Rooster Keeps Attacking me!

[KaOsFarm]

I know this is an old post but I hope someone can help me out. I have a beautiful Lemon Coco Orpington roo that has been super sweet until yesterday. He started mating the hens for the first time that I have seen yesterday and is really into it. My biggest concern is about how big he is. He is at least 15 pounds and is a chicken bigger than the entire flock. He has always been a sweet heart so I never thought to establish dominance. Yesterday when I went to feed he ran and bit my calf. I ignored it but he ran at me a second time and I didn't know what else to do so I kicked him in the face. (I feel sooooo bad). We have been at a stand off ever since but he hasn't pulled anything besides a starting contest since. I have not had an issue since but his entire attitude has changed, especially towards the hens.

 

[jthornton]

Probably better to start a new thread than tacking on to a very long old thread.

I would not allow a rooster that is twice as big as my hens to be in the same yard. The aggressive behavior to you can not be tolerated at all. When he comes at you make him back off by being aggressive to him. Use a stick or broom to make him keep his distance. I found it difficult to be aggressive to my rooster when he was with the pullets as they kept getting in the way and getting mixed signals from me so I removed him from the flock.

JT

 

[robyn66]

We have a gorgeous Americauna Rooster. He was a surprise because we ordered 6 hens. I guess we were lucky to get only one because not only did we not get our order of 6 Americana hens, we got one Spotted Sussex, an Easter Egger and two Ameraucana! Anyway, our Roo was raised like a baby. We hand fed him, cuddled him as a baby and I think instead of making him like us, it made us look weak. I have a daughter who is WAY too attached to him even though we sat her down at the beginning and said we would give the rooster a chance but if he started hurting people he would have to go. We have tried everything and he is the meanest bas##rd I have ever seen. He has torn off the feathers of the hen's backs, I have had to keep him away from my young nephews when they come over because they are not much bigger than him and my other daughter almost had here eye taken out when he went for her face ( and this is not the first time) when she was collecting eggs and feeding and watering them. So I sat other daughter down last night and told her that she needed to get used to the idea that he is probably going to go. She LOST it. She is begging me to give him more time because of the long winter (although they have plenty big run and are let out when weather would permit) that he is just a teenager (will be 1 in june) and that this is a phase. I really hate to break her heart and I am not happy, but I think he has to go. My husband has been extremely patient because he knows how attached she is to him but I dont think there is any other thing we can do. So I would be interested in any training ideas too.

 

[jthornton]

@robyn66 While I was able to prevent Henry Jr. ( a very human aggressive Barred Rock male) from attacking me most of the time anyone else had to have a broom in their hand to ward him off. After working with Henry Jr. a long time I could read his mind and know when he was being confrontational. Unusual things would set him off like me trimming the tree in front of his place.

My first adult contact with a rooster was with a big strapping Leghorn with 2" spurs. I named him Mr. Rooster Cogburn. When he saw me he would run as fast as he could up to me and stop 1' from me. I would walk into my shop with him following every step even in my machine shop and get a bowl and put some food in it. Then I would go outside and sit down on the step of my shop cross legged and put the bowl in my lap. Mr. Cogburn and a hen or two would eat the food out of the bowl until they got full and would wander off. Mr. Cogburn was such a nice rooster I was hoping Henry Sr. (my first Barred Rock male) would grow up like Mr. Cogburn but he and all the chickens I had were killed by a dog at 18 weeks old.

Not knowing much about roosters except those two I ordered another Barred Rock male and got Henry Jr. After a while I came to the conclusion that the only place for Henry Jr. was Freezer Camp. Your rooster belongs in the same place. I was sad for a few days having to do that but the chickens and everyone else is so much happier not having to watch out for Henry Jr. The chicken yard is so peaceful now I wonder why I waited so long... but I'm real patience too.

JT

 

[bobbi-j]

We have a gorgeous Americauna Rooster. He was a surprise because we ordered 6 hens. I guess we were lucky to get only one because not only did we not get our order of 6 Americana hens, we got one Spotted Sussex, an Easter Egger and two Ameraucana! Anyway, our Roo was raised like a baby. We hand fed him, cuddled him as a baby and I think instead of making him like us, it made us look weak. I have a daughter who is WAY too attached to him even though we sat her down at the beginning and said we would give the rooster a chance but if he started hurting people he would have to go. We have tried everything and he is the meanest bas##rd I have ever seen. He has torn off the feathers of the hen's backs, I have had to keep him away from my young nephews when they come over because they are not much bigger than him and my other daughter almost had here eye taken out when he went for her face ( and this is not the first time) when she was collecting eggs and feeding and watering them. So I sat other daughter down last night and told her that she needed to get used to the idea that he is probably going to go. She LOST it. She is begging me to give him more time because of the long winter (although they have plenty big run and are let out when weather would permit) that he is just a teenager (will be 1 in june) and that this is a phase. I really hate to break her heart and I am not happy, but I think he has to go. My husband has been extremely patient because he knows how attached she is to him but I dont think there is any other thing we can do. So I would be interested in any training ideas too.

