Rooster charging at me

[Pabbott]

I have a one year old Buff Orpington.
He has charged at me two times. Both times I was wearing red or pink. And both times a hen was squaking- in distress.
It is our first rooster. We got him at 6 months. I was not able to hold him much as he was not hand raised.
Someone said to hold the rooster- well I am not that fast- we tried to catch him- that didn’t work.
Rooster is young and doesn’t have spurs yet.
So I read most of the posts here-
But I was wondering is red a trigger or just the hen calling.
I am hoping this charging behavior ends- but to be safe the birds stay in their enclosed yard when the grandkids are here.

After the first charge he came at me flying- kinda startled me and I blocked him with my foot. Then I made the mistake of turning and he chased me- sigh it is tough but I stopped and faced him- said knock it off. I wasn’t even inside the coop or the run but in the yard.
So now he fell back because I stopped his attack but I didn’t want him to think it was okay to attack the one who feeds them.
so I grabbed a broom more for my safety and just walked back inside his run and tried to be bold (I was a bit unraveled) and he was back to his meek self.
Previous post suggested to hold him- ha! As if I could catch him.
So is color a trigger? Or more the one hen squaking. (Btw I wasn’t even by the hen when he attacked).
Yesterday he charged I was wearing a pink shirt over a tang top. When he charged I took off the pink top and flung it at him. He stopped.
Maybe I need to wear red tomorrow and catch him mid air and hold the Buff Orpington.
Secondly is this an age thing? Because he is a year now- he has been mating with the ladies since 6 months.
I am not ready to give up on him. My husband and dog have had no issues with the rooster.
And the Roo didn’t charge me today at all but I was wearing blue.
No hens were squaking either.

Go into the coop early with a cup of coffee and a stool. Pluck the rooster from the roost, sit on your stool press him down onto your lap, hold him down for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy your coffe and have a conversation with your flock, while continuing holding him down. Then put him back on the roost. I did this like 4 mornings and never a problem with my roo.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I personally enjoy the mental games animals play. I would experiment with the color or even place a scarecrow near the coop dressed in red or pink. I have heard how chickens will freak out with come coats the owners wear, it is very interesting.
As for the catching, I wouldn’t try catching him during the day, he most likely sees this as you are the predator trying to get him. You should grab him while he is still on the roost in the early morning or at dusk, this way he doesn’t see you coming.

 

[yakitori]

I’m not sure if this is related, but I have a hen who would absolutely freak out if I’m wearing red, she would try to run away like some predator is after her. all the other birds have no reaction to the color what so ever.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Go into the coop early with a cup of coffee and a stool. Pluck the rooster from the roost, sit on your stool press him down onto your lap, hold him down for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy your coffe and have a conversation with your flock, while continuing holding him down. Then put him back on the roost. I did this like 4 mornings and never a problem with my roo.

I wish this was possible- but the coop design is not practical for grabbing anything. (Which is why my new design has a walk in for humans to be able to do night checks) I might be able to grab him as he comes out of coup into run.
two days so far and he is meek as possible.
I think he was protecting the squaking hen because both times she had a distress call.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

What exactly do you mean when you write he charged at you?
Did he run at you with his wings spread and head low?
Did his feet leave the ground when he got close to you?
What exactly does he do when he reaches you after his charge?

He flew up with wings flapping- no feet. My foot met him in the chest- I reacted like that. Thinking back maybe I should of caught him- and held him but I was a bit taken by his behavior.
and I don’t think we ever bonded with him. I been able to hold him two times. The times I did were me chasing him to hold him so i could treat his frostbite.
FYI you don’t need to do that- I found out all the frostbite just falls off on it’s own.
In case your wondering- another lesson learned

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Maybe we just go in the run and sit with coffee and just chill. Toss them some tidbits of food.
I don’t think I can hold him. Too bad to. I used to hold all of my birds. It is getting harder now to handle them. They seem to moved more to the rooster.

 

[Redhead_Gardener]

An adult Rooster with spurs can flog a child and easily bring it down. Could flog you an can seriously injure you. There isn't usually much success with trying to train them.

Yes. When I was a child we had a Dominque rooster that was clever and horrid. The adults he learned not to mess with. The adults kicked him across the garden. However I was age 6 or 7. He would often sneak behind buildings and objects laying in wait for me. It became that I was afraid to be outside. The last straw was when my father and grandfather were outside, I thought I'd be safe to play. I rode my bicycle. But the old Dominque rooster got me. Spurred me all the way down my back. My father had it at that point and the rooster was no more. My parents feared I would be scarred. It was a bad spurring. But no. My back is clear. No scarring except my memory. And I will not have Dominque breed bc of that. Though I've never heard anyone else ever have issues with theirs.

