Once an Attack Roo Always An Attack Roo?

[Knucker Hatch Farms]

Hi there!

Our family is closing in on our first year anniversary of owning chickens. We raised them as chicks and have our first broody. My question, is in regards to a throw in extra Silkie we received for "warmth". He has turned out to be our sole rooster, and to my mild surprise he is anything but docile. He attacks every single one of us. He's not quite a year old. Will this behavior subside over time as he ages a bit more? I'm willing to give him a slight break being that he is a young buck, but he's got a small window for this kind of behavior.

Due to a recent hit by a neighbor dog, I'm willing to keep Duke around for a hatch or two, to build up our flock again. But, if your experience is that once an "attacker" always an "attacker", then I'll be sure he doesn't make it to see his second birthday. Have you ever experienced positive changes once a rooster has sown some wild oats?

Warm Regards,

Mama Knucker Hatch

 

[NewGuineaChooks]

Well, this is probably bad news for Duke: I have -never- (25 years of chickens) known a rooster to get mild-mannered in his old age. They get gradually more aggressive as they age, and you will likely have more and more problems with Duke.

Sorry! :-(

 

[silkieboxerluv]

I have 3 silkie roosters with no aggression at all. Bummer for you bird-as a kid we had polish chickens and it didnt matter how many times you kicked at them the next day they were coming for you again. So yup once an attacker always an attacker.:|

 

[SpottedCrow]

He's still only a baby so I'd give him a chance...
Try some of these methods.

Re: [housechickens] Re: one of my hens isn't standing


Time. Give the boy time. He'll get over that teenage stage and probably become a perch potato. But all roosters have to go through that adolescent/teenage stage just like kids do, and it just takes patience to get them through it. Silkie roos normally aren't very aggressive at all except with each other, so he'll probably gentle down with a little time.

Barb
----- Original Message -----
From: blunn@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 12:57 PM
Subject: Re: [housechickens] Re: one of my hens isn't standing


Well I have a silkie roo that I got from Pattym. He has gotten pretty
aggressive. He is about 4 months now. He likes to attack my feet and chase all
the other chickens. And he has bit me 2x. I have picked him up and carried him
around with me. I have pushed him down to show whos boss. And I have put him in
a cage like time out for a little while when he misbehaves. Do you have any
other tips on calming him down? I loves to be held and his neck rubbed. He
will just melt in my arms when I do that.

Brenda


Or this one:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2974

 

[John T]

I just got rid of two roosters that had bad attitudes. One of them was a Silkie I got from a swap meet. He would attack you and fly up towards your face. He had plenty of chances but he just didn't get better

. Good luck.

 

[peruvian_princess]

With any roo you should have instilled from a young age that you are the head hancho around the flock. I am not sure his behavior can be altered but it is worth a try. If he comes at you make sure you rebuttle his effort with a counter move. Everytime he tries you should give hima good wack to where he will feel it. I have a roo that was that way and after a few good wacks will actually walk the other way anytime he sees me coming. I dont put up with that so if I can change the behavior I would. He will be an asset to your flock as far as gaurding the hens and chicks. Better to have him around in case of an animal attack so he can go instead of the hens. Not that all roos are protective but you get my drift.

 

[fleenorfarmmom]

I'm glad someone asked this question. We have a zillion chickens and have accumulated more than a dozen roos. They are all pretty easy going but 2. Nathan is the devil himself and will follow you for an hour if he is in a bad mood just to get a chance to jump you. If he wasn't so pretty (golden campine) and protective of his girls he'd be in the pot at someone's house. He's probably just grissle though.
And BR (huge mutt roo) has started the stalking thing too. I know how to "establish dominance" with a dog or cat, but I wondered about chickens. They are so easy to punt if needed but I'd like to be able to break them of the habit/tendency if I can. Nathan has been swatted more times than a badminton birdie and he just keeps on stalking. But BR is just starting, maybe I can break him.

 

[jeaucamom]

I seem to remember a post on here about establishing dominance over your roos by not letting them mount a hen in front of you. All subordinant roos have to wait to get lucky. That was one of the suggestions and they had lots more.

Try doing a search on it, I am sure you will get lots of info!!

 

[Knucker Hatch Farms]

Thank you all for your thoughts and insights. There is quite a spectrum there!

For the record, especially for those of you with young roos, I did a lot of prep when the little toot was still very young. I was "prepared" to nip anything in the bud if it started. The minute he began charging, he was getting the boot, to establish that I was Alpha. (According to much of the suggestions I had read). The kids also had permission and instruction on how to properly give the boot.

Now I wonder if that was the best medicine. He just comes back for more...like someone else suggested. As others have pointed out, he is doing his job well, keeping his girls safe. He's very sweet to his girls, always showing them with much clucking where the best bugs are or if he's found a tasty morsel. Lately, I have been picking him up and putting him on "time out" in my arms, since the boot hasn't been working.

Based on your advice...I'll kill him with sweetness and maybe extra treats rather than the boot. And if that doesn't work, and he keeps at it, going after my two year old or gets worse...roll the credits....

Thanks again!

Mama Knucker Hatch

 

[Ese_N_Gracie]

WHen Ese gets a wild feather up his....uh chute...I've found the best way to stop it is by picking him up and loving him, petting him to calm him down and change the dynamic. Most of the time this works. Sometimes, if it is the milder following around, waiting for the opportunity to attck, I will put my arms out straight and put them over his head, as he backs up I wait for him to feel overchallenged by my being so above him...and he walks off. I've found the more I punt him or toss him, the more rowdy and wound up he gets...