Rooster bachelor pad

[ValerieJ]

I simply would not keep a rooster that came after me. But, that's a personal choice we each need to make. I have found roosters to be more trouble than fun and have made some pretty delicious dishes with them. Coq Au Vin is actually supposed to be made with cockerel, for example.

That being said, I have a hen who wants to peck at my shoes when I come in. At first she was charging at me, and doesn't do that so much anymore. Whenever she pecks at me I just lean over and pet her. Then she might peck at my hands. I always have garden type gloves on so it doesn't hurt and I just persist in petting her, which she doesn't like, so then she'll just stomp away. I'm not sure why she is so crabby, she is a BO and they are normally so sweet. There are berry bushes in the run and when I give her a berry she grabs it out of my hand with a growl and then continues growling while she is eating it. It's funny really. I think she is part Tasmanian devil. I have picked her up and held her for a few minutes to calm her down. She is slowly calming down, but it is requiring some patience on my part.

 

[Yorkshiregal]

I simply would not keep a rooster that came after me. But, that's a personal choice we each need to make. I have found roosters to be more trouble than fun and have made some pretty delicious dishes with them. Coq Au Vin is actually supposed to be made with cockerel, for example.

That being said, I have a hen who wants to peck at my shoes when I come in. At first she was charging at me, and doesn't do that so much anymore. Whenever she pecks at me I just lean over and pet her. Then she might peck at my hands. I always have garden type gloves on so it doesn't hurt and I just persist in petting her, which she doesn't like, so then she'll just stomp away. I'm not sure why she is so crabby, she is a BO and they are normally so sweet. There are berry bushes in the run and when I give her a berry she grabs it out of my hand with a growl and then continues growling while she is eating it. It's funny really. I think she is part Tasmanian devil. I have picked her up and held her for a few minutes to calm her down. She is slowly calming down, but it is requiring some patience on my part.

I’m giving him a chance. If he keeps it up I can’t cope with this behavior. It’s all just started this past week. He seems to recognize the stick and backs off. I try to stand up to him. Act like he doesn’t scare me etc. I might use a broom handle so it’s always the same tool! I like to sit in my chicken run and watch my chickens so I’m not letting him ruin my fun. I have an up and coming Sicilian buttercup who’s very mild mannered. He’s a little younger but maybe he can be in charge. The hens don’t like him much and they bully him so not sure if that will work? Having a crazy rooster is no fun..

 

[Yorkshiregal]

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

I also keep a bachelor pad... it does work easiest if all are separated into it at the same time. But it get's better with time and yes more boys are better than only a couple.

Those who insist on mounting other boys are often sent to freezer camp. I won't tolerate it. It was only an issue mostly for my Silkies... which are totally edible! Make no mistake they dress out and taste just fine! The black skin is pretty cool looking. And if I don't want to eat them, I got no problem processing for my dogs or even sending to the compost pile for carrion eaters... or the feral barn cat who got rid of ALL rodent activity recently before she moved on (the day I called about trap neuter release) after raising a litter.

My bachelor pad shares a wire wall with my hen coop and a wire fence in the pasture. I like the boys in sight of the ladies this way they can learn to treat call and work really hard to get the ladies attention. The wing dance and serenade through the fence. One of my boys used to let the ladies groom him through the fence. They learn some manners so that if and when I am ready for breeding, they know how to act. If I want to hatch eggs I remove my stag only for one day and return to roost that night to keep pecking order status quo. Once the boys mature some more a head stag is wonderful peace keeper allowing me to add young juveniles without separation first. He treat calls them and breaks up fights. Attitude is the number one reason for culling here above breed, faults, size or other characteristics. Scuffles happen as with any group living together. But a peaceful flock IS a possibility and requirement here. Agreed, visual blocks and things to run around are key. Also extra feeders and waterers can help.

Interestingly, Silkies come in such a wide variety of sizes. They were so much larger than my Ameraucana bantams. Wyandottes were one of the more tasty breeds we've eaten.

Good luck on your adventure!

