Roo becoming aggressive....

[Heat]

I got a black Japanese Bantam Roo at 10 weeks old, he is now 17 weeks and the past week he has started becoming aggressive. This morning he actually attacked my leg as I was leaving the run. We used to be able to catch him and hold him, but now I am getting afraid to.

Is he doomed to become an aggressive Roo or can I 'work with him' to get him to calm down and become more docile? And tips or helpful advice?

 

[theoldchick]

Stan was taught to submit to the handy chicken grabber:



However, he is not a truly aggressive rooster. He usually stays out of your way but may get rowdy when he thinks you are messing with his hens. He doesn't try sneak attacks and responds well when I 'herd' him away from the hens. I make him get out of my space and when he roosts for the night I've been known to move him away from the hens. Occasionally he'll challenge me and for 3 seconds I make him think he's gonna die.

If you have small children the rooster needs to be culled. Actually he should be culled simply for aggression as you don't want to perpetuate this behavior.

 

[leadwolf1]

At 17 weeks old, he is like a rowdy 17 year old boy. Hormones are raging. Don't be afraid to scoop him up. Carry him around while you are working at the coop and when it's time to leave, put him down. Give him a few weeks to work out his kinks. If you have small children, under 5, keep them away from him until you can see if he will calm down. At his age, he doesn't have spurs that will do any damage...his beak will be the only thing you will have to watch for..and, being a bantam, that won't be too bad either. Do this every day...twice a day if you can. I have never had a truly aggressive rooster past the teenage weeks. A couple I was ready to eat but, now, anyone could pick them up and carry them around.

Good luck!