Roo charging at me

[Katiedid870]

Hi,
I am pretty new to chickens, I have a hen and a rooster more to come in the very near future unfortunately I’ve had 2 neighbor dogs get into my yard and kill my other chickens.
I’m trying to figure out my Roos behavior though he has recently taken to charging at me from across the yard any time I or or anyone comes outside (2 acres and he will run the whole thing to get to me if he can see me) It doesn’t seem friendly like with the hen. Usually his wings are partly open he will get VERY close to me and give me the side eye but he hasn’t done anything like try to bite or attack me. I stand up to him every time and face him and tell him NO with a firm voice usually I will walk towards him as well and he will back off for a bit until I turn back around and he’s right back at it.
The other thing he does that I find odd is when I go inside he will crow a lot like he is claiming territory or something. My question is what would you do in this situation to fix things before he gets any really bright ideas. I have a toddler and a small child I watch regularly and I am worried he will try something with them eventually.

 

[neo71665]

Stock pot

 

[Brooks_]

I have a toddler and a small child I watch regularly and I am worried he will try something with them eventually.

Stock pot

Or fry or bake...

 

[Tom Kathleen]

Some roos will NEVER learn to stop charging. You have to decide if you want to always wear boots and jeans (steel toe boots, they will spur you through rubber boots) and carry a broom if they don't amend their behavior. That said, we have had 99 percent success with the dominance method in which you use 2 fingers to pin their head down against the ground from behind. It's what they do to hens with they breed them. Its what an alpha roo will do to another roo. You hold it down for about 30 seconds then release it. If it comes at you again, do it again. Do it EVERY SINGLE TIME it comes at you. This has cured all but one of our aggressive roos. If you plan on hatching eggs, be sure to remove that roo to his own run well before you start collecting eggs for hatching. Most of roo aggression is genetic (all ours are raised the same and only a rare one will be uncurable of aggression). Most of our roos never even become aggressive and we will breed them. They are big, beautiful and king of field. They aren't friendly like hens, but they meaner around and strut and never bother us. Good luck! RE-training a rooster is A LOT of work for a week or two, but if you keep pinning him EVERY SINGLE TIME, chances are he'll know you are the top cock! There are youtube videos about it you can watch.

 

[Tom Kathleen]

Also keep the kids away from the chickens while you're training!! their spurs are easily at eye level when they are aggressive -- you can't risk it!!!!

 

[Katiedid870]

Some roos will NEVER learn to stop charging. You have to decide if you want to always wear boots and jeans (steel toe boots, they will spur you through rubber boots) and carry a broom if they don't amend their behavior. That said, we have had 99 percent success with the dominance method in which you use 2 fingers to pin their head down against the ground from behind. It's what they do to hens with they breed them. Its what an alpha roo will do to another roo. You hold it down for about 30 seconds then release it. If it comes at you again, do it again. Do it EVERY SINGLE TIME it comes at you. This has cured all but one of our aggressive roos. If you plan on hatching eggs, be sure to remove that roo to his own run well before you start collecting eggs for hatching. Most of roo aggression is genetic (all ours are raised the same and only a rare one will be uncurable of aggression). Most of our roos never even become aggressive and we will breed them. They are big, beautiful and king of field. They aren't friendly like hens, but they meaner around and strut and never bother us. Good luck! RE-training a rooster is A LOT of work for a week or two, but if you keep pinning him EVERY SINGLE TIME, chances are he'll know you are the top cock! There are youtube videos about it you can watch.

Thanks for the advice! Do I use this method now with him every time he runs at me? Even if he’s not “attacking”?

 

[roosterhavoc]

Try to just ignore him but do not alter your gait for any reason. If he gets underneath of you step on him. Just keep on doing whatever you’re doing and walk right on by him. Engaging him in any way is confirming his suspicion that you’re a threat for some reason.

 

[Brooks_]

Thanks for the advice! Do I use this method now with him every time he runs at me? Even if he’s not “attacking”?

If you ar going to try that method, yes.

 

[Katiedid870]

Try to just ignore him but do not alter your gait for any reason. If he gets underneath of you step on him. Just keep on doing whatever you’re doing and walk right on by him. Engaging him in any way is confirming his suspicion that you’re a threat for some reason.

Good point, idk why he’s acting this way I raised him from day 1 it must be his time to try and shine as head rooster lol

 

[Katiedid870]

Or fry or bake...

Hopefully it won’t come to that but we will see