Rooster aggressive to care helper

[floppysquirrel04]

Hi all!
My mottled Houdan roo Shamu has a guess been being pretty aggressive around my friend who has been watching them while I’m out of town. I’ve never had a problem with him. He’s super gentle with my hens and respects me and will eat out of my hands even. He’s a super great boy most of the time and he’s absolutely gorgeous. Never had an aggression problem. I’ve been out of town for a couple weeks and won’t get back till next week, but I just found out that lately every time my friend or her grandmother go into their coop to feed/water and collect eggs he tries to attack their legs. My friend doesn’t want to get near enough to him to grab his legs and flip him. I also feel nervous of suggestion that she have some kind of stick just to use to block him from her because I don’t want her to hit him. It’s not the best situation I know, but I feel really bad that he’s doing that. I don’t want to get rid of him, but we will be taking monthly trips this year (only a couple days to a week at a time) and I don’t want him to learn that he can always try to attack her. Is there anything I can do about it? He’s around 5 months old so he’s kind of hitting that age I guess, but will he calm down eventually? Like I said, I am really attached to this rooster since he’s always been so sweet and so gentle with my hens so I really don’t want to get rid of him.
Thanks! Any help is appreciated.

 

[Iluveggers]

I would suggest a tennis racket for her. If she swats, it won’t hurt that bad but will give her surface area for protection. You don’t want her to hit him, but she could be seriously injured if he comes at her. I think her (or her grandmother) getting injured should be your primary concern. Especially if you are going to ask her to watch him whenever you are away. If my rooster was agressive to anyone I would cull him, but if that isn’t an option for you it isn’t fair to send her in. Other option would be to cancel your trips.

 

[Isadora]

I would suggest a tennis racket for her. If she seats, it won’t hurt that bad but will give her surface area for protection. You don’t want her to hit him, but she could be seriously injured if he comes at her. I think her (or her grandmother) getting injured should be your primary concern. Especially if you are going to ask her to watch him whenever you are away. If my rooster was agressive to anyone I would cull him, but if that isn’t an option for you it isn’t fair to send her in. Other option would be to cancel your trips.

Yes, a tennis racket is a good idea. A light snow shovel would also work. Something she can use to push him away from her and block him from getting close.
Be on guard when you get back. It is likely he will attack you, after having attacked someone repeatedly for days on end.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I would suggest a butterfly net, just to contain him. Once he's caught in the net, it's far easier to scoop him into a football hold and go along with finishing the tasks. When you're done caring for the birds, you leave and then squeeze him through the door before its closed all the way.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

I think the above ideas are good.
However if he continues to be aggressive with you when you return you might have to consider culling him.
If he’s starting to be aggressive even with you odds are it will only get worse.
My best cockerel who my whole family was attached to started to attack my 1yr old for no reason. My husband felt she did something wrong in order to receive the attack (she never did he would chase her down and attack her anytime he saw her in the yard).
It wasn’t until he attacked my husband that he put a .22 bullet in his head and we had chicken for dinner.
Best thing you can do is give her an option like listed above until you return and can assess his behavior yourself.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your caretakers should not have to deal with his aggression. If he hurts them the liability will be on you. Once you get back, can you set up some sort of cage for him somewhere so whenever you're gone, they don't have to deal with him at all other than feeding/watering? This is where something like a prefab coop would be acceptable, as it'd be plenty of space for 1 roo.

 

[Ceakmama]

My handsome roo wasn't agressive until he was close to 5 months. At that point, he attacked me and my daughter. I wouldn't even go in to the run after he flew at me. It was scary! My husband culled him for being aggressive. It started out of nowhere! I don't think it's fair for your friend to care for an aggressive rooster. It can be really scary. I wouldn't even get close enough to my rooster to grab his foot and flip him. My husband did it and held him upside down, but he still attacked after.

 

[aart]

Was your friend around this bird with you by her side for some introduction??
Some acclimation is in order, tho it may be too late.

I used to chicken sit, but the keeper put the nasty male in a separate coop with large feeder and waterer so I didn't have to go in there every day. I still tried to 'make friends' (this was long before I had my own birds or came to this forum to read and learn) and he flogged the hell out of me. No injuries but it was scary and taught me some valuable lessons.

 

[floppysquirrel04]

Thank you all for all the replies. I think the tennis racket is a great idea and we’ll try that. It’s a big walk in coop area and in the corner there is an 8’x4’ brooder room with wire on the sides and I might just keep him in that while I’m away on trips if he doesn’t get better and figure out some kind of water and food system that doesn’t require anyone to go in with him. Yeah, if he continues to be a liability then I will end up culling him but I just wanted to see some other options before I decided to do that. It’s kind of hard to get a picture of him but here is the turd lol

 

[floppysquirrel04]

They’re also used to getting let out 3-4 times a week so I also think he’s pretty grumpy about having so stay in while I’m gone. Hopefully he’ll get used to it a little more too.