Roo bit me

[Joken]

Our Chickens are almost 18 weeks old and so far no eggs. Our Roo is a handsome guy that thinks very highly of himself and is second in command after me. He is very protective of the other Chickens and seems to tell them what to do and they follow. I have had him come running to me when I pick up one of the birds and they are carrying on like they are being murdered. This morning I was picking up a Cockerel that was being rehomed and it was not happy. I was on my knees gathering up this Chicken when our Roo came rushing to his defense and bit me on the hand. I like it that he is doing his job but don't like to bleed. I'll keep my eye on the bugger from now on when I am handling his Chickens.
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[RoseHawke]

'Roos do that. Hens just peck for the most part; 'roos, OTOH, will peck, hold and twist which to put it mildly does not feel good!

 

[Joken]

'Roos do that. Hens just peck for the most part; 'roos, OTOH, will peck, hold and twist which to put it mildly does not feel good!

He is gentle when he is eating out of my hand but I don't know if he will ever let me handle him willingly.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Our Chickens are almost 18 weeks old and so far no eggs. Our Roo is a handsome guy that thinks very highly of himself and is second in command after me. He is very protective of the other Chickens and seems to tell them what to do and they follow. I have had him come running to me when I pick up one of the birds and they are carrying on like they are being murdered. This morning I was picking up a Cockerel that was being rehomed and it was not happy. I was on my knees gathering up this Chicken when our Roo came rushing to his defense and bit me on the hand. I like it that he is doing his job but don't like to bleed. I'll keep my eye on the bugger from now on when I am handling his Chickens.
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I know how you feel! I don’t have a rooster but I have a 17! Week old pullet who thinks that I am lunch some days. When I am trying to give them some treats or petting them or hand feeding them she bites me every time and this week she drew blood non three places. My lead pullet I call her who is my right hand pullet also I call her. She immediately bit her back to discipline her. Twice! This has also happened before. That one hen I call Meana Verbena! She is awful. She used to be one of my faves. She is a Swedish Flower Hen and should be sweet like the others including her sister the lead pullet. Anyway. Aart said to discipline them and not let them get away with this biting stuff. So peck them back and if you have to hold them down on the ground for a little bit. Just enough to get their attention. Let me know how it works. I’m going to be testing it out this week with my Verbena Meana!

 

[mviera101]

I'm of the mind of quick effective discipline. My hen used to peck my shins as I was walking away, I knelt and tapped her beak a few times and that stopped that. The same hen tends to bully the others and I've held her on the ground,twice I haven't witnessed that behavior anymore during treat handout time.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I'm of the mind of quick effective discipline. My hen used to peck my shins as I was waling away, I knelt and tapped her beak a few times and that stopped that. The same hen tends to bully the others and I've held her on the ground,twice I haven't witnessed that behavior anymore during treat handout time.

I’m down for that. I have one that likes to get my dogs and they aren’t even bothering them. My dogs protect them and the yard. They are not mean to the chickens at all. The chicks were raised in the house up to twelve weeks with the dogs in the house in my basement due to the heat we have in Mississippi. My dogs are well behaved older small breed dogs that don’t hurt anything and mind me well. The chickens are bigger than them almost. But I’ve got one that bites me that stalks the dogs to bite them. She is also keeping my Orpingtons away from the food at times in the morning I have noticed. I have to figure that out and see what is going on. There is some culling I may have to do with my SFHs and I loved them so much. I thought they all would be so sweet. Do you think she will settle down and be nicer when she starts laying eggs?

 

[aart]

. I have had him come running to me when I pick up one of the birds and they are carrying on like they are being murdered.

Does he stop or 'attack' when you do this?
Fine line here.
He should come running but stop when he sees it is you and you tell him firmly but softly, it's OK.

 

[Cee]

I know how you feel! I don’t have a rooster but I have a 17! Week old pullet who thinks that I am lunch some days. When I am trying to give them some treats or petting them or hand feeding them she bites me every time and this week she drew blood non three places. My lead pullet I call her who is my right hand pullet also I call her. She immediately bit her back to discipline her. Twice! This has also happened before. That one hen I call Meana Verbena! She is awful. She used to be one of my faves. She is a Swedish Flower Hen and should be sweet like the others including her sister the lead pullet. Anyway. Aart said to discipline them and not let them get away with this biting stuff. So peck them back and if you have to hold them down on the ground for a little bit. Just enough to get their attention. Let me know how it works. I’m going to be testing it out this week with my Verbena Meana!

Mine were especially picky between ages of 12 and 18 weeks. I think it may have been a "pullet teenager" thing.
I was advised to peck back with thumb and 2 first fingers held together. I "pecked" their shoulders and heads. Didn't let them get away with any pecking at all. Not even gentle exploratory pecks. Been known to chase a girl down and hold her on the ground for a quick second, "peck" her hard just once, let go and walk away. I think consistency is really important. The pecking has slowly subsided to almost never. They are now 21 weeks old and very sweet, mellow, calm girls with me. Especially now that they have begun to lay.
Imagine you are back in school and on the playground with a bunch of girls and you are being picked on. And then realize that you are 6x bigger and stronger... Just be firm, kind and consistent.

 

[mviera101]

I’m down for that. I have one that likes to get my dogs and they aren’t even bothering them. My dogs protect them and the yard. They are not mean to the chickens at all. The chicks were raised in the house up to twelve weeks with the dogs in the house in my basement due to the heat we have in Mississippi. My dogs are well behaved older small breed dogs that don’t hurt anything and mind me well. The chickens are bigger than them almost. But I’ve got one that bites me that stalks the dogs to bite them. She is also keeping my Orpingtons away from the food at times in the morning I have noticed. I have to figure that out and see what is going on. There is some culling I may have to do with my SFHs and I loved them so much. I thought they all would be so sweet. Do you think she will settle down and be nicer when she starts laying eggs?

I had miniature poodles that were afraid but respectful of my chickens. I would get that one that stalks the dogs and "fix her wagon"!
My Big meanie hasn't been any nicer since she's been laying. I am considering re-homing her. She has my other two nervous and jumpy.

 

[TARDIS37379]

Roos will do that when they feel their flock is in any type of peril.
Some are more aggressive than others.

Big Otis keeps his distance from me but he always has a watchful eye on his girls.