We had a couple Rhode island roosters who used to chase my son. Then I taught my son how to catch a rooster by his legs. The roosters became afraid of him shortly after. For my little 5 year old boy would be dragging a rooster in each hand upside down. The poor roosters their heads dragging on the ground not even fighting for freedom any more. so the roosters began to stay clear of him. (That was 12 years past now.)

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Maybe we just go in the run and sit with coffee and just chill. Toss them some tidbits of food.
I don’t think I can hold him. Too bad to. I used to hold all of my birds. It is getting harder now to handle them. They seem to moved more to the rooster.

Yes. When I was a child we had a Dominque rooster that was clever and horrid. The adults he learned not to mess with. The adults kicked him across the garden. However I was age 6 or 7. He would often sneak behind buildings and objects laying in wait for me. It became that I was afraid to be outside. The last straw was when my father and grandfather were outside, I thought I'd be safe to play. I rode my bicycle. But the old Dominque rooster got me. Spurred me all the way down my back. My father had it at that point and the rooster was no more. My parents feared I would be scarred. It was a bad spurring. But no. My back is clear. No scarring except my memory. And I will not have Dominque breed bc of that. Though I've never heard anyone else ever have issues with theirs.

We had a couple Rhode island roosters who used to chase my son. Then I taught my son how to catch a rooster by his legs. The roosters became afraid of him shortly after. For my little 5 year old boy would be dragging a rooster in each hand upside down. The poor roosters their heads dragging on the ground not even fighting for freedom any more. so the roosters began to stay clear of him. (That was 12 years past now.)

Yes. When I was a child we had a Dominque rooster that was clever and horrid. The adults he learned not to mess with. The adults kicked him across the garden. However I was age 6 or 7. He would often sneak behind buildings and objects laying in wait for me. It became that I was afraid to be outside. The last straw was when my father and grandfather were outside, I thought I'd be safe to play. I rode my bicycle. But the old Dominque rooster got me. Spurred me all the way down my back. My father had it at that point and the rooster was no more. My parents feared I would be scarred. It was a bad spurring. But no. My back is clear. No scarring except my memory. And I will not have Dominque breed bc of that. Though I've never heard anyone else ever have issues with theirs.

We had a couple Rhode island roosters who used to chase my son. Then I taught my son how to catch a rooster by his legs. The roosters became afraid of him shortly after. For my little 5 year old boy would be dragging a rooster in each hand upside down. The poor roosters their heads dragging on the ground not even fighting for freedom any more. so the roosters began to stay clear of him. (That was 12 years past now.)

So you taught your son to be master of the roo- good thinking!

 

[Bigbluefrog]

update:
So it’s been a few days- I walk in the run and coop- no issues.
when free ranging - no issues
Although I haven’t worn red yet- I think the combination of red and the hen Squaking was triggering his attack mode. Big boy lives another day. And hopefully we figured out the issue- I do keep the birds locked up when we have company- they are trained to come when I call.
So it is easy to lock them up.
and when I say locked up- means a large enclosed safe yard with a solid enclosed run and coop. They are super spoiled.
Thanks Ladies for tips. I had my coffee with the hens this morning and big boy was just a meek rooster- and if he does charge I will be ready to catch him. Hope lumber goes down in price because I sure did want to build a new one. Ridiculous cost of things- I miss the good ol days when gas was less than a dollar! And lumber was affordable! Dreaming about my new coop design!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Glad you found a solution that worked for you. My rooster, RUG, flogged me once while I was picking up his hens to weigh them. He was my only breeder, the girls were making a fuss, he was doing his job - so he got a reprieve.

A week later, he flogged my wife while she was throwing scratch to the flock. He was culled as soon as I got home.

In both cases, we were spurred. Its not a clean wound, it bleeds profusely, and it aches for a while - surprisingly deep, and for us, bad places. I got it just above the ankle, she got it just below the knee. In both cases, deep soft tissue injuries. Healed up with reasonable care and good antibiotics, but the possibility of severe infection can't be dismissed - we all know where those feet have been.

Culling, for the protection of yourself and other visitors (who may not understand chicken behaviors, particularly) should be seriously and immediately considered if the behavior repeats. The table is the only good use for a Roo gone aggressive (at the age, I recommend stock, or sausage. a very long stewing, at minimum)