing each other, is new mom hens attacking other hens' chicks, or orphan chicks being attacked by moms with new chicks.

I'd be concerned about a human aggressive roo around a small child, though. (I won't tolerate being flogged myself, either) Do you know anybody with a gentler roo, and no children, who may be willing to trade with you? Or you may just need to get a different one and rehome or eat that one. If he's pretty enough, maybe you can sell him. Just get one though, I hadn't thought about the bachelor roos suddenly having hens to fight over, factor. Your pullet probably just got chased (or was getting out of the way, or panicked) until she crashed into something and died.

 

[monster1]

i let the birds out today. they were happy to get out and play. the roo as usual charged and flogged my feet. i immediately picked him up and held him like a football and stroked his waddle. he calmed down and i let him down to forage. he didn't attack me again. i think he might actually calm down so that i don't have to send his little a$$ over the rainbow bridge! keep your fingers crossed on this one!!! if not i think i'll make some chicken er' rooster and dumplings and get a polish roo. i hear they have a good temperment. what other breeds of roo's have good disposition? looking for more of the norm rather than the exeption.

thanks,

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Silkie roos have a pretty good disposition. Mine is very nice.

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
I've heard of people using that very technique to stop aggression in roos, picking them up and carrying them around. Lets them know they aren't in control. It could work, keep it up! I wouldn't let him be around your child unsupervised, though. Injuries can happen very quickly.

I don't know if stroking his wattle (not waddle, that's how ducks walk) has anything to do with it. I'd wonder if that might be counter-productive, because when roos fight they peck each others wattles. Or maybe he thinks you're pecking his? Who knows what a chicken thinks!

Good luck, anyway, I hope you'll keep us posted on what happens.