Roo attacked my wife!

[pbjmaker]

I have a Black Copper Marans roo that is about 7 months old who stalks me then waits for my back to be turned to try and attack. I'm with NYREDS in that he is just being a chicken and protecting his ladies. He is not the alpha roo but is contemplating a coup.

I started watching what the alpha roo does to keep him in line seeing as the alpha is a fluffy white showgirl who is only half the size of the BCM.

The key seemed to be random chasing when he wasn't expecting it, making sure he didn't eat first, and randomly chasing him off the hens.

Then I started trying some of the same tatics against him - it seems to be working. It is ALL a mind game and if a little three pound ball of cotton can keep an 8-9 lb rooster in line then so can I.

I also grab him as he comes out of the coop in the morning and just walk around holding him.

He is now taking treats from my hand again, but takes a defensive position when I collect the eggs. I don't feel like I have to carry a weapon any more though.

 

[Autumn Mama]

I've noticed a few posts about "kicking" the roos. Please read some of the more experienced rooster keepers and reformers posts about *how* to treat a rooster who is exhibiting aggression towards people.

Injuring a rooster (and a "kick across the coop" can significantly injure a rooster and will definitely make the whole process harder for you) just doesn't seem like common sense, YK? Learning what is normal, and taking charge of your own leadership while around the roo will go more miles than hurting it, IMO.

There are two excellent pages by members who can outline what to do, and what *not* to do, and I can't recall who right now? Rooster Red, is that the member I'm thinking of?

Hopefully someone can direct you to the pages, OP. They are good reading.

Good luck!

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Rooster-Red has an excellent website and I used it to "correct" one of my Buff Orp roos.

Hope this helps

http://www.myspace.com/leemyrick

If not, I wouldn't put up with a "Bad" rooster either, especially if he acted that way to my wife of kids. BUT, from experience, its worth trying to correct him

 

[Beekissed]

Got to teach him to fear humans.....ALL humans. When they learn a healthy fear of two-legged predators they should avoid you each and every time you enter the coop. Anytime anyone enters the coop!

A nice aggressive roo that protects his flock and is a hardy breeder is a plus in anyone's flock, but this doesn't necessarily mean that he should be flogging humans. He can be a great roo and still learn to respect the food bringers.....if he's too stupid to learn these basics, you won't want his genetics anyway!

I don't let my roos breed a hen in front of me, I don't let them correct a younger roo when I am there and I don't let them walk into my personal space if they are looking at me. If they are just wandering by, that's different. If they even LOOK like they are approaching me for anything other than just walking by for food or scratching around in the yard, I will advance on them quickly until they turn away.

Right now I have 6 roos.

Needless to say, I don't have to do this more than a few times until they learn the deal. Smart roos are a blessing!

 

[Hillbilly Rooster]

My BO roo only attacks my wife and daughters, or just any other females must be the tone in the voice.

I had my wife use a shovel, kick, and spray with a hose but he dont care. She is the one that feeds most of the treats.

She just dont get the eggs out of the old coop.

 

[sm0kin]

I just let my 2 year old into the run. He is more aggressive than any chicken, he walks right up to the roo grabs him and carries him around. Now my kids do not go into the run without me and my daughter closes the slide door on the coop to check for eggs. I don't WANT to eat the roo, so i figure at least we should try to prevent attacks

 

[Rootball]

If he is 20 weeks and you arent gonna show him just cut off his spur buds now with a pair of shears, then they wont grow back.

people seem to be intimidated by rooster spurs......then make sure he knows who is dominant. have your wif go down and chase him once a day.

 

[kuntrychick]

Quote:
Cogburn....as in Rooster Cogburn...as in John Wayne? LOL We have an EE rooster that we named that too....we call him RC for short.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Your Lakenvalder is more handsome then ours. Ours is about 24 weeks old and his feathers are not as long as yours! Ours gets more aggressive with my husband then with me.

In the past I have picked him up and we have had the chat about who signs the paychecks and if he doesn't learn to behave then he will be on unemployment! He calms down for a couple of days and then goes back to protecting his girls - he has 10.

I have a stick that I take in the run and keep it between him and me and don't turn my back. As long as I have the stick he keeps his distance and I have not had to use the stick on him.

Good Luck they are really pretty birds, but at the end of the day still a chicken.

 

[hinkjc]

Here are my thoughts..if you need him, then by all means try to work it out - but know that it doesn't always mean he will cooperate. If you don't need him, off to freezer camp he should go.

I had a roo who was nice for the longest time and one day he started chasing me out of his coop. I tried to work with him, but to no avail. While holding him gently one day, he grabbed on to the inside of my upper arm and would not let go. He left a silver dollar size welt/bruise and that was his last moments. DH doesn't care for roosters threatening his hen either.