Roo just nailed me! Arghh Advise?

[jmc]

Could I poss. butt in ? This is not really OT, but a different behavior.

This aft. I went to pick up one of 18+ weeks old pullets, and the alpha cockerel--also 18+ wks. old--got ticked. First, I sat on the ground to band her, with her in my lap, then because he seemed ripped, I moved over to a small pile of rocks to sit on them. Well he actually seemed to be going after HER and not me. He could have jumped up at me easily from almost any direction; but he was angrily going for HER.

At least that's how it seemed to me.

Any idea what's up? Maybe he is just beginning to learn how to be the alpha

I don't get it

 

[KalikoFarms]

BigDaddy'sGurl and Ozark ----------Thanks for the info, either way I learned what kinda devil roo I have. He is beautiful and he struts and knows it. Thanks for the information. My moms, mom used to have chickens that looked like him and she started calling him a dominecker so thats where I got it from. Either way until the cement is poured for the new housing for the girls he will be here. I will say that I will be glad when he either gets put in his own cage or in the pot of dumplings. On the other hand think about this, UPS guy,6ft+,broad as a barn (UPS guys shoulders) and he is terrified of this roo. Its so funny. He does those tuff guy fights(something like that) and Sean whips his tail.............LOL

 

[daver]

Quote:
I was going to say eat the blighter , but your answer is much nicer ! You must be a really nice person ! lol

LOL, I had to look up "blighter".

Mine are at about 18 Weeks. Being that young, they still can be beer can chicken on the grill.

Dave

 

[skillswife]

Well I think that what he was upset about we me messing with "his" broody. And the attack wasn't hard, more like a warning so he will have a 2nd chance. I want roo's that will be protective of the hens free ranging but I also want ones I don't have to be afraid of.

 

[DingleBay]

Wow! I just answered my question by reading these posts. My question was is it worth it to me to keep my roo. My answer is NO. I built my coop for 8 hens. I got 7 hens and 1 rooster. They are about 18 weeks old. I really like the dynamics of the flock, but the roo has taken to attacking the hens ripping up one on the back of the neck pretty bad. I have been holding the roo after he flew at my face and scratched me good. I am glad I wear glasses as I am sure he was going for my eyes. Now I see that may make it worse. I think the ratio of roo to hens may not be good. I really like the rooster as he is really cool looking. I have all buff oringtons. But I don't want to breed so I really don't need the roo. What put me over the edge is I have three young grand kids. I didn't even think of them getting hurt. I can't free range so we go into the run to feed them treats ( the hens not the kids). I guess the rooster is more trouble and potential problem than he is worth.

 

[brownysfp]

Quote:
Hi
Sussex roo's the same: any girl we handle gets a beating or a mounting; he does the same with any hen who gets out. A touchy sod all told...

 

[allpeepedout]

Quote:
My rooster outgrew the aggression to hens within a few weeks. Both roos and hens need time to learn what to do. It went from screaming bloody murder and ripping neck feathers out to no aggression whatsoever, and then hens really look to the roo for security and don't seem to mind his intimate attentions, so to speak.

Nothing works for everybody all of the time but there are many great threads and techniques on BYC on handling roosters, including pushing down on the back and neck until they submit, picking up, stalking etc. Probably if you've never handled your roo until sexual maturity the situation is even more challenging as far as applying actual training techniques. Mother Earth News also has a great article in their archives about how you can choose not to get sucked into rooster conflicts. My roo had a sudden aggressive phase when the hormones kicked in but now he is great. It took doing some reading on my part, investing some time, and calling upon my experience training other animals. However, I would never allow anybody new or uneducated on handling him into the pen, and certainly not an unsupervised child. I am so thankful for what I have learned on BYC or my roo would be destined for a less happy fate also. Now he is becoming a show-stopper and fascinating to all of my friends.

 

[JodyJo]

Quote:
good for her...my son likes to chase the chickens...he is 5 with Down Syndrome, and didn't understand why I kept telling him not to, till the other day, the rooster stood his ground and sort of jumped on his legs...scared him enough now he doesn't do it...I told him he didn't like his girls chased or hurt...now when he goes out, the rooster follows him, I had to kick the roo yesterday to remind him, while I am there, I am in charge, when I leave he crows to remind me HE is now in charge!

 

[JodyJo]

Quote:
My rooster outgrew the aggression to hens within a few weeks. Both roos and hens need time to learn what to do. It went from screaming bloody murder and ripping neck feathers out to no aggression whatsoever, and then hens really look to the roo for security and don't seem to mind his intimate attentions, so to speak.

Nothing works for everybody all of the time but there are many great threads and techniques on BYC on handling roosters, including pushing down on the back and neck until they submit, picking up, stalking etc. Probably if you've never handled your roo until sexual maturity the situation is even more challenging as far as applying actual training techniques. Mother Earth News also has a great article in their archives about how you can choose not to get sucked into rooster conflicts. My roo had a sudden aggressive phase when the hormones kicked in but now he is great. It took doing some reading on my part, investing some time, and calling upon my experience training other animals. However, I would never allow anybody new or uneducated on handling him into the pen, and certainly not an unsupervised child. I am so thankful for what I have learned on BYC or my roo would be destined for a less happy fate also. Now he is becoming a show-stopper and fascinating to all of my friends.

My alpha roo, is great with defending his girls...if the 2nd rooster attempts to be affectionate, the alpha, (we will call him Roger and the 2nd Dodger)...Roger takes off after Dodger and lets out a blood curdling screech...Dodger backs off quite fast...!! Mine are only 19 weeks now...so still getting the kinks out of the breeding thing, but so far no lost feathers or skin!

 

[galanie]

Quote:
My young roo does the same thing. If I pick up one of his girls and they give me a problem, he pecks them. He's telling them to act right. He also gives me gifts and from time to time gives me a bit of a wing dance. George is so sweet. And if anyone goes back there he doesn't know, he just comes up and checks them out, then wanders off.