Rooster getting mean

[centrarchid]

I used to volunteer at a community farm that had a infamous gamebird rooster named Killer... For good reason, a tiny little thing in an aviary due to being able to fly, with other tiny hens. He was a wonderful caretaker of the hens and an attentive father, but HATED and DESPISED people and would attack on sight. Many volunteers were too scared to even go into his pen, while I wasn't allowed at first due to me being a minor at the time, didn't want me getting blinded by a crazed roo.

Well, one day the place was short staffed and so I decided to go in and sort out the food and water... He jumped down at me from his perch, like he does to all the others, but I snatched him out of the air, held him firmly, but was careful to not hurt him, and petted him, he squirmed and struggled at first before eventually giving in and letting me pet him, once he had mellowed out enough, I put him down and he scurried off... He never bothered me since after I humiliated him infront of the hens, and he avoided me when I entered the pen instead of attacking.

Even when I went in to play with the chicks the hens had, he'd just stare at me from a distance.

Also, when Peep-Peep, my Silkie cockerel I own came of age, he got a little feisty and ran up and pecked at my foot, likely trying to mount it. I picked him up right then and there and held him, giving him a light tap on the head. Once he calmed down, I put him back down.

Game Bird in Great Britain?

 

[MageofMist]

Game Bird in Great Britain?

I believe him and the hens were someone's pets which they didn't want anymore and so they gave them to the farm, majority of the critters there were either unwanted or the people who had them didn't have the room for them anymore.

It had goats, ponies, potbelly pigs (eg... Not so micro micro pigs), rabbits, all sorts of ducks and chickens, and had a squirrel and even an emu once, though the emu did cause quite the ruckus when it escaped and ran about in the streets.

 

[christwodog]

My rooster was acting like a jerk with us, until the peacock taught him a lesson. Now he gives us and the peacock a wide berth. Nothing like a giant blue bird to put a roo in his place!

 

[getaclue]

The things I suggested tend to translate "human speak" into "rooster speak". "Hen speak" is not the same, either. christwodog, just like your peacock showed your little rooster who was alpha, people have to do that too, but without trying to injure the rooster.

My First Chick, it's probably your demeanor. You show alpha demeanor, whether you realize it or not.

 

[JanetMarie]

By "cowboy up" I feel that I should clarify. Get rid of roosters that are aggressive, and keep ones that are firstly good to the hens, and also not aggressive towards people.

Never be mean back to an aggressive rooster, simply take care of the problem. We humanely butcher, and being a responsible flock owner is what I meant by "cowboy up". It's part of chicken keeping.

 

[WVduckchick]

My little sometimes-mean rooster changed his tune when i switched him from his favorite pen to a pen with larger, more bossy hens. He didn't look pretty for a while, but they eventually accepted him and stopped beating the tar out of him.

 

[Windus]

I don't doubt that roosters can be "trained". I had one. But my question is - are children involved? A slightly aggressive rooster around adults who are aware of him can be worked with. But i would not tolerate one around children if i was always worried about it attacking. Yes, any bird "can" attack at any time, but a known aggression would always put me on higher alert. And if children were involved, I don't think it's worth the risk.

No, there are not children, only adults.

 

[Windus]

If you can get a hold of him, I agree with the rest: try and hold him down until he relaxes or (which I've found to work because it shows him who's boss) flip him upside down.

Good luck!

Last night, after he was in coop, I went out and picked him up and held him until he quit struggling. I will keep doing this every night and see if it helps.

 

[aart]

I will keep doing this every night and see if it helps.

It might, talk softly then use that voice during the day too, this is best done from the get go starting when they are babies.

 

[WVduckchick]

No, there are not children, only adults.

Awesome. Then best of luck working with him. I hope he gets the message.