Not sure of my roo, He's scaring me!

[Gypsy07]

I've had cheeky, sparky and just downright mean roosters in the past. I've tried responding with aggression and I've tried the 'carry around' method. Of the two, I much prefer the latter. In my experience, aggression just tends to escalate, and you can end up with a problem roo who's still secretly mean but just scared of you rather than respectful towards you. Heading off the aggression is far preferable as it means when you do have to handle your roos, like for beak trimming, claw trimming, louse powdering, inspecting injuries etc, they'll already be used to close contact with you and be calmer and easier to manage.

That said, some roos are probably best off eaten. I make a good effort early on to have mine respect me and not act aggressively towards me. When they're adolescents I forgive the first couple of stalking attempts and neck fluffing. I'll corner them and pick them up and lug them about for a bit, and do it for a few days in a row. And if they don't learn to calm down around me, I earmark them for the pot.

My best roos aren't particularly friendly. They're aloof and a bit standoffish. Like, when I'm feeding my hens they kind of stand back and keep their distance. They don't eat from my hand like my hens will. If I pick them up they don't like it, but they'll stop struggling and settle down almost immediately. If I walk towards them they back off. But I'm confident I can go in the coop and turn my back on them and they'll just ignore me. That's the way I like it.

 

[Blueicebird]

At first he was flirting with you, but since he got no responce seems like he figured you were a roo. Glad to hear things are headed in the right direction. My Roo tried flirting with me when he got old enough, I just pushed him away from me with my foot cuz I didn't realize what he was doing. I picked him up every day and have never gotten a flogging or any agression towards me, my 3 yr old son or dog. Only one he picks on is my Silkie hen... :Sigh:

 

[GhostRider65]

Try anything that has worked for someone else, 1 thing or another will do the trick, I would start least aggressive to increased aggression, because as someone else stated that sometimes aggressive just leads to more from the roo, I do the same with my horses, if they show any sign of dominant behavior, I walk em down, step by step increasing the pressure until they give. worked well with my rooster too he was so nice till 1 day I tried to pet him good night he bit me........ I grabbed him by the neck and held him so he couldn't do it again, till he was calm....not a choke hold just prevented him from biting me, he has never tried to dominate me in anyway. he will take food from my hand very politely but mostly if I mess with the girls he just watches, I don't pick him up unless he is acting like a fool, or needs some kind of care like toe nail clipping. or a a health check, he has been a gentlemen since he was held.

 

[anderson8505]

Quote:

Yup. Even after punting him a few times after carrying him around a few times, he was rehomed to fully informed folks. Read the flogged by my rooster thread, plenty of advice there. Whatever you do, be responsible, don't make him someone else's "surprise"

oh, and I'd wear whatever color I wanted to around him, I don't go into my closet thinking "what shirt will Stevie like best on me today?"

 

[Mei&Popcorn]

Hmm... Maybe thats why my roo wasn't aggressive. I like to carry my chickens a lot and Teri (the roo) was my favorite so I would carry him a lot. He was never aggressive except for two times when he pecked my nose. I wasn't scared of him, though.

 

[Twiggers96]

Quote:
Glad to hear this! Way to go!

I have posted somewhere on here a couple months ago with your same concerns. I had a GREAT Roo but he was freaking me out w/questionable aggression.
I could not bring myself to kick him and I was too 'chicken' to carry him around. I truly believe if I had used the carry around method things would have ended better.

My husband was not afraid to kick Big Daddy and DID because Big Daddy made several jumps at my back w/DH watching.
Then, I refused to go out there alone and then at all. So, DH took over feeding.
Well, Roo responded to the first two kicks (defensive/needed not just being mean) but took a hating to my husband.
Roo would work up the courage to become Alpha Roo again every couple of days.
It all came to a head this past Sunday when Big Daddy flogged my husband 3-4 times.
He would flog, DH would kick, BD would flog again, DH would respond, BD would go at it again.
It ended with Big Daddy becoming part of the great circle of life.....

I realize I am talking a lot here but I still do not like the outcome although it is great to walk the pasture with no fear and to spend time with the hens again.

It all depends on the roo, but once you start kicking be prepared for them to come back with double. Again and again and again.
Keep your confidence - mine knew I was scared and took advantage of it.