Some of you may know about my situation with a young rooster of mine who is excessively aggressive, both to humans and hens.
Lately his technique with the hens has been improving, so feather loss is getting to be a thing of the past. But where one situation improves, another worsens.
A couple weeks ago my dad was working outside, leaning on a machine, working on it, when suddenly Itchy came up from behind and spurred his legs. My dad booted him hard, and most certainly left a bruise - he was wearing his steel-toed boots.
Around that same time I had to pick up Itchy in the coop because he wouldn't stop harassing me. As I was picking him up, Scratchy surprised me - he went to peck at Itchy, but missed and got me instead. There was some blood. I have a scar now on the back of my right hand.
Last week I went to do the same thing, but this time Itchy got me on my left wrist, half an inch away from a vein. Scratchy went for Itchy right after, but missed again and hit the back of my left hand. Both bites bled and are now scarred.
A couple days after that Itchy grabbed my thick sweat pants and spurred me. Where he clamped on with his beak, he pinched the skin and caused bleeding just under the skin. This attack came from behind.
Today he was worse than ever. He spurred me on my front right thigh, and caused bleeding under the skin again. It's still hurting hours later.
For the past week or so, following the two strikes from Scratchy, the subordinate has been gaining ground on his aggressive brother. When he can Scratchy will come to my aid when Itchy attacks me - he'll charge at Itchy and spur him.
About an hour ago I went back out again to check for an egg from Yappy. All five chickens were just outside the coop. Itchy charged at me. ticked beyond belief at this point, I snapped and sparred with him with my boots. His neck feathers were raised to maximum. He wouldn't stop. I had enough and picked him up, and walked around. When he calmed down considerably, I put him down. So far so good. I started to head to the coop, and he charged at me again. I picked him up once more, hung him upside down, walked around for a bit (and flipped him right-side-up again), and made my decision. I set up the cage meant for the baby chicks arriving in the next few days, and locked him in there. In the garage, alone. (With water and food.)
Initiating 24-hour isolation. Hope it does something to lessen his aggression. I don't know. I'm running out of ideas.
I tried finding him a new home a few months ago, but the person interested wouldn't return my calls. The second person I had the number for lost interest. I don't want Itchy to be slaughtered, but the way things are going, it may be the only option... and it brings tears to my eyes. My 14-year-old dog was put down a month ago, I don't think I can handle losing another animal that I'm attached to, even if he is the world's most worst-behaved rooster.
Is there anything more I can do? Or is it really at the point where he has to be removed? :'(
Lately his technique with the hens has been improving, so feather loss is getting to be a thing of the past. But where one situation improves, another worsens.
A couple weeks ago my dad was working outside, leaning on a machine, working on it, when suddenly Itchy came up from behind and spurred his legs. My dad booted him hard, and most certainly left a bruise - he was wearing his steel-toed boots.
Around that same time I had to pick up Itchy in the coop because he wouldn't stop harassing me. As I was picking him up, Scratchy surprised me - he went to peck at Itchy, but missed and got me instead. There was some blood. I have a scar now on the back of my right hand.
Last week I went to do the same thing, but this time Itchy got me on my left wrist, half an inch away from a vein. Scratchy went for Itchy right after, but missed again and hit the back of my left hand. Both bites bled and are now scarred.
A couple days after that Itchy grabbed my thick sweat pants and spurred me. Where he clamped on with his beak, he pinched the skin and caused bleeding just under the skin. This attack came from behind.
Today he was worse than ever. He spurred me on my front right thigh, and caused bleeding under the skin again. It's still hurting hours later.
For the past week or so, following the two strikes from Scratchy, the subordinate has been gaining ground on his aggressive brother. When he can Scratchy will come to my aid when Itchy attacks me - he'll charge at Itchy and spur him.
About an hour ago I went back out again to check for an egg from Yappy. All five chickens were just outside the coop. Itchy charged at me. ticked beyond belief at this point, I snapped and sparred with him with my boots. His neck feathers were raised to maximum. He wouldn't stop. I had enough and picked him up, and walked around. When he calmed down considerably, I put him down. So far so good. I started to head to the coop, and he charged at me again. I picked him up once more, hung him upside down, walked around for a bit (and flipped him right-side-up again), and made my decision. I set up the cage meant for the baby chicks arriving in the next few days, and locked him in there. In the garage, alone. (With water and food.)
Initiating 24-hour isolation. Hope it does something to lessen his aggression. I don't know. I'm running out of ideas.
I tried finding him a new home a few months ago, but the person interested wouldn't return my calls. The second person I had the number for lost interest. I don't want Itchy to be slaughtered, but the way things are going, it may be the only option... and it brings tears to my eyes. My 14-year-old dog was put down a month ago, I don't think I can handle losing another animal that I'm attached to, even if he is the world's most worst-behaved rooster.
Is there anything more I can do? Or is it really at the point where he has to be removed? :'(
