Rooster is mounting my toddler?

[greenckick]

OK- you might think I am crazy but my rooster has shown no signs of aggression but has started mounting my 4 year old.

George is 21 weeks old and I have to say is a great rooster. He sleeps in till 6:30, is a great protector of this girls and for a beginner is a gentle mate- no lost feathers or bald spots even though we currently work a 3:1 hen to rooster ratio. He also lets them have first pick when I give treats. He has not shown any signs of aggression.
Just this weekend the boys (4 and 2 years old) were helping me feed the chickens they were in the coop with George, they were hand feeding him, no problems.
The first time it happened I was shocked and George got a swift kick from me, I though this is it for him. The second time it happened I realized George wasn't coming at him so much as mounting him just as he does the hens. Both feet on his back and biting the back of his head/neck. Or am I just a rooster idiot and this is "flogging". Or is George mating my toddler?
Just FYI- no blood drawn, just some scratches on his back.
Time to find a new home for George or should I get my son to fight back and maybe stop this?

Thanks everyone!

 

[speckledhen]

First of all, NO toddler should be allowed near any rooster. It's a disaster waiting to happen. Stop that immediately. He's a young rooster, but if he decides to jump you and flog the child, the child could have eye injuries!

 

[Fred's Hens]

First of all, NO toddler should be allowed near any rooster. It's a disaster waiting to happen. Stop that immediately. He's a young rooster, but if he decides to jump you and flog the child, the child could have eye injuries!

Yup. That's all I can say. Over sexed cockerels and young roosters don't mix with toddlers.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I agree with Fred & Speckled. Time to eat him or rehome him.

Until they are at least three times the size of the the roosters NEVER let toddlers and very young children mingle with cock birds.

 

[chickencowranch]

I wouldn't give George a second chance. As a grown woman who handles cattle, I'm more cautious of the roosters than the cattle. I carry a racketball racket with me when the chickens are free ranging. I do not trust any of the rooster. And now that they know what hens are for I'm really cautious.

 

[12321]

I know this is my first post and I'm not an expert but I'll add my 2 bits. Kids first - Rooster gone. Kids are family and chickens are food. Doesn't matter if your child is pretty in a chicken sort of way or the bird thinks he's tougher, I wouldn't take the chance on a potentially serious injury.

 

[speckledhen]

Even with my very (and I do mean very) sweet and easygoing roosters, I will never allow a small child near them without a barrier between them. They make roosters nervous with their sudden movements and loud noises.

 

[dreamcatcherarabians]

Roo gotta GO! NOW! There are no 2nd chances with roo's and little kids. First time they get out of line is the last. And 4 & 2 year old babies shouldn't be around the roos anyhow, that's just ......MAYHEM about to occur.

I have 60 hens and 2 roos. If I had kids the roos would have to be in a separate coop or locked in the garage before I'd go fetch a Cochin for the kid to pet. The kids would not be allowed inside the fence of the chicken yard, and never inside the coop where it's small and restrictive. The key thing here is, YOU the adult, go fetch a very tame and calm hen for the child to pet or hold on his lap. The kid needs to be taught to be still and calm around the hens so they'll like him. THEN when he's 10 or so, it's plenty of time for him to tend HENS, not roos til he's a lot older and more coordinated.

 

[Mrs. K]

You have had your warning. Sex in animals is an act of aggression, an act of dominance. It is going to go down hill now.

Look at the size of the brain of the animal, a rooster's brain is tiny.

I agree with the above, no roo's with small children around, it is too dangerous.

The mounting is the first act of aggression. You cannot control the roo around a tot, and need to get rid of the bird.

MrsK

 

[NYREDS]

Sex in animals is an act of aggression, an act of dominance.

What? Sex in an animal is an act of reproduction, only humans use sex as an act of aggression. You are right about the size of a chicken's brain which is why he doesn't recognize the child as another species, only a being of similar size. Yes, you need to be careful about children around chickens & other potential hazards. It's called parenting. People here tend to anthropomorphize chicken behavior. It is not reasonable to equate chicken behavior with human behavior.