Rooster attacked our toddler

[gunny]

I have a 9 month old NH red roo and he is very aggresive and has attacked everyone in my family a time or two. I let my hens free range in the field so I only kept him around to take care of the flock. I would like to get rid of him but feel he serves his purpose. The question is will the flock be ok without the rooster keeping them inline and alerting them to predators lurking close by.

 

[blacktailsmom]

Wow, all this talk of roos. My girls attack us adults. We're donating our laying girls to a friend and starting over with Buff Orpingtons. (I hope I spelled that right ....)

 

[jlgoinggreen]

We have had only Buff Orpingtons until yesterday and I can say they are the sweetest most tamed birds I have ever seen. My one year old spends most of her days with them hugging and reading to them. They love to be petted and handled. They will squat in front of you so that you will pick them up and pet them. They are also great layers! We have 15 and are drowning in eggs. lol

Good Luck! I love my BOs. I hope yours turn out just as nice.

 

[blacktailsmom]

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Thanks we hope so too. We got to pet one at a petting zoo area at a local festival. My daughter exclaimed "so that's what the chickens feel like". Sad when we have had our girls for a year now. Our fingers are crossed.

 

[Mandalina]

my 12lb RIR attacked my 2yr old last summer, not pretty. I wanted to sell him then and there but my DH is attatched to him so he is still out there being a butthead.My kids arent allowed in the coop at all now, but he doesnt mind them being on the other side of the fence throwing them food. I am thankful a lot of my girls are nicer so my kids can interact with them and leave my roo alone.

 

[Brickman House]

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My hens free range, and we have definite predator issues around here. We had an aggressive rooster that was incredibly protective of the girls, but was a total jerk to us, so we sent him to freezer camp. Not long after that, the whole flock was wiped out by a marauding fox family. I don't know that the rooster could have done anything, but my husband's convinced the casualties wouldn't have been nearly as bad had the rooster still been around. Don't know that I agree, but I do think the rooster provided a lot of value in protecting the hens.

We have rebuilt our flock and have a couple roosters now, and they are equally as good with the girls, but much less aggressive with us. We also strung enough hotwire to dim the electrical grid to protect the flock against predators!

So I would definitely recommend keeping a rooster, especially since your girls free range, but you don't have to keep an aggressive one. There are plenty of nice ones out there.

 

[Brickman House]

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Totally agree! We have several Buff Orps, and they could not possibly be any gentler or more laid back. Don't know what breed of hen you had that was attacking you, but I think you'll be very happy with your Buff girls.

 

[keechoo]

I really think it depends on the rooster. I have had 4 and they were all different. My first, a Rhode Island Red (Ian), was a gentle giant. We used to kid around that he considered me one of his hens. He always tried to keep me in line with the other girls and was very protective. Our second, an exotic long-feather (Chief), is another kind, protective rooster. He warned me of a hawk that was coming towards my head. I managed to duck into the coop and shut the door just as it hit the door. The flock and I survived. He also comes running when I call for him if the single red combed rooster (Gillan) tries to attack me. Now Gillan, he was a mean rooster (he died while protecting the flock from a fox). He attacked my 4 year old son but stopped once my husband caught him and had our son give him a beating. Chief just watched and seemed to agree with the punishment. After the beating, Chief chased Gillan back into the coop. However, he kept attacking me so I had to walk around with a long stick which still didn't deter him. We now have a turkey-size rooster (Blackmore) who is black with specks of white. He was mellow until breeding season began. He doesn't attack us but goes after Chief like there is no tomorrow. Of course, I have to protect Chief after all he has done for me (I really love that rooster!) so I go around with a stick to whip Blackmore should he be mean to Chief. When I'm around Chief stays right by my side.

Ian, Chief and Gillan were raised by us from chickhood and even though we had 2 wonderful roosters we did end up with a meanie. Blackmore was given to us so we don't know how old he is. The point is that all roosters are different. Some are good with young children (Ian and Chief), some tolerate them (Blackmore) and some arre just downright mean (Blackmore).

 

[gunny]

Quote:
My hens free range, and we have definite predator issues around here. We had an aggressive rooster that was incredibly protective of the girls, but was a total jerk to us, so we sent him to freezer camp. Not long after that, the whole flock was wiped out by a marauding fox family. I don't know that the rooster could have done anything, but my husband's convinced the casualties wouldn't have been nearly as bad had the rooster still been around. Don't know that I agree, but I do think the rooster provided a lot of value in protecting the hens.

We have rebuilt our flock and have a couple roosters now, and they are equally as good with the girls, but much less aggressive with us. We also strung enough hotwire to dim the electrical grid to protect the flock against predators!

So I would definitely recommend keeping a rooster, especially since your girls free range, but you don't have to keep an aggressive one. There are plenty of nice ones out there.

Thanks for the info. I tend to agree with your husband on the issue. We have a lot of hawks that soar around and I am conviced the rooster is the leader sending the rest of the flock for cover at the first sign of danger. He has even fought my dogs off a time or two. I just don't want to chance one of my children getting hurt for the sake of free range eggs. I will be having a nice chicken dinner this Sunday. I have placed a straight run order with my local hatchery so maybe I will get a docile roo.

 

[cluckers&quackers]

I don't intend to sound mean, and I know every animal has it's own personality and ways of being itself as an animal, but I do see things differently than most, around here the rooster would have been dinner. I know that sounds cold and I don't mean it to as I love all of my animals. But in my opinion, If I am going to raise animals then my children have to be safe around them, I don't want my children to feel they have to be on guard when they go out in the yard nor should they have to be. I realize that this incident could have been worse, and that is exactly it in my opinion, it could have been worse, it could have gotten an eye, and next time maybe it will. If the rooster at some point ends up around another child there is nothing saying it wouldn't do it again, and maybe the next child will not be so lucky. To me it doesn't matter what animal it is, if it wants to be "mean & ugly" it doesn't have a place here. I don't want something that is going to attack my children or anyone elses child, and if I re-homed a rooster that has proven he will attack I would feel horribe if it hurt someone else. But that is just my opinion, not trying to sound mean or anything.