Rooster randomly attacks

[Intheswamp]

No what is that, and where do you get that type of feed? I've heard of it before but I don't know anything about it.

PM'd you.

 

[ShanandGem]

I don't have a lifetime of experience with chickens, but I am a long time student of animal behavior and I think a well mannered roo thinks of his person as the alpha roo; they should always be the beta.
My roosters aren't permtted to interact with each other. I turn them out one at a time and if they try to spar through the fence I move the loose one along firmly and quickly. I move between them and their hens frequently. I keep their enclosures a distance from each other so they feel like they have their own territory and aren't threatening each other. I have found this keeps them quieter too.
As for a single aggressive roo, I would suspect he senses you're intimidated by him. This is him testing your flock leader status. They are not intelligent animals, but are mostly instinct and habit. A rooster always wants to be king of the hill and yours sees an opening. By changing your own behavior you can change his,hopefully.

 

[theuglychick]

I can say that I've tried "loving" my horrid rooster (also an Easter chick to start) through all of his aggression.

I tried earning and then instilling respect. I took all the advice on ignoring bad behavior, rewarding good behavior (I work with dogs for a living, I regularly use behavior modification and training methods). None of it worked. Apparently, at least in my experience, once a rooster views people as a threat, you can't access the reward center of their brain by doing anything but retreating in defeat.

I abandoned the ignore/reward ideology and opted for good old fashioned punishment, or what chicken people like to call "embarrassing" or "emasculating" by packing him around by his feet in front of his hens, trying to "knock him down a few pegs". In moments of self defense I've even kicked him. He steadily continued attacking everyone he could. So whatever reward he was gaining for the attack behavior was far greater than any consequence I could humanely dole out.

His bad behavior continued to increase in intensity, frequency, and duration over the next several months. I eventually gave him to a more experienced person and they eventually culled him.

The mistake I made was that I wanted to "rehabilitate" him. He was big and beautiful and had the best crow. He was also, up to that point, my little buddy. I learned here from the experts that I gave him too many chances. In that time, he perfected the sneak attack. I can say he was efficient in-law deterrent

However, it was a dangerous game. I know this. Especially now that I have a 3 year old child. I now have 2 roosters which are young and I haven't hand raised either. Either one will be culled by me in my big girl drawers the moment he doesn't respond to a swift goosing of the tail or hackles. I do intend to keep roosters, I want to sustain my own flock. So I've just had to get good with the idea that if I'm going to bring potentially dangerous livestock on my property, I've also got to be responsible with it and for it, and that includes removing it if it becomes a threat to me or my family.

My advice is listen to the experts who have dealt with roosters for years. They know what's up. Don't be wooed by the pictures and videos of super sweet lap-dog roosters. Those are the exceptions, not the rule. I'm just hoping that at least one of mine turn out neutral or indifferent to people so I can keep at least one. Best of luck!!

 

[Folly's place]

My first rooster was a under 2 lb. bantam who attacked every human he ever met; it was 'carry a weapon' anywhere near him. I learned! Life is way too short to deal with an idiot like that! I've had polite roosters ever since, because those are the boys who get to live here. Mary

 

[shannon84]

Hi everybody I thought I would give you guys an update on my rooster. The rake I haven't had to use on him I just gently thump it on the ground and walk towards him and he turns around and takes off fast with fear. So I haven't had to hit him or anything I just changed the way I carry myself around him. I got tired of the rake and bought a cheap kids super soaker gun and I give him a fast spray if I think he seems a little frisky towards me and it's working like a charm! He seems to be more respectful of me and is starting to know his boundaries, so when I enter his pen he runs for it even with out the super soaker in hand. I also noticed that his mean behavior only seems to be on days it's extremely hot out? When it's cooler in the late evenings he is like his old sweet self?? Thanks everyone for the stories of your alls experience and tips I truly appreciate it!!!

 

[shannon84]

We have a very human aggressive wheaten Maran roo. He was free ranged with a larger roo to hen ratio and he was lowest in the po. At 2yrs he's incorrigible and we will dispatch him. I don't know that they get better past a certain point. Be careful.

Thank you!!

