Roo attacks his favorite girl with her apron on

[fivehens1roo]

I have a year old Silverlaced Wyandotte roo that was raised with five girls. He has ripped the feathers off the girls, he is brutal and does try and flogged me on occasion, I can put up with that but now I bought a chicken apron for his favorite girl( also a Wyandotte) it is a dark green color. He watched me put it on her and when I set her down I was pleased that it did not bother her at all but as soon as she when into the run he attacked her and I mean he was vicious. I was on him in a minute the hen took off and he went on attack again just like he was fighting another rooster, with that I got between then and gave him a push with my foot to give her enough time to retreat into the hen house.
She was hurt and now he getting treatment and I is getting better. My question is has anyone else experienced this? I am afraid he will have to go. The apron was the only way to save the girls. I would still love to have a rooster and am thinking about a Brahma and comments ?

 

[Chris09]

How old are they do you have a picture of the hen?


Chris

 

[groydollar]

I've never even heard of a chicken apron. I can't tolerate an overly aggressive rooster. I don't know if it's the breed or what. I mostly keep RIR's and have had really good luck with them being fairly tame towards me but not one another. White leghorns can be aggressive. The meanest I've encountered towards hens is a Plymouth Barred Rock.

 

[fivehens1roo]

I don't have a picture sorry. They are all a year old this month. I am fixing up a place in the barn and will banish the rooster there until I can figure out what I am doing. It is like he did not recognize his own girl.

 

[fivehens1roo]

I see that depending on the company the apron I am referring to is like a "chicken saver" or saddle. Has any one else experienced the rooster attacking the hen after she had one put on?

 

[tadkerson]

You do not need the rooster unless you plan on hatching eggs. Get rid of him- the girls will be happy. If you just want a rooster around find an older rooster- it has been my experience that the older roosters are better with the girls. Trade your rooster for an older less aggressive rooster.

You are correct the rooster does not recognize the hen. The roosters I have had in the past would do the wing down dance with females. . Your bird did not even give the hen the time to show submission. It would appear that he thinks she is a male.

It could be the color of the saddle- that is the only thing he could react to. Paper clip some white paper on the saddle and see if he reacts the same to the white saddle. You may have to do something with the color of the saddle.

Tim

 

[NYREDS]

You do not need the rooster unless you plan on hatching eggs.

What about for fighting off bears, lions & hoards of marauding pirates? I've read many posts on here attesting to similar feats.

 

[fivehens1roo]

I have him to protect the girls which he does. I had two hawks flying over head and by the time I got to where they were all I could see was the rooster. He was standing next to a three food pine tree....no girls in sight...then I looked under the pine in the grass all the girls were under the tree...flat to the ground. I have him in the barn for now and the girls are being treated for sores from his breeding. I got the chicken saddle in a dark hunter green. I see so many people just swear by these that I was in shock as what my roo did. Did I miss something ?? Re-introduce them again....I am thinking of getting a Brahma Roo anyone have experience with the Brahma?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

And now you have to protect the hens from him! Off with his head!!! Actually one of hens will take over the watch for hawks position and lead the flock while you look for a replacement...he's already flogged you...off with his head!!! Oh, I already said that.

 

[laturcotte1]

Our hand raised Barred Rock rooster has gone completely crazy. The fox has picked off his girls one by one while free ranging. When the fox got the last girl he was done, he became so aggressive we had pen him up and search for more hens. Bought four adults hens and he's in love again but now he's more aggressive I've had them for 3 months and can't let them out without him attacking everything, everyone. Took on one of the adult cats came back with fur in his mouth and the cat running for his life. Attacks the Mule with me in it. We keep makng appointments to have him put down then change our minds. He is awfully rough with the girls also. There is one white hen that for some reason he pecks all the time. Don't get me wrong he loves them, feeds them first, makes sure everyone is in bed at dark but he brutal. He does have to go for safety reasons.

My suggestion is not to get another roo, you're taking your chances.