Pullets trying to protect me or..

[PingoBags]

were they just joining in.

This morning my cockerel charged at me for the first time, so I pushed him away.
Then he pecked at my boot so I gave him a good but non damaging kick.

10 min later, he tried charging again so I pinned him down, instantly, my 6 pullets started attacking him while he was pinned so I allowed him to run away, and he did fast.

Just wondering why they would attack him, they do see him as the leader and usually follow him around.
Or do they see me as the head of the flock, I'm not really sure about this one.
Either way, he will fear me eventually, that I'm sure of.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Did you handle your birds a lot when they were growing up? Handled birds will often treat their keeper like a member of the flock. That might be why your rooster attacked you and why your hens helped you.

 

[PingoBags]

Yea, I handled the girls a lot, I still do.
I've never held him though, I probably should once in awhile to check him over.
But visually he looks and acts fine

Usually to control him, I just control the girls and he follows, so I had no need for contact.
I'll start carrying him around to break him.
I'm not worried about him attacking me, but the kids also like doing the daily chicken chores when I'm at work.

 

[donrae]

I never handle most of my birds, so don't worry about "checking him over". I go by....if they look and act fine, they're probably fine.

As to why the pullets joined in.....they weren't protecting you. You don't need their protection. They were maybe taking advantage of the situation to test him, see if he's worthy of their respect. Or, sometimes when things like that happen, animals simply get excited and start getting aggressive. There's not a logical, thought out process. Kind of like little human kids, they just get adrenaline going and jump into the fray. "Hey, Phil's down on his back! Let's get him! Get him quick!"

 

[aart]

How old are these birds?
I wouldn't carry him around.....pinning him was probably effective(time will tell) and maybe appropriate,
you want him to be a little scared of humans or at least not approach you aggressively.
Whether that will transfer to the kids remains to be seen.
Having males in the flock can be tricky.....risk goes way up when there's kids in the mix.

 

[ChickenMomma14]

Your roo may have just been being playful... my standard Cochin often "charges" me when I am working around the yard. It is what I like to called chicken play. The pullet hens that then attacked you roo was just wondering why he did what he did. My hens also do something similar, if Ji "the Cochin" starts playing/attacking me my maran runs over and pecks her in the head...
Silly enough my roo is the calmest of the 5 of them.
What I don't understand is why you didn't handle him when he was younger?
Roosters can and usually are the sweetest chickens.

 

[ChickenMomma14]

I never handle most of my birds, so don't worry about "checking him over". I go by....if they look and act fine, they're probably fine. 

As to why the pullets joined in.....they weren't protecting you. You don't need their protection. They were maybe taking advantage of the situation to test him, see if he's worthy of their respect. Or, sometimes when things like that happen, animals simply get excited and start getting aggressive. There's not a logical, thought out process. Kind of like little human kids, they just get adrenaline going and jump into the fray. "Hey, Phil's down on his back! Let's get him! Get him quick!"

Actually if she handled the pullets when they where chicks they probably were protecting her because they saw their "mother hen" possibility being attacked

 

[chickens really]

lol........All animals read others energy........They attacked him because his energy changed.......Example.....If a Dog gets run over by a Car his energy changes so other Dogs will attack it..........If your weak, you will be attacked.....Make sense?


The Rooster is testing you.......I never handle any of my Birds....If you pick up a Hen in front of a Rooster he will attack you.....Those are HIS ladies ...........



Cheers!

 

[azygous]

I'll weigh in with my experience. You can do what you want with it.

Any time you restrain a chicken, no matter the gender, you are setting them up for possible abuse from any others that feel like putting that individual in its place. It's like waving raw steak in front of a dog. Chickens will take advantage of the opportunity to get their licks in.

As for your cockerel's behavior, you are on the right track in disciplining him. You need to be watchful, do not turn your back on him, and respond to every aggression by pinning him to the ground until he surrenders meekly.

Consistency is crucial during this period. An undisciplined cockerel can send you to the ER. Any small kids need to be kept away from him for the next several months until he becomes predictable and well behaved.

 

[donrae]

Actually if she handled the pullets when they where chicks they probably were protecting her because they saw their "mother hen" possibility being attacked

I've had lots of actual hens raise chicks. I've never seen the chicks go to the defense of the mother, not once. It's the mother's job to protect the chicks. When I need to do something with the hen, or something else bothers her, the chicks scatter. Every time.