Rooster randomly attacks

[shannon84]

It shouldn't have come as a surprise. You posted 2 weeks ago that he attacked you, and that he will go after anyone else. He definitely should not be allowed to free range. True, I think I was shocked because I did nothing but let him out of his run, last time I asked for it by petting on him when he hates it plus it was 103 heat index that day. So I kind off brushed that off. But I was being nice to him yesterday by letting him out and he got me as soon as I opened the door.

 

[CuzChickens]

Well. I have to say, this thread has been good advice and made me realize I might have something coming my way. I have a Speckled Sussex rooster that acts like the sweetest thing ever. He follows me around when I come in the pen, if I sit down, he is the first on my lap, If I pick up another chicken, he HAS to be there too, so on and so forth. Should I not be allowing this? And I have a Black Australorp rooster that does not really enjoy me holding him, but he is one of the ones that loves following me around, and was one of the first to start following me around. And I saw the whole ''Chickens don't get embarrassed thing'' I guess that was probably directed at me. I just had someone tell me that at the county fair, so I tried it.

 

[centrarchid]

It appears some wisdom is being demonstrated.

 

[rebrascora]

@shannon84

Quote:
He is challenging you for dominance. You don't have to do anything he likes or does not like, just being there is enough. He already has the better of you because you are not understanding the rules.... chicken rules of hierarchy and body language that is. You seem to be in denial about how potentially dangerous this situation is. He was attacking your other half as he saw him a threat, now he is attacking you for overall flock leadership. This could land you in hospital and what if a child happened to be in his territory with their head and face within range of his beak and claws?

It is your responsibility to deal with this before someone gets hurt. Do you have insurance that will cover you if a third party gets injured by him? You need to get tough with this guy and you have been given excellent advice on how to go about that. If that doesn't work then, for your own safety and that of others, he needs to be culled and go in the stock pot. His external beauty will appear much less radiant if he is attacking you on a near daily basis and making visits to the coop a dangerous chore rather than a pleasure.

 

[Intheswamp]

Thanks guys for your advice! I don't think I'll be cooking Franklin anytime soon though haha. I'm going to work with him and try different stuff to try and earn his respect. He was dropped off here for probably his bad behavior I'm thinking most likely. As far as breeding i won't ever be doing that. Never had plans or interest to do so. Thanks for the replies!

he is an absolute gorgeous bird. With a bad attitude

I'll keep everyone updated on him

I don't think it has anything to do with respect...that seems more of a human concept, to me. Chickens understand dominance...what we refer to as the "pecking order". If a rooster can make you run away from him, turn away from him, or in any way sense that you are trying to avoid confrontation with him, then he has won the battle and he percieves himself dominate over you. If the rooster feels that you are the "alpha" of the flock then he will be submissive to you...turning away from you to avoid confrontation with *you*. He doesn't see you as a swell person that is great to be buddies with but rather the creature that is dominate over him...if he senses a weakness in you he may very well "try you", though. A good rooster seems to be one that has the pecking order down PAT and recognizes your dominance over all things (including him) in his universe.

Ed

 

[Beekissed]

I'll take that one step further.....he doesn't even see you as the alpha animal of his species nor as dominant over him or less dominant. This is a prey animal and we are predators, at the bottom of the bottom of things. When the animal is confused about a predator nurturing them or giving way to their actions, running from them, etc, they will continue in that course of action until he is reminded you are a predator.

It's not about respect as humans understand it, as Ed has spoken, but in all reality it's about the proper place of each creature, which is respect of another kind....man has dominion over the animals, plain and simple. Treat the chicken like a chicken from the time its hatched and he will treat you like a human from the time he is hatched and its as simple as that. I've had some mighty nice roosters over the years...not the petting kind that will hop up in your lap and snuggle, as all my roosters know their proper place in this world, but the kind that you can trust no matter what. I don't worry about turning my back on them, letting my grandchild around them, etc., as they would never dream of attacking a human. Just not in their braincase as a possibility for a chicken. They follow me around like a dog when they think I have food and sometimes they will settle down in the grass nearby while I'm doing a task, just to be near...not because they love me or think of me as a friendly chicken, but because I represent protection, they can trust me to always act a certain way around them and I can trust them in the same way.

