Roo ATTACKING,

[Buster]

I have held a roo upside down before but not dunked it. I think that may kill it if you are not careful. Holding them upside down is kind of a last resort because it compresses their lungs and they can't breathe. I heard my roo rasp a little when he was upside down, but it did the trick and I turned him back the right way and carried him around until he got too heavy. He hasn't pulled his garbage with me since. Grabbing them by the comb or wattles while holding them helps too. My roo forgets about once a week and stomps his feet at me or rushes the wire after I have walked out. I don't let this pass! I go back in and chase him down and pick him up and grab his comb so he remembers who is boss. He is getting better about it all the time.

 

[seminolewind]

I did the behavior thing and it worked , he needs a reminder now and then. When I am in the pen, he can't mess with me, he can't mount the hen, and he can't eat or drink. When he gives up trying, lesson over. He's a silkie. He lives with another silkie roo and a silkie hen. So far so good.

 

[perfectly_polish]

Quote:
I do the same thing. I have a polish roo who attacks everyone but me. He tried once but I grabbed him like buster said by his comb and wattles and then held him upside down, he knows who's boss now. Good luck!

 

[mangled]

We have an enormous buff orpington roo, Brutus, who had some behavioral issues about 2 months ago, and we used Rooster-Red's page with good results, BUT - 'ol Brutus is becoming meaner and meaner every day, and sadly, he's slated for butcher tomorrow.

Not only did he attack one of our cats today, when I shooed him of the cat, he attacked my boy, who is only 2, and when I went after him, he attacked me. He's an 11 pound bird, and that's a lot of bird to deal with when mad.

Like others have said, sometimes roos are just plain aggressive. Re-homing Brutus is not an option, he'd just become another person's mean roo.

Tomorrow, he'll cease being Brutus and become Dinner.

Good luck with your roo.
Em

 

[seriousbill]

Quote:
I agree 100%. And I think you're onto something, Cyn. I've never really thought about it as a function of intelligence before, but it just may be, at least partly. After all, chickens are domesticated birds, and their behavior is pretty far removed from that of a wild jungle fowl. For many hundreds of years, people have kept the ones who could tell the farmer from the fox. Even a lot of cockers keep the birds that they can handle but that still have a hefty fighting instinct toward other birds. So, yeah, there just may be something of an ability to differentiate at work there. This would explain, too, why behavior mod. so often fails. If the bird hasn't learned this lesson already, it's gonna be very hard to teach him.

 

[Bird Hearder]

he is a Dark Brahma Bantam

Thanks for the replies,
I have one more question.
I have some 4 week old RIR's (11) and 4 of which are Roo's as far as we can tell. How are the RIR Roo's temperment wise?
Reason I ask is I'm going to call where I got them from, He said he would trade out any unwanted Roo's for hen's.
Because he doesn't know how to sex them and can sell the roo's to certain groups for dinner.
Thanks again

 

[speckledhen]

RIRs temperament varies widely. Some are just great, but many are mean as vipers. Just depends on the individual, in the end.
I do believe that some roosters are more intelligent than others. I've had my share of very smart, calm, well-bred roosters and I can see, in other actions, that they are just a tad brighter than others. My Barred Rock Zane is very, very intelligent and it's hard to explain by writing why I think so, but that is one reason I really am working hard to get him walking again-he is the ONE I want for my laying flock leader. His father was a truly benevolent ruler and a real sweetheart.
Suede, my Blue Orp in my avatar, is famous around here. At 12 lbs, he's one I certainly would not want to become aggressive. He's a year and a half old and when I am dealing with one of his ladies and she's screaming like I'm trying to put her in a stew pot, he walks around and paces, very concerned, but never showing any aggression toward me or my DH. He seems to know I wont hurt him or them. He's one of the brighter ones, IMO. If his ladies were really in trouble, I know he'd put every one of those 12 pounds to proper use.

 

[Bird Hearder]

Well I went out and sat in the pen for awhile. The roo never tried anything, But he was quite leary of me being in there. The whole time the Friendly Girls were pecking at my clothes and ring. But he kept his distance

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
Wellll, I guess he ain't too dumb!!!

 

[montcapu]

thanks this is all good info and something to tuck away until mine are bigger, just in case