Rooster Aggressive After Raccoon Attack

[centrarchid]

Very early this morning a rooster (~3 years old) was attacked by a couple of raccoons. We stopped attack in the nick of time. Rooster would not allow me to pick him up for purpose of moving to safe location. He insisted on walking, but would follow flash light beam. He stayed in garage since then and will be placed back in a safer pen shortly. He is currently a man-fighter that will now attack when crowded and he does not wait for me to turn away. He will be led by walking to new pen. We will be working to get him to calm down. His attack mode is not one of dominance, rather he is treating me like a predator. He seems OK with dogs and my young says he gets along with her fine. His issue is with me. I have had roosters do this before when I handled them improperly during molt. He is in eclipse molt now.

 

[Folly's place]

Good luck with him! Please update later; did he get better with you, or not?
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

I have not started working with him yet. Having trouble getting him to leave garage. He feels safe in the garage. I am using the gently approach getting him to relax.

 

[LaFleche]

Be patient and give him some time to calm down. All the adrenalin raging through his body has to be metabolized for him to be able to react in a normal way again.

He will leave the garage in his own time.

 

[Folly's place]

i didn't mean immediately, but later; a week? a month? sometime.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

Adrenaline levels have to be down by now. His brain is in changed state that gets him to change behavior. All the chickens penned near where raccoon attack occurred had disrupted roosting pattern / location. Juveniles that were able to select roosts sites all moved at least 20 feet away from location where attack occurred. I watch birds go to roost every night so get a feel for when they make adjustments.

All involved suffering from PTSD that may benefit survival chances.

 

[centrarchid]

Rooster doing well, in respect to health. Will be working with him through pen wall. Injuries very minor despite coons having hold of him for a bit.

 

[Folly's place]

Lucky bird! Hope his attitude comes back as time passes.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

When I collected him for move today, he ran rather than attacked so we are already seeing a change. I want him back to letting me just scooping him up.