Rooster aggression - a given?

[MichelleKing]

It seems like your goals are a bit different than many who keep roosters. Yours is tiny, and your goal is to use him for tabletop showing.

Personally, I can’t ever imagine keeping a chicken IN my home (other than a sick one or small chicks), but I have BIG stinky chickens and my goals are different than yours. I have kids, youngest is a tween and has been the target of one cockerel’s aggression, so we re-homed him and kept the mild mannered one. Not telling you all this to judge you, but to give perspective.

Can you confine him to an indoor child-free area or cage for the times you cannot give 100% attention? With smaller kids, it would seem prudent to be focused on him when he is around/interacting with them. He is likely entering his hormonal stage and this is likely why you are seeing aggression at 4 months old.

I really like this answer! Thank you! I dont feel judged at all. Yes so he is very tiny and we are going to table top show him. I agree after some research it seems like hes a hormonal teenager. So right now we have him in a coop in the house, its hard to imagine but when i say coop, imagine a penthouse for a tiny chicken. THats what its like, it doesnt really look like a coop. Anyhow, yes we are keeping the area child free. Considering the life span of the chicken though I do have a lot to consider. Thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Since you plan to show him you probably ought to be private messaging with Centrarchid to get his input. Learn all you can. Different people have different opinions on how to manage cockerels and roosters and different people get different results. You are dealing with a living animal. No one can give you an absolute guarantee on how they will behave in any circumstances but some people can give you some good pointers on what to expect most times and maybe how to manage them.

You will see photos pf adults and kids handling chicks, adolescents, and adults, male and female. Not all are horrible. But I'll say something that might frighten you a bit and maybe that is a good thing. Chickens are capable of pecking a frog or mouse apart into bite sized pieces. When handling chickens I try to keep my eyes out of pecking range.

 

[Ptera]

I've had 30 yrs. experience with roosters as pets, including indoor roosters. Never had one that I couldn't correct if on a rare occasion they started to get aggressive. However, I work with them from day old chicks to get them that way and you have to have a certain demeanor. I would only let very young children interact with chickens with adult supervision (adult holding the chicken). Older children depends on their maturity & skill level. Roosters can sense fear. Children usually don't have the confidence needed to not flinch or react if a rooster comes toward them or pecks them. You have to show them you're boss--no reaction, even to a bite. Don't run...go toward them & pick them up if they're aggressive & hold them tight. I wouldn't consider a Serama bite very painful, but I have a high tolerance. (Now, when one of my budgies clamps onto a soft part between my fingers & won't let go---THAT'S pain!)