That’s a really good article. It’s given me some great insight! If I ignore him and go about my tasks he seems to leave me alone. He does try to get on my eye level and gives me an awful stink eye! Tries to stare me down. I have been puffing myself up a bit and trying to be a little more confident. He’s defo not my favorite guy anymore. There’s a lot I need to learn! Thanks for all the info

 

[Yorkshiregal]

The new rooster pen and coop! Everyone seems to be doing ok I need to put up some more shade and some netting, which I’m going to attach to the guttering of my stables and drape across Plenty of room plus they are opposite the other birds I left my two bigger roosters to carry on living free range near the house. Everything sure got peaceful!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

The new rooster pen and coop! Everyone seems to be doing ok I need to put up some more shade and some netting, which I’m going to attach to the guttering of my stables and drape across Plenty of room plus they are opposite the other birds I left my two bigger roosters to carry on living free range near the house. Everything sure got peaceful!View attachment 1874407

Nice!!! You have some lucky little cockerels!!!

 

[Mrs. K]

At Yorkshiregal - do be aware if anyone else goes to your coop.... an aggressive rooster can really attack them. Especially a woman or a child.

 

[Yorkshiregal]

At Yorkshiregal - do be aware if anyone else goes to your coop.... an aggressive rooster can really attack them. Especially a woman or a child.

Yes that’s my worry!

 

[Yorkshiregal]

There are many threads and several articles on rooster aggression in BYC. There are many many philosophies and opinions on how to deal with this very common problem. I myself think that roosters raised with other chickens understand that humans are not other roosters, but I am probably in the minority... I mostly try to convince the maturing cockerels that there is nothing to be gained by attacking me. If they attack or act aggressive, I immediately grab them (often by their tail as they usually try to run when they see I’m going for them), tuck them in the crook of my arm like a football, and carry them around for a while, doing chores or whatever. I ignore them, and I don’t let them go when they try to squirm away. I take him of his territory, like out of the run or to the front of the house. I read this technique somewhere, and she carried them for 20 min, but I’m not that patient! I do this for 5-10 min, until he is calm. Then I place him back on the ground and stand there. Most cockerels will run or walk away. One repeatedly threw himself at me, so we repeated several times until he tires of this. I do have one stubborn silkie roo that is the only one who will still consider attacking me, but he usually behaves himself. I’ve pasted an article link below that mostly matches our philosophy, but doesn’t use the carrying technique.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/comment/507839/

So an update. I carried him around for a few mins and he was fine. That was yesterday. Today I set up a water feeder that has nipples ( basically because my ducks come in the hen house and make such a mess with it) anyhow Marty the rooster comes in and as I’m showing the chickens how to tap the nipples he pecks really hard at my hand then attacks my arm. I stand up to walk out and turn my back and unknown to me, he’s jumped up on a high shelf and he launches at the back of my back and head. I did not see it coming!!! Full throttle. That was a pretty brutal attack! I think that bird is probably going to end up in a soup. I turned around and chased him out and he kept coming at me! I don’t think it’s any fear aggression I think it’s pure aggression he’s not scared of me. When I had him tucked under my arm while I did chores he was all meek. He’s a terror. I don’t think I need to waste any time on rehabilitation. Shame he was a great bird and he’s great with the hens.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So an update. I carried him around for a few mins and he was fine. That was yesterday. Today I set up a water feeder that has nipples ( basically because my ducks come in the hen house and make such a mess with it) anyhow Marty the rooster comes in and as I’m showing the chickens how to tap the nipples he pecks really hard at my hand then attacks my arm. I stand up to walk out and turn my back and unknown to me, he’s jumped up on a high shelf and he launches at the back of my back and head. I did not see it coming!!! Full throttle. That was a pretty brutal attack! I think that bird is probably going to end up in a soup. I turned around and chased him out and he kept coming at me! I don’t think it’s any fear aggression I think it’s pure aggression he’s not scared of me. When I had him tucked under my arm while I did chores he was all meek. He’s a terror. I don’t think I need to waste any time on rehabilitation. Shame he was a great bird and he’s great with the hens.

I’m so sorry!!! That’s scary and disheartening. From reading in BYC, rooster behavior problems seem so common and can be hard to modify. Certainly not worth getting hurt!

 

[aart]

Shame he was a great bird

No bird that attacks human is a 'great' bird...IMO