Rooster attack

[peepmommy]

Now, I'm not sure why I am having such a hard time making this decision. My 2 year old was standing on the driveway and his laughing scared our roo. He puffed up and jumped on my sons back, knocking him down and scratching his face. They were minor scratches so my son was just really scared... It could have been really terrible! The roo has been such a good bird and has protected the flock and has never attacked my kids. He came after me once, but never the kids. I really want to cull the roo, but am having second thoughts because he is such a good bird. I was a vet tech for a number of years and have no patience with animals that become aggressive, especially when my children are involved. That being said, I am lost. I am getting 15 new chicks this week that I will be putting under my broody hen (hopefully she'll take them). I don't want to change too much in my flock at once. But on the other hand, I could get a day old roo to raise and cull this one....

Any advice I would be really greatful!!!

Thanks so much!!

 

[devora]

Quote: This
He came after me once.

plus this
he is such a good bird


does not equal "good" in any way.

Dinner.

 

[peepmommy]

Devora, I appreciate that... I guess I just need someone to point out to me that even though he hasn't been "that bad", bad is bad. The funny thing is that I am assuming that all roos act like typical roos and mine isn't "that bad." A tad naiive, no? Anyway, I guess it's dinner, then. Now, I just have to get close enough to get him (one way or another) and now he is super scared of us since my husband punted him across the field (never knew a chicken could fly that far!) I like having a roo for protecting the girls. Any breed that you would recommend that isn't aggressive? I can't sleep, I am soooo mad!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Sneak up on him at night , lock him in a box. I usually don't let them out of the coop on those days and take them roosters out from there. You'll be alot happier without that one, wondering where he is, when the next attack will be, what damage he could do to your young son. I had a bad roo once, he never attacked me but made the dumb mistake of trying to flog my husband.
I have old English game roos now. They are very protective but smart enough to stay away from people, and they are pretty to look at.

 

[rungirl]

Not all roosters are mean and I won't have a mean rooster around my kids. I would never forgive myself if my kids got hurt because of a stupid aggressive rooster. I don't want to have to watch my back either. It just so happens that I had to get rid of one last night and I'm so relieved to have that ticking time bomb gone! My current rooster, Rex, is gentle but he still takes good care of his flock. He's not afraid of me, but he prefers to keep his distance and doesn't like to be handled either. That's fine. I call it mutual respect. He never challenges me. The hens are the only ones the kids pet and play with.

I got the mean rooster out last night when he was up on the roost in the evening. I calmly came up to him on the roost and grabbed him with one hand by both of his ankles and pulled him off the roost. I carried him upside down so he couldn't hurt me. Just hang on to the legs until they calm down and you'll be fine.

When I got him outside, I didn't want to try to grab his head so I used the "broomstick method". This was the first time I ever tried it and it worked very well and was over quickly with very little mess. i was surprised how easy it was for one person to do.


Good luck.

Lisa

PS. There are some breeds that tend to be more aggressive, like Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns but I think even some "nice" breeds can have bad ones. My rooster is a Black Copper Marans, but my Buff Orpingtons are very sweet hens.. though I've never had a BO rooster.

 

[moetrout]

I'd cull it. I have culled one last year and his replacement is not so nice either. His days are numbered. Now the replacement for him is already a sweet teddy bear and loves to sit in your lap and be petted. Where or not he stays that way remains to be seen. As a parent I can tell you it is sad when your kids don't want to play in the backyard due to an aggressive roo. I don't put up with it anymore.

 

[peepmommy]

That's exactly it!!! I know that I can do this and my priority are my children! They are just so little and those roos can do so much damage! He is a RIR and I'm afraid he will just get meaner as he gets older. Rungirl, what is the broomstick method? I was thinking of doing this during the night after they settle in too... Seems easier. Thanks for all of the support. I would like to have a roo, but maybe I'll find a more seasoned bird!

 

[RedDrgn]

Unless you can keep the chickens in a run and your kids out of the run full time, I'd cull the roo (which may include re-homing if you don't want to kill him yourself). Otherwise, I have to agree with everyone else because while a rooster isn't very dangerous to an adult, they have a good chance of doing do serious and permanent damage to a child.

And I'm not saying that lightly, because our roo is with us because he is like your roo, he went after children (and kept getting kicked for it until the owners finally gave up on him). He can't wrap his chicken brain around the fact that kids are mostly harmless. All he sees is this rooster-sized, loud, erratic and fast two-legged thing near his territory and instinct kicks in. When we have anyone with children visiting, our roo stays locked in the run, period. If we had children, he'd be gone.

 

[Phlimm]

Here is a video of the Broomstick Method. Errrmmm...yeah, it shows a chicken slaughter so A) You have to sign in to YouTube confirming you are over 18 and B) Be aware that the guy is killing an animal in the video. The clip is entirely instructional however, definitely not a voyeurism piece.

 

[peepmommy]

Yea, it's just too much. I never let the kids alone when the flock is outside, but this time the rooster was just faster than me! As soon as I saw him fluff up, I ran, but didn't make it to him before he was on my 2 year old's back. Poor kid was scared senseless. My husband basically punted him (I never knew a chicken could fly that far!) I scooped up my son. We have a new baby on the way and I just know that there are too many nice ones out there to have to deal with him. I like having a roo to protect the girls. We have a lot of hawks which seem to have kept their distance now that they are older, but I am getting chicks this week so easy pickins for them. We also have a bald eagle that is nesting close by. Better keep a really good eye on the kids or the eagle will fly off with one of them!! LOL