Rooster Chat

[mlcrowley]

If he stays away from the bigger kids then I'd just try to keep the littlest one away from the scenario where he's facing off a rooster by himself :-/ but that's probably not easy to accomplish.

Can you teach the kids to wave a small stick in from of them like they're sweeping the floor? Like how a blind person uses their cane. That might be intimidating enough that Merlin stays away without teaching any violence or disrespect to animals to the children.

Being easy to pick up might not be because he's a good boy, either. He might be standing still to show you that he's not afraid and holding his ground. Watch how he behaves as you approach and you'll see. If he's acting tense, faking tidbitting, holding his shoulder to you...He's being territorial. If he's acting like a girl, like if he moves away but not in a hurry and you can pick him up because he's relaxed....Then he's being a good boy.

Keep us posted!

Thank you! The stick idea is great. Luckily our boys have grown up with animals and we've worked really hard to make sure they're not the kids that chase cats and pull dog's tails. We try to teach them that animals deserve respect and space and they aren't toys, so I think the stick idea is one we could definitely accomplish without them hitting the chickens with it. I will try it!

We do our very best to make sure he doesn't end up near the rooster by himself, but with free-range dogs, chickens, and kids there are moments we are distracted. The first time Merlin went after him I was right in front of my little guy and Merlin chased him up the hill behind me, I didn't see him coming. The second time, his brothers were with him and then ran the other way leaving Ronan, the little one, by himself. Merlin was under the trampoline so Ronan didn't see him when he ran past. Hubby and I were maybe 20 feet away pulling weeds. Merlin only comes at him from behind, knocks him over and then walks away.

Merlin definitely doesn't stand still to be picked up, he sort of walks away like the hens do, but he doesn't fly or run if we go to pick him up. There are times he'll do the fake tidbitting and give me his shoulder when I approach him (usually near the coop), but he doesn't ever come at me. If I walk right up to him and stand next to him while he's acting that way, he will eventually turn his back and walk away from me. I try to make it a point to never walk away from him first. I don't know if that really helps or not.

We're big into using the animals behaviors to dictate their training, we've done well with dogs and goats, but we are very new to roosters and how to communicate to him that he's not the boss, and how to show Merlin that Ronan is no threat to him or the girls. Merlin has never shown any aggression towards the adults, the bigger kids, or the dogs, just Ronan for some reason. Maybe because they're more eye-level with each other? Or because Ronan is more unpredictable? I don't know.

Sorry for the ridiculously long post. Trying to give a background on everyone's behaviors in case it's something I'm doing or something Ronan's doing to trigger Merlin.

I'll let you know how the stick thing goes

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Thank you! The stick idea is great. Luckily our boys have grown up with animals and we've worked really hard to make sure they're not the kids that chase cats and pull dog's tails. We try to teach them that animals deserve respect and space and they aren't toys, so I think the stick idea is one we could definitely accomplish without them hitting the chickens with it. I will try it!

We do our very best to make sure he doesn't end up near the rooster by himself, but with free-range dogs, chickens, and kids there are moments we are distracted. The first time Merlin went after him I was right in front of my little guy and Merlin chased him up the hill behind me, I didn't see him coming. The second time, his brothers were with him and then ran the other way leaving Ronan, the little one, by himself. Merlin was under the trampoline so Ronan didn't see him when he ran past. Hubby and I were maybe 20 feet away pulling weeds. Merlin only comes at him from behind, knocks him over and then walks away.

Merlin definitely doesn't stand still to be picked up, he sort of walks away like the hens do, but he doesn't fly or run if we go to pick him up. There are times he'll do the fake tidbitting and give me his shoulder when I approach him (usually near the coop), but he doesn't ever come at me. If I walk right up to him and stand next to him while he's acting that way, he will eventually turn his back and walk away from me. I try to make it a point to never walk away from him first. I don't know if that really helps or not.

We're big into using the animals behaviors to dictate their training, we've done well with dogs and goats, but we are very new to roosters and how to communicate to him that he's not the boss, and how to show Merlin that Ronan is no threat to him or the girls. Merlin has never shown any aggression towards the adults, the bigger kids, or the dogs, just Ronan for some reason. Maybe because they're more eye-level with each other? Or because Ronan is more unpredictable? I don't know.

Sorry for the ridiculously long post. Trying to give a background on everyone's behaviors in case it's something I'm doing or something Ronan's doing to trigger Merlin.

I'll let you know how the stick thing goes

I wasn't worried about the kids hitting the roosters. More of the rooster seeing the stick as a threat and that starting an attack. You know your rooster best though. Mine would have definitely attacked a stick lol

 

[mlcrowley]

Don't wave a stick! Most roosters find younger Kids threatening because of their fast movements and loud voices. Not every rooster is meant for every home. I would rehome him and adopt a new rooster. One that your kids can handle frequently. With lots of handling and treats they can build an alpha position and trust. Some breeds tend to be more aggressive. Not always but sometimes. We had a Polish roo who did the same thing only to my 4 year old and kids that age run in without thinking first. For us I didn't want to take Tue chance of him spuring my little man. We love roosters so I'm not saying it's not possible. Roosters can make great pets and protectors. But better to error on the side of caution when dealing with small children.