 

[Beekissed]

Hi everybody I thought I would give you guys an update on my rooster. The rake I haven't had to use on him I just gently thump it on the ground and walk towards him and he turns around and takes off fast with fear. So I haven't had to hit him or anything I just changed the way I carry myself around him. I got tired of the rake and bought a cheap kids super soaker gun and I give him a fast spray if I think he seems a little frisky towards me and it's working like a charm! He seems to be more respectful of me and is starting to know his boundaries, so when I enter his pen he runs for it even with out the super soaker in hand. I also noticed that his mean behavior only seems to be on days it's extremely hot out? When it's cooler in the late evenings he is like his old sweet self?? Thanks everyone for the stories of your alls experience and tips I truly appreciate it!!!

Thanks for the update! I'm glad to see you are seeing some progress with his behavior. It will take time to fully trust him but giving him a chance to modify his behavior is a great start. I've never noticed any difference in rooster behavior according to temperatures, though it could increase hormone secretion or distribution when the heart works harder in the heat...who knows?

Keep at it until he always moves away instead of towards, no matter the weather, and I'd say you've changed his mind about your status in his world. Good job!

 

[dekel18042]

I don't have a lifetime of experience with chickens, but I am a long time student of animal behavior and I think a well mannered roo thinks of his person as the alpha roo; they should always be the beta.

I know lots of people follow the person must be the alpha roo theory and it seems to work. Maybe I'm looking at it differently. I tend to think of the chicken flock and think of people and other animals as "outside the flock" and not to enter in the pecking order.
As peeps, I don't excessively handle my chicks, only as necessary, but they are friendly. They're put with the flock as soon as possible, usually free ranging in a large area with older chickens by four to five weeks old.
I would never breed from an aggressive rooster, and aggressive behavior that doesn't respond to an attitude adjustment is a one way ticket out (and I would never rehome an aggressive cockerel.)
My roosters are fine with people and other animals. They free range our fenced in property. My dogs walk freely among them with no problems. My one dog has even learned to move the chickens from the one flower bed when he catches them there, and they go when they see him coming but not any time else. They just ignore him unless they're in the flower bed.
I breed my own replacement chickens and in the past several years we've had only two problem roosters and one of them was aggressive when we took him. (It was disclosed but I didn't think it was too bad and could be worked with. Wrong!)

 

[jenniferlamar70]

I know lots of people follow the person must be the alpha roo theory and it seems to work.  Maybe I'm looking at it differently.  I tend to think of the chicken flock and think of people and other animals as "outside the flock" and not to enter in the pecking order.
    As peeps, I don't excessively handle my chicks, only as necessary, but they are friendly.  They're put with the flock as soon as possible, usually free ranging in a large area with older chickens by four to five weeks old.
    I would never breed from an aggressive rooster, and aggressive behavior that doesn't respond to an attitude adjustment is a one way ticket out (and I would never rehome an aggressive cockerel.) 
      My roosters are fine with people and other animals.  They free range our fenced in property.    My dogs walk freely among them with no problems.  My one dog has even learned to move the chickens from the one flower bed when he catches them there, and they go when they see him coming but not any time else.  They just ignore him unless they're in the flower bed.
      I breed my own replacement chickens and in the past several years we've had only two problem roosters and one of them was aggressive when we took him.  (It was disclosed but I didn't think it was too bad and could be worked with.  Wrong!) 

I think you hit the nail on the head. Everyone argues what the best method is when the truth is no one method works for every rooster. Their are going to be some that are resistant and maybe can't be rehabilitated but then some that certain methods work like a charm. Some may need more disipline while others may need more love. Depends on the rooster. I don't ever agree with hurting one unless it's in self defense. That goes without saying. Really no one here is wrong. Everyone has just found what works for them and we all share and hope we can help someone else too.

 

[shannon84]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Everyone argues what the best method is when the truth is no one method works for every rooster. Their are going to be some that are resistant and maybe can't be rehabilitated but then some that certain methods work like a charm. Some may need more disipline while others may need more love. Depends on the rooster. I don't ever agree with hurting one unless it's in self defense. That goes without saying. Really no one here is wrong. Everyone has just found what works for them and we all share and hope we can help someone else too.

Perfectly said

I couldn't agree more with you!