I have a 2 yr old granddaughter roaming my yard alongside all the chickens, going in the coop with me, walking around in there when the chickens are eating, collecting eggs, etc. I don't ever have to think twice about if this rooster will attack her as he has proven himself over and over, in all circumstances, while I was monitoring the situation. I don't have to worry if he will attack any person that comes on this property...he knows they are humans and humans, ultimately, are predators. Predators one can live next to, much like the dogs that guard them, but still to be viewed as predators, not flock mates in the pecking order.

My dogs are the same way and I can trust them to not harm anything I don't want harmed, which took a minimal of training and just putting them in that situation to see if they understand the concept. They do. The rooster does. Everything stays peaceful and harmonious when all creatures know their place in the world....trouble always ensues when they do not.

The task them becomes simple....let your rooster know his place in the world and then remember your own.

 

[ambergds]

All the advice given on how to treat a rooster is great! I have one question. How do you tell children to treat the roosters? Mine is only 6 weeks old and a nice little guy, very friendly and social. My son likes to hold him and carry him around. Should I stop this? Thanks!

 

[Beekissed]

All the advice given on how to treat a rooster is great! I have one question. How do you tell children to treat the roosters? Mine is only 6 weeks old and a nice little guy, very friendly and social. My son likes to hold him and carry him around. Should I stop this? Thanks!

I didn't really tell my little grand anything, just let her act natural around them and watched the rooster and how he reacted to her. One time she was bent over the feeder and I saw him look at her for longer than a second, so I moved towards him to let him know that's not okay....he immediately moved away from her and went back to eating.

It will all depend on how the rooster reacts to that carrying around, I guess....if it confuses him into thinking that the predators are not really predators, then you could have a problem on your hands later on. If he moves towards your son when he sees him instead of away, lets him catch him easily and is comfortable in all of that, then it could be a potential problem when your rooster reaches sexual maturity. A few folks report that their roosters treated in that manner turn out to be perfect gentlemen, but most report the opposite. Most seem very surprised that the rooster that was so sweet and "affectionate" when young suddenly turned into a monster when it got 5-6 mo. old.

I'm always surprised at their surprise....

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Well. I have to say, this thread has been good advice and made me realize I might have something coming my way. I have a Speckled Sussex rooster that acts like the sweetest thing ever.  He follows me around when I come in the pen, if I sit down, he is the first on my lap,  If I pick up another chicken, he HAS to be there too, so on and so forth.  Should I not be allowing this?  And I have a Black Australorp rooster that does not really enjoy me holding him, but he is one of the ones that loves following me around, and was one of the first to start following me around. And I saw the whole ''Chickens don't get embarrassed thing'' I guess that was probably directed at me.  I just had someone tell me that at the county fair, so I tried it. 

You can and should give your roo affection. It's what teaches him to trust you but their are still some rules that need to be followed. Never let your roo get in your lap on his own. Don't let him fly onto you either. It's ok if you pick him up but he shouldn't be allowed to enter your space without you bringing him into it. This reminds him that even though he is loved and cared for you are still the boss.

All the advice given on how to treat a rooster is great! I have one question. How do you tell children to treat the roosters? Mine is only 6 weeks old and a nice little guy, very friendly and social. My son likes to hold him and carry him around. Should I stop this? Thanks!

Nope. But you should tech your children how to watch for warning signs and also how to keep the boundaries in place so your roo doesn't forget who is alpha. Same as with a dog. Your kids carrying him around is actually reinforcing their rule as alpha so it's a good thing and as long as they give love and pets he will trust them as much as a roo can lol.

 

[Intheswamp]

I'll take that one step further.....he doesn't even see you as the alpha animal of his species nor as dominant over him or less dominant. This is a prey animal and we are predators, at the bottom of the bottom of things. When the animal is confused about a predator nurturing them or giving way to their actions, running from them, etc, they will continue in that course of action until he is reminded you are a predator.
<snip other good stuff...>

Your insight never ceases to amaze me!

Ed