I agree erring on the side of caution is the best. I don't think re-homing him would be an option, if it comes to that, it will be the first thing I try, but there are so many roosters in our area that need homes. Literally any day you can find posts on FB and CL with at least 10-15 being given away to new homes. Most of them never find new homes and it's a not so happy ending for them. I don't want that to happen to Merlin if I can help it. If there's anything we can do to change his behavior a little, we'll try that first. If it means I've got to carry Ronan anytime the birds are around until he's bigger, that may be what happens.

 

[mlcrowley]

I wasn't worried about the kids hitting the roosters. More of the rooster seeing the stick as a threat and that starting an attack. You know your rooster best though. Mine would have definitely attacked a stick lol

It's definitely a possibility. It will be me trying the stick (used like a cane, not waving it) first. Even my dogs who are pretty desensitized to crazy kid movements, noises, toys being thrown, would go nuts over the kids waving sticks around, haha. If it ups Merlin's aggression level at all, we'll scrap that idea.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I use a fishing net so I can catch an attacking or trouble making rooster, and carry him around in it if necessary. They quickly learn to avoid the net, and all my chickens know what it means.

 

[bobbi-j]

Anybody have any tips on training a rooster to stay away from kids?

We have an EE roo, and he's pretty darn friendly most of the time. He'll let us catch him and hold him (we don't that very often, only when we need to move him). We have 3 little boys, ages 5, 3 and almost 2. He pretty much steers clear of the older two, but if my little one ends up near him without one of us really close by, Merlin (the roo) will go after him. He doesn't do a lot of damage. He mostly flaps and jumps at him, but he ends up knocking him over. He's done it twice now. My husband's ready to get rid of him, but our girls free range and there are a LOT of predators where we are, so I'd like to keep him around if at all possible if for nothing else than to give them a warning to go back to the coop if a predator is near. As much as I like Merlin and want him around, I can't have him scaring the pants off of my little guy, or potentially hurting him. TIA for any tips!

I would get rid of that rooster yesterday if he went after my 2 year old. Think about where your little one's face is. Now think about where those spurs could end up should he fly at your child. A dominant hen is just as capable of sounding an alarm as a rooster is if they sense danger. Your child's health and well-being is not worth risking for a flock of chickens. If you feel you NEED to have a rooster, shop around and find one that won't go after your child, or wait until your kids are older. The other option is, keep the little one away from the chickens. Maybe put up a fence between the kids' play area and where the chickens range?

 

[mlcrowley]

I would get rid of that rooster yesterday if he went after my 2 year old. Think about where your little one's face is. Now think about where those spurs could end up should he fly at your child. A dominant hen is just as capable of sounding an alarm as a rooster is if they sense danger. Your child's health and well-being is not worth risking for a flock of chickens. If you feel you NEED to have a rooster, shop around and find one that won't go after your child, or wait until your kids are older. The other option is, keep the little one away from the chickens. Maybe put up a fence between the kids' play area and where the chickens range?

Please believe, my children's safety absolutely comes before any of our animals. As a mother, I've absolutely thought numerous times about what could have happened, and how bad it could have been, just like I do every time they even scrape a knee. The only immediate solution to get rid of that rooster yesterday, would be to kill him. Re-homing (although I don't believe it will be successful because of the sheer number of roosters around) is absolutely an option, and would take time. A fence is happening as soon as we can get it put up, that also takes time and if there is something I can do to help the situation in the meantime, I'd like to know about it and try it. We are looking into every possibility, which is why I'm here asking advice just in case there is a behavioral something that we can try/fix.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would still suggest using a fishing net when you see him coming. You can't correct the behavior unless it's happening. Your rooster will quickly learn that your children mean he's going to get blocked and caught, and possibly penned in a smaller pen while you are out there with the kids. Roosters learn fast from such experiences.

 

[mlcrowley]

I would still suggest using a fishing net when you see him coming. You can't correct the behavior unless it's happening. Your rooster will quickly learn that your children mean he's going to get blocked and caught, and possibly penned in a smaller pen while you are out there with the kids. Roosters learn fast from such experiences.

Thank you! I will try that our coop has a small run attached that I could fairly easily catch him and put him in while I'm out with the kids. I do believe my husband has a fishing net around here somewhere too.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have been using my fishing net for years, I'm actually on my second one. It comes out as the roosters are maturing. None come after me, but I do scoop them up if they are harassing the pullets. Sometimes they get penned, other times the get released after a few moments, usually dumped somewhere over a fence. They learn quick that I am the boss.

Other means like kicking, and I hate to disagree, but sticks can be unintentionally used wrongly and broken legs can happen. With the fishing net it's a larger surface area and they only end up with their pride hurt.

I might after the initial training give my kid the net to hold which should empower him in the eyes of the rooster, but always keep your eye on them when kids are present. Most rooster grow out of it if handled properly during their adolescence.