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!!

 

[leadwolf1]

I am a firm believer in an animal is only an animal. If the bird was scared and attacked, I wouldn't cull him for doing what he is supposed to do, protect his girls.

That being said, I wouldn't allow my 2 year old around the roo anymore.

 

[peepmommy]

That is exactly where my problem is... I don't want to cull him because he has been great and it was one of those things that my son was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They are free range as are my kids, so they will come into contact at one point or another. I worry he will get worse as he gets older (he is only 1) and I can not afford any serious injuries. We were very lucky.

 

[Lollipop]

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!!

Your rooster ceased to be a "good roo" when he attacked you. Now you have allowed your 2 YO to be put in danger. This kind of behavior doesn't go away, it escilates. Soup him and don't keep that liability in your yard.

That said, you would be better off getting a mature cock for your flock than a youngster. A cockeral would have trouble with the older hens/pullets picking on him. He would also have to grow through that teenage boy stage where he wants to overbreed everything in sight. By picking a mature cock, you could be reasonably sure of his temperment, looks, etc. and he would merely take charge of your hens and treat them with respect and act as a gentleman. As a side bennefit, mature cocks are seldome a danger to chicks as a young rooster can be. Good luck with your choices....BTW, 15 chicks is an awfull lot to put under a broody. She may be fine with that, but it's pushing it. Put them under her at night so she wakes up with them and be sure to be there when she does wake up to be sure she doesn't reject them.........Pop

 

[peepmommy]

Pop,
I totally agree... I guess I needed to hear it from someone else. I am so angry at myself and want to cry every time I think of how terrible it could have been. I became complacent because the roo hasn't acted aggressive in such a long time. He is still pretty young and I know he is going to get bad as he gets older. I have decided to cull him asap. I can not and will not put my kids at risk just to have a roo!

As far as getting a mature cock, (which is what I really wanted to do), where do I go to get him? If I find one from a local farm, how do I know that he is a friendly bird and not worse? I guess what I am asking is how do I know that someone isn't trying to pawn off their problem bird on me?

The chicks are coming this week. She is a large BR and very sweet. I was hoping to put them under her late at night and getting up super early in the morning to see how things are going. My concern is that she too is young and (seemingly serious at the moment) am not sure she is up to the task. If I do it myself, I worry about integrating them into the rest of the hens (minus one rooster!)

Thanks so much for the help. I am learning and hopefully will not make the same mistakes twice!

 

[TheJadeChicken]

As far as getting a mature cock, (which is what I really wanted to do), where do I go to get him? If I find one from a local farm, how do I know that he is a friendly bird and not worse? I guess what I am asking is how do I know that someone isn't trying to pawn off their problem bird on me?

When you go and look at a mature rooster, check to see how he interacts with other chickens and people. Watch the owner and see how they interact with him. Try to walk up to the rooster. Make sure he doesn't try any nasty stunts. Ask the owner why they are getting rid of him. Ask them has he been handled much.

There are several things you can ask the owner. And observation is always a plus. I would also make a list of good friendly breeds to go by.


Also, what type of rooster is he?

 

[peepmommy]

He is a RIR. I was wondering about breeds... Looks like I have a lot of homework to do!! I don't really NEED a rooster, but it is nice to have one to protect the flock from the hawks we have since they are free range.

 

[speckledhen]

Roosters react differently to small children than to adults. Kids make sudden jerky movements and loud noises and make the roosters nervous. Even my lovebug Delaware rooster becomes visibly nervous when a neighbor, whose yard he cannot even see, has loud raucous grandchildren visiting.

A toddler does not belong near a rooster, period.


As far as the adults, you DO NOT have to have a human aggressive rooster in order to have a rooster to look out for your hens!

Why put up with a human-aggressive rooster when you can have one like my Isaac, who does his duty to the max, and is completely easygoing and friendly?

Please check out the video in this post for proof of what a rooster can be like:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/384349/sdwd/14610#post_8894682

The blue Orpington in my avatar is also calm and easygoing. I hatched him here, he's never bitten, flogged or even rushed me, not even when I was trying to catch a screaming hen in his pen, and he's going on 6 years old now. He's intelligent to know what is an actual threat and what is not.

In addition, temperament is heritable, to a degree. The blue Orp throws the same type sons as he is, from reports I've had all around the country.

 

[sourland]

Speckledhen nailed it - "A toddler does not belong near a rooster, period." Since you really don't need a rooster, why not get rid of this bird and stay 'rooster free' until your children are older?

 

[leadwolf1]

Speckledhen nailed it - "A toddler does not belong near a rooster, period." Since you really don't need a rooster, why not get rid of this bird and stay 'rooster free' until your children are older?

Agreed. If the chickens must freerange with the kids..then for safety reasons, a rooster isn't a good idea...no matter how friendly.