Rooster Aggression

[hysop]

Thanks. I am leaning toward culling now. He is a hansom fellow. Its unfortunate he isn't sweet. The 19 week old will appreciate being able to mate though, without being chased down.

definitely don’t forget to pick him up a lot and handling him. Just because he’s not as young doesn’t mean he can’t be taught who is boss in a nice way. Treats go a long way especially if you give only him treats out of your hand while he’s under your arm.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Plus they act differently around other roosters than by themselves. So just because he was the nicest one out of the bunch he may not be the nicest once the rest are gone, right?

Yes exactly. The problem is most people cull the wrong birds. Imo it’s better to keep the more dominant rooster as long as he’s not attacking the keeper. People get irritated because one rooster is beating up on others and causing chaos but they inadvertently caused this by having more than one rooster.

 

[tsperry88]

Yes exactly. The problem is most people cull the wrong birds. Imo it’s better to keep the more dominant rooster as long as he’s not attacking the keeper. People get irritated because one rooster is beating up on others and causing chaos but they inadvertently caused this by having more than one rooster.

I may have culled the wrong one. It came down to hanging out in the run making myself an easy target until one attacked me. In this case it was the dominant at the time.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I may have culled the wrong one. It came down to hanging out in the run making myself an easy target until one attacked me. In this case it was the dominant at the time.

Nah whatever works for you in the end is what’s best. I’m just saying had each rooster had the individual chance to become a mature bird with a flock of hens they all may have been just fine. You really never know but usually roosters that turn aggressive like that is more of an environmental problem than the bird itself.
The way hatchery birds are flock bred with multiple roosters running around just compounds the problem since only the most aggressive will breed the most hens. Rinse and repeat and people end up with quite aggressive birds. That’s the most cost effective way to do it though so I don’t exactly blame them.

 

[bobbi-j]

If it was aggressive to you, you did not get rid of the wrong one - especially if you have kids that want to interact with the chickens. A human aggressive rooster (or cockerel in your case) does not mean he’s a good flock protector. It means he’s not able to tell the difference between an actual threat to the flock and the giant who brings food. He’s not looking where he should be for a threat. He’s too busy attacking the non-threat.

There is no guarantee how that last cockerel will turn out whether you get rid of your older cockerel or not. He won’t be ready to be a flock leader until he’s a mature rooster. How old are your hens? Any adults, or are they all young as well?

What I would recommend for you, your wife and kids (if they’re old enough to understand and carry through) would be to not handle your remaining cockerel, but to teach him to respect your space. If he walks toward you, you walk toward him until he backs up. If you want to get from point A to point B and he’s between you and where you’re going, walk through him. Be confident and sure in your movements. If he even looks like he’s thinking bad thoughts, move toward him until he moves away. Move him away from the feed and water just because you can. Let him know that the space is yours. If you’re messing with the hens and he gives you the evil eye, be prepared to move him away from you if he comes your way. I have not had a human aggressive rooster since I started raising them this way many years ago. As Mrs. K says, “roosters are a crap shoot” so it may not work some year. But so far, so good.

I don’t have the time to try and catch them to physically hold them down or catch and carry them. However you choose to train your cockerel to respect your space, make sure every member of your household can do it. Teaching them to respect you does not mean they will respect anyone else. And roosters can do serious damage to a kid’s face. Not to mention the real possibility of infection those spurs could cause. Puncture wounds are hard to clean properly.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Moving towards a rooster because he “looks like he’s thinking bad thoughts” equates to teasing and challenging the rooster.

 

[bobbi-j]

Moving towards a rooster because he “looks like he’s thinking bad thoughts” equates to teasing and challenging the rooster.

Never had a problem with it. I just walk in their direction until they move away. Not aggressively, not with a challenge. Just with confidence. I’m just sharing what has worked for me.

 

[tsperry88]

I'm down to the 19 week Welsummer roo. He is already enjoying his new freedoms.

 

[hysop]

I had two nice roosters, one unfortunately passed away, but my husband held him as a young cockerel and would feed him treats and he became a sweetheart.

And with my current rooster, (he’s a rescue) I hand fed him and made him eat treats out of my hand.

Now he flies at me wanting treats. He doesn’t do it to attack and I never feel his spurs or beak so I know he’s not attacking. He’ll follow me around until I let him eat out of my small feed bucket.

With him I can sit down and feel comfortable and can pick up hens and turn my back without fear of him even thinking of attacking me.

I don’t pick him up often unless I’m switching pens, but he doesn’t flap or go crazy when I do.

 

[bobbi-j]

I had two nice roosters, one unfortunately passed away, but my husband held him as a young cockerel and would feed him treats and he became a sweetheart.

And with my current rooster, (he’s a rescue) I hand fed him and made him eat treats out of my hand.

Now he flies at me wanting treats. He doesn’t do it to attack and I never feel his spurs or beak so I know he’s not attacking. He’ll follow me around until I let him eat out of my small feed bucket.

With him I can sit down and feel comfortable and can pick up hens and turn my back without fear of him even thinking of attacking me.

I don’t pick him up often unless I’m switching pens, but he doesn’t flap or go crazy when I do.

We all have different ideas of what makes a “good rooster”. My chickens aren’t pets, so my idea of a good rooster is one who moves away from my space and keeps an eye out for potential threats. I also love watching them tidbit the hens, babysit chicks, and all the other things they do. I had one cockerel that died protecting a pullet when he was about 6 months old. I would have loved to see how he matured. Raising them the way I do, he’s the only one I’ve had give me even a hint of stink eye. One day a pullet was in my way so I just nudged her over with my foot. She, of course squawked and carried on like I was killing her. He came running, saw me, stopped and turned away like, “Ope, never mind!” and walked away. THAT is what I like!