YOU are the parent. YOU (and hubby) are the adults. That means YOU get to make the decisions. There is no way that rooster is going to settle down. He would have been gone the INSTANT my child’s face was attacked. Your daughter will get over it. Your hens will be happier and your flock so much more at peace. I would say the time for training this one is past.

The time for training is BEFORE they start attacking. It starts the instant you know you have a cockerel on your hands. That’s when you quit cuddling, hand feeding and babying them and start showing them you are the boss. If he is between where you are and where you want to be, you walk through him to get there. If he challenges you, meet that challenge with confidence. Walk toward him until he backs down. Move him away from the food, water and treats whenever you want to do so. Touch the hens if you can do so without chasing them. Just keep moving him along whenever you feel like it. I have raised my roosters this way for several years and have not had a mean one since.

Again, you need to get rid of this rooster. If your daughter wants a pet, encourage her to make friends with one of the hens.

 

[keesmom]

We have a gorgeous Americauna Rooster. He was a surprise because we ordered 6 hens. I guess we were lucky to get only one because not only did we not get our order of 6 Americana hens, we got one Spotted Sussex, an Easter Egger and two Ameraucana! Anyway, our Roo was raised like a baby. We hand fed him, cuddled him as a baby and I think instead of making him like us, it made us look weak. I have a daughter who is WAY too attached to him even though we sat her down at the beginning and said we would give the rooster a chance but if he started hurting people he would have to go. We have tried everything and he is the meanest bas##rd I have ever seen. He has torn off the feathers of the hen's backs, I have had to keep him away from my young nephews when they come over because they are not much bigger than him and my other daughter almost had here eye taken out when he went for her face ( and this is not the first time) when she was collecting eggs and feeding and watering them. So I sat other daughter down last night and told her that she needed to get used to the idea that he is probably going to go. She LOST it. She is begging me to give him more time because of the long winter (although they have plenty big run and are let out when weather would permit) that he is just a teenager (will be 1 in june) and that this is a phase. I really hate to break her heart and I am not happy, but I think he has to go. My husband has been extremely patient because he knows how attached she is to him but I dont think there is any other thing we can do. So I would be interested in any training ideas too.

Bobbi-j said it all. You are the adults, you make the decisions. That cockerel absolutely has no business being part of your flock. He's a danger to the little ones that visit your yard. He almost got your daughter's eye, and he doesn't even have a decent set of spurs yet.

He isn't going to change for the better. There's nothing you can do to teach him to respect little kids. In fact he may get worse and decide to take on your other daughter. Once he gets a good set of spurs the damage he could potentially inflict is serious.

 

[Chicken lover❤️]

I have a big problem with my rooster too, he was so sweet for a long time until now he chased me down my yard trying to attack me! My mom came out and helped though and it's bad because he had never done this before, all though I herd from my cousins that he attacked one of them, and there is also 3 little kids that love my roster so much they think he is the coolest so if they try to pet him he will now bite you wich will he hard for the little kids☹

Please help me.

 

[Chicken lover❤️]

I know this is an old post but I hope someone can help me out. I have a beautiful Lemon Coco Orpington roo that has been super sweet until yesterday. He started mating the hens for the first time that I have seen yesterday and is really into it. My biggest concern is about how big he is. He is at least 15 pounds and is a chicken bigger than the entire flock. He has always been a sweet heart so I never thought to establish dominance. Yesterday when I went to feed he ran and bit my calf. I ignored it but he ran at me a second time and I didn't know what else to do so I kicked him in the face. (I feel sooooo bad). We have been at a stand off ever since but he hasn't pulled anything besides a starting contest since. I have not had an issue since but his entire attitude has changed, especially towards the hens.

I have exactly the same problem my rooster is so sweet but now he is chaceing me down the yard wich is a huge disappointment, I love him so much too. What were doing is were gonna give him a second chance and see if that helps.

 

[alexa009]

Haven't had an aggressive one yet and hope he never will be.

 

[jthornton]

I have a big problem with my rooster too, he was so sweet for a long time until now he chased me down my yard trying to attack me! My mom came out and helped though and it's bad because he had never done this before, all though I herd from my cousins that he attacked one of them, and there is also 3 little kids that love my roster so much they think he is the coolest so if they try to pet him he will now bite you wich will he hard for the little kids☹

Please help me.

I had an aggressive rooster named Henry Jr. and learned to control his aggression to me but that was all. Anyone else was fair game for him. I learned a lot about rooster behavior from Henry Jr. but in the end he had to go to freezer camp.

JT