Rooster Attack! Advice?

[wildeflowers]

Quote:
Absolutely true. I NEVER back down from a rooster-I'll chase them all over heck's half acre before I'll let them best me!
They can never know you're afraid of them or in their little pea brain, you just told him he's the big cheese.

Thank you. I'll be sure to do that with my "lap rooster" who I am keeping, and frequently! No more lap roosters.

I don't think there's anything wrong with having a roo as a "pet," but you have to understand the BillickChix is right and you must understand how to handle a roo. I completely that you ran out of concern for yourself with a little bit of lack of understanding, but you are a LOT bigger than a roo. They are fast, but not that fast. If it ever happens again, grab that dude and and dominate him immediately. I like our roo a lot, but he is Mr. Bad Butt Teenager right now. I make a point of embarrassing him in front of the girls every chance I get. I am the head witch in THIS house. I dare that roo to cross me. If you go out with the same attitude, you will win every single time.

Oh, and how old is he? He could be going through the teenage phase, when they are pumped full of hormones. I've heard it's tough to get through the first year with a roo. If you end up keeping him, he could turn out to be decent again after all the hormones settle down, but you'll have to really work to overcome the damage of letting him chase you into the house. Only you can decide if that's worth it, the work or the risk to yourself. It would make perfect sense for you to rehome him.

 

[can you hear me now?]

Quote:
Haha! I can't even get anyone to take him off my hands for free for meat use! Thanks for the tip!

just noticed you were in valpo. If I still lived there I would have taken him. I like the mean roosters. They do a good job protecting the girls.

 

[BillickChix]

Quote:
I'm a little scared that I'll pull a Lenny from Of Mice and Men and hurt him too badly on accident because of my lack of muscle coordination in my hands. I don't think I have the strength to grab a chicken by the leg and hold on without really hurting him, and I know I'm bigger than him and that's the problem. I'm just going to have to toughen up a little bit and not worry so much about hurting him.

He is about three months old. I'm concerned mostly about the biting and holding on that he did today to my hens after he went after me. There was no reason to be so mean - I understand the pecking order and his establishing dominance, but holding on until they scream and run away seems a little too aggressive.

 

[silkiechicken]

At 3 months, he's probably trying to learn how to mount the hens and be a rooster. His hormones are kicking in, and until the girls learn to squat, and he learns how to be a gentleman, there will be neck feather pulling, screaming, and running. Just you have to make sure you're alpha roo and do not run yourself.

As for nice roosters. I've had 3 awesome lead roosters over the past 12 years or so. The first was a production red that I had for 5 years or so. Raised him up from a chick in my mid teens and he got doted on all the time, yet was very nice all around and never turned. His downfall was a mean younger rooster who beat him from top spot close to butcher time, and I think his heart break lead to his death the following weekend. Second was a little silkie roo who had an interesting early life as a lone survivor of a coon attack. He was great for the two years he was around before a coon got him too. Then my most recent who I've had for 5 years. He is also a wonderful gentleman and watches the flock well. Never looked at a human as something to attack.

However two big things:
1) My brother and I were not little kids when we first got chickens, and the roosters never had to watch themselves around children. Small humans are too tempting of a target for any rooster so the 3 I had have never been put up to that test, and I would not risk it.

2) In the same time I've had these three great roosters, I have also butchered and eaten easily over 100 other non ideal roosters... So they are out there, just got to find them. Easier to be found when they are no longer raging hormonal males. Look for one over a year old who's temperament has settled. But there are plenty to be found because even if they are 1:100, one good roo will last you 5-10 years as a flock guardian if they get to live out their natural lives. The hard part is getting a young roo through their teen stage and settled without attacking or showing aggression.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I have one of those good roos. Two and a half years old now and never a bit of trouble out of him. His brother yes, but not my Thor. He's never been a pet, he knows who is in charge and is excellent with the hens. He's everything I ever wanted in a roo.

 

[J.Pryce]

My White Leghorn tried me a few times. A broom that knocked in head over heels & across the coop has stopped him, I thought I severely injured him once I whacked him so hard. He was OK & now when I enter the coop he heads to the run outside.

 

[Sjisty]

My Rocky is one of the good 'uns. When he was younger he went through a period of rushing me when my back was turned. I would hear him coming and turn around and he would stop dead and look like he was a little angel! A couple of times I wouldn't hear him and would get flogged from behind, nothing serious, just enough to surprise me and make me react.

When Rocky got sick about 6 or so months ago, I brought him in the house every day to give him an antibiotic. I soaked him in a sink full of warm water because he had matted diarrhea on his rear. While removing the tangled matted mess, I guess I just pretty much ruined any shred of dignity that he had! Since then he steers a wide circle around me. Every now and then I catch him just for fun and reinforce who's the boss in this operation.

 

[BillickChix]

J.Pryce :

My White Leghorn tried me a few times. A broom that knocked in head over heels & across the coop has stopped him, I thought I severely injured him once I whacked him so hard. He was OK & now when I enter the coop he heads to the run outside.

Thank you J.Pryce and to everyone else who encourages going after the rooster. I will do that even if I can get someone to take him.​

 

[scarletbaby]

I dont know about you guys but my rooster had been a lap rooster since we got him when he was 3 months. I held him, petted him, let him watch tv next to me and all of that good stuff. He never tries to attack me but he does go after one of my dachshunds who used to push him around. He also goes after little children he doesnt know too well. I think if you are tender and loving when the roo is little and expose him to NICE dogs and children then he wont be as bad. I still love to hug him and pet him but i do try to be the boss when he is being mean to someone else.

 

[silkiechicken]

I think sometimes, being tender and loving with hugs and kisses to roosters can be the exact opposite in their little walnut brains, and they don't attack or go mean because they have submitted without desire to overthrow, thus also accomplishing the alpha roo thing.