Rooster Getting Aggressive

[BantyChooks]

Correct, only one.

JT

That's tough. I have a link to my signature to the methods that have worked for me but raising cockerels alone is way harder. I've always had at least two and a flock of mature hens.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Seems some have success with kicking him out of the coop briefly away from the hens when he's a jerk. I've read it but don't know where to find it now.

 

[jthornton]

That's tough. I have a link to my signature to the methods that have worked for me but raising cockerels alone is way harder. I've always had at least two and a flock of mature hens.

I've read most of your post (on a short break from working) and I see one thing that I'm doing wrong for sure. In the evening I put some treats up on a bucket that is only a couple of feet away from me. I think I need to move the bucket to the middle of the yard and start enforcing the 5' rule. I'll let him stew for a few days while I study your post and see if I can recognize the aggressive tendencies then let him back in.

JT

 

[BantyChooks]

I've read most of your post (on a short break from working) and I see one thing that I'm doing wrong for sure. In the evening I put some treats up on a bucket that is only a couple of feet away from me. I think I need to move the bucket to the middle of the yard and start enforcing the 5' rule. I'll let him stew for a few days while I study your post and see if I can recognize the aggressive tendencies then let him back in.

JT

Good luck. Some might say my idea's trash; but that's what's worked for me after finding other methods and viewpoints unsatisfactory. You don't have much to lose at this point.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Good luck. Some might say my idea's trash; but that's what's worked for me after finding other methods and viewpoints unsatisfactory. You don't have much to lose at this point.

JT will only gain a nice dinner if all else fails

 

[BantyChooks]

JT will only gain a nice dinner if all else fails

Too true. That is the best place for mean cockerels.

 

[jthornton]

Good luck. Some might say my idea's trash; but that's what's worked for me after finding other methods and viewpoints unsatisfactory. You don't have much to lose at this point.

One problem I ran into the last time I made him keep his distance turned out scatter gun like and scared the pullets away from me and most certainly don't want that to happen again. I'm thinking of making a run next to the regular run for a while and let him have the covered thing as his coop. This way I can work with him without the girls all being under my feet.

Edit: what method do you use to make the keep the required distance?

JT

 

[BantyChooks]

Edit: what method do you use to make the keep the required distance?

Whatever's at hand. I've thrown buckets before, in general I just lunge at the bird and shove him out of my space until he runs off. It does not need to be excessive, and as noted in that post I wrote, it SHOULD be short and fairly light. Make a point, but don't harass the poor thing.

I have never experienced the pullets picking up on it, so I can't help you there... the aggressive lunges aren't directed at them and they figure that out. They're smart. Use your body language. Actually, many of my hens/pullets are entirely too friendly.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Whatever's at hand. I've thrown buckets before, in general I just lunge at the bird and shove him out of my space until he runs off. It does not need to be excessive, and as noted in that post I wrote, it SHOULD be short and fairly light. Make a point, but don't harass the poor thing.

I have never experienced the pullets picking up on it, so I can't help you there... the aggressive lunges aren't directed at them and they figure that out. They're smart. Use your body language. Actually, many of my hens/pullets are entirely too friendly.

I toss my plastic coffee can at naughty roosters because I'm too crippled these days to chase them. I had successfully rehabbed an aggressive d'uccle with only my can being tossed at him every time I saw him for about 6 weeks before he ran the other way every time he saw me. He never tried it again.

I also will toss it at any cockeral that is harassing a hen. I never have a single human aggressive rooster. I ignore them unless they need management.

 

[jthornton]

Whatever's at hand. I've thrown buckets before, in general I just lunge at the bird and shove him out of my space until he runs off. It does not need to be excessive, and as noted in that post I wrote, it SHOULD be short and fairly light. Make a point, but don't harass the poor thing.

I have never experienced the pullets picking up on it, so I can't help you there... the aggressive lunges aren't directed at them and they figure that out. They're smart. Use your body language. Actually, many of my hens/pullets are entirely too friendly.

The pullets are so close to Henry when he charges that they think me charging back is aimed at them. For now with Henry in a separate area it's just one on one. He won't back off from the front of his place until I open the door and point my hand at him then he backs up about 5' to the middle. I think that he needs to be at the stage that he backs away from the chicken wire when I approach I think before any idea of moving him back in with the pullets. This may take some time but not worrying about stepping on some pullet toes makes it easier to concentrate on Henry. Unfortunately his digs are only 4' tall so I can't stand up in there so I'm thinking of taking a roll of 1x2 welded and make small run for him. Dunno if he would try to fly up and over the fence to get back or not.

JT