Rooster started attacking us

[kalamazootx]

Our 4 mo old barred rooster has started attacking me and my granddaughters. He was raised with all 4 pullets if the same age. Now that he's mating he attacks us. I sprayed him with a hose a few times & it got better but didn't last. I've read to hold them down and push they're head down to show them you're in charge . My question is when do I do this ? When ge attacks or later? I'm scared to reach for him when he's mad plus he's hard to catch .I don't want to get rid of him without trying everything. If I separate him from pullets will he get worse ? We aren't wanting babies either

 

[ChicNmom]

Is he actually flying at you and hitting you with his feet? Or pecking you? are you doing anything in particular when this happens?

They do get a little feisty with puberty but he shouldn't be trying to kill you.

If he's not hurting the girls I wouldn't separate him. You could try taking him off the roost in the evening and carrying him around. But if you're terrified of him he probably knows it.

 

[Rose the Legbar]

Our 4 mo old barred rooster has started attacking me and my granddaughters. He was raised with all 4 pullets if the same age. Now that he's mating he attacks us. I sprayed him with a hose a few times & it got better but didn't last. I've read to hold them down and push they're head down to show them you're in charge . My question is when do I do this ? When ge attacks or later? I'm scared to reach for him when he's mad plus he's hard to catch .I don't want to get rid of him without trying everything. If I separate him from pullets will he get worse ? We aren't wanting babies either

If he is full on flogging you (kicking at you with his feet) I would get rid of him. Some roosters aren’t good roosters and will never change their mean ways. The pinning his head down method doesn’t work from what I have heard. A lot of rooster aggression is genetic and won’t change. If you don’t need a rooster for breeding, then you can get another one when your pullets are older and can teach the boy some manners.
It’s also incredibly unsafe to be around a mean roo and he can absolutely poke out an eye of your granddaughter if she is younger.

 

[LaFleche]

Our 4 mo old barred rooster has started attacking me and my granddaughters.

This is a dangerous situation.

Do the chickens free range or do you keep them in a coop & run set up?

How old are your granddaughters?

Is he an "accidental" male as in was he meant to be a pullet?

Are you a first time chicken owner?

 

[kalamazootx]

1st time chicken owner. He was an "accidental " acquisition lol. He comes at us with his feet and bites. Granddaughters are 7 and 4 . I don't plan to raise any baby chick's. We were ok with him being around but it's just no fun being scared of him. We have them in a run and coop. We get them out twice a day to interact with them and let them exercise and get treats .

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Sorry that you are having this experience, it's something that many of us had to deal with when first having roosters.
He needs to be dinner for some family, soonest. He's dangerous, and won't ever be safe, especially for these children! Here he'd be gone already, he can cause real injuries, think of faces and eyeballs.
Next spring, maybe some chicks, and maybe a nice cockerel will appear, and your hens will help raise him.
Idiots who attack the giants who bring food every day aren't worth keeping.
Mary

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yeah, get rid of him. He can hurt your baby girls and give them a lifelong fear of chickens. Give him away if you have to or see if your animal shelter will take him. In any case, be clear about the aggression. Aggressive cockerels/roosters are not for beginners.

Don't try to catch him during the day. Wait till he's roosted at night and pluck him off the roost, he shouldn't give you any trouble. Put him in a dog crate and keep him separate until you can make arrangements for him. Provide food, water, grit, and shade, he'll be fine. If you can't find anyone to take him, let us know and we'll advise from there. He may not go "free to good home," in all honesty someone may take him to invite him to dinner.

 

[FrostRanger]

He needs to be soup. The best way to get a nice cockerel is to not put up with a mean one. Behavior modification rarely works with cockerels and if allowed to breed he'll pass on his terrible temperment to his chicks (sometimes even the females). If you want a rooster, I'd wait until you have more experience, your grandchildren are older and your hens have enough seniority to thump some manners into a young cockerel

 

[LaFleche]

Underestimating the violence can easily lead to ending up in the emergency room of a hospital, like in this recent case:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/27952078/

 

[WingItRanch]

I agree with everyone... he will only get worse and it will take away all pleasure of chicken keeping. Plus, 1 cockerel to 4 pullets means he may over-mate them and hurt them too.

If you don't feel that you can cull him and eat him, then sell him or give him away for free with a warning that he's aggressive.