Rooster suddenly went after the boys

[FarmMilkMama]

Our stray rooster Brownie, has been here a couple months and my boys (ages 6 and 7) have been feeding him from their hand since he arrived. All of a sudden today, Brownie decided it was THE DAY to attack the boys. First my oldest walked into the fenced yard (like je always does) with treats (like he always does) and Brownie freaked out, started flying at my oldest and pecking his legs and bumping up to him with his chest looking all tough. My oldest just stood there not knowing what to do and telling Brownie to knock it off but then he got scared so I told my son to stay calm and I let my son out of the yard. I went in there later, and Brownie didn't have a problem with me, or my husband who went in later. About an hour after that my youngest son went into try and Brownie stopped him at the door, flying at him, bumping into him with his chest all puffed and pecking him.

What is going on? And what do we do? Thanks in advance.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

The worst thing the boys can do is run. This rooster is asserting himself and needs some strong resistance that probably only an adult can perform. He may just be trying this out on the smaller humans or he may be a problem rooster. The rooster we had as a kid ended up in the stew pot. Give it a little time, he may learn who is boss. Sorry to tell you but I would not keep a rooster who wasn't at least "respectful" of humans. Good luck to you. This is a hard one!

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

Kick him! I know that sounds cruel but it is the truth. The rooster is showing dominance over your two boys. They have to show dominance over the rooster. Take each boy one at a time. You or your husband can do this. Have one of your boys stand right in front of you as you enter the yard. As the rooster aproaches boot him in the chest with the side of your foot. Hard enough to send him flying. If he comes back, do it again. Keep repeating this until the rooster figures out that he is not the dominant one. Then do the same thing with your other boy. You might have to repeat this process for a couple of days.
Roosters will generally try to establish dominance about every three months. Some are harder headed than others. Don't allow your children to use sticks or rakes or anything else to scare away the rooster. He will only learn that that object is dominant and not the boys.
If after repeated attempts to retrain the rooster, he still continues to go after the boys, I would warm up a skillet. They always say "That the meaner the rooster, the better he tastes"!

 

[greathorse]

What is the fascination with feeding animals out of hand? I am not directing this only at OP but for the life of me I dont get it. I have horses very well behaved horses that have great manners, I never feed them out of my hand, it gives them liscense to violate the space. I really am not worried about them getting me in trouble but I dont want the do gooders that come to my place to try feeding them out of hand and have something bad happen.

The same is true with roosters, leave them be roosters! Make them move from your space not the other way around, they should not associate you with treats out of the hand If they come to scattered grains that is different. This is what gets people, lots of them hurt.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

Quote:
Would you not feed your child from your hand? Are we not merely animals with what we have deemed as a greater intelegence level than the subspecies that we in turn call animals? Is a dog not a wild animal that was domesticated? Is a horse not a wild animal that has become domesticated? Then why not a chicken? We have over 300 chickens and in that mix is 17 large breed roosters. Each one knows his place. Some are more handlable than others. Some even enjoy being cuddled. Of the 300 or more chickens, 69 of them are named pets. At different times, certain ones are allowed to roam the house with us. Chickens, with as small of brain that they have, are in fact an intellegent creature. They produce 24 distinct vocalizations and each breed has its own range of vocalization. They live within a hierarchal society. They have the ability to recognize up to 130 members of a flock. Within a large flock, sub-flocks will develop much as in our own society. If you are to live in harmony with your animals then you need to know your place just as they need to know theirs. If you are to be part of a hierarchal society then you are either head of it or you submit to a lesser position within it. My wife and I are leaders in the chicken society here and our roosters and hens know it and do not challenge us for the position. Yes they will eat out of our hands. Yes they will jump into our laps to be held. Yes they will run to the gate to greet us and want a treat. But that is how we raise them and how we find the most enjoyment in them. If I come to your house and feed your horse from my hand and the horse bites me, is it the horses fault? NO, it is my fault for not first establishing my place within its realm. If you come to my house and my rooster attacks you, is it the roosters fault? NO, it is your fault for not first establishing your place within his realm.

 

[greathorse]

Quote:
Would you not feed your child from your hand? Are we not merely animals with what we have deemed as a greater intelegence level than the subspecies that we in turn call animals? Is a dog not a wild animal that was domesticated? Is a horse not a wild animal that has become domesticated? Then why not a chicken? We have over 300 chickens and in that mix is 17 large breed roosters. Each one knows his place. Some are more handlable than others. Some even enjoy being cuddled. Of the 300 or more chickens, 69 of them are named pets. At different times, certain ones are allowed to roam the house with us. Chickens, with as small of brain that they have, are in fact an intellegent creature. They produce 24 distinct vocalizations and each breed has its own range of vocalization. They live within a hierarchal society. They have the ability to recognize up to 130 members of a flock. Within a large flock, sub-flocks will develop much as in our own society. If you are to live in harmony with your animals then you need to know your place just as they need to know theirs. If you are to be part of a hierarchal society then you are either head of it or you submit to a lesser position within it. My wife and I are leaders in the chicken society here and our roosters and hens know it and do not challenge us for the position. Yes they will eat out of our hands. Yes they will jump into our laps to be held. Yes they will run to the gate to greet us and want a treat. But that is how we raise them and how we find the most enjoyment in them. If I come to your house and feed your horse from my hand and the horse bites me, is it the horses fault? NO, it is my fault for not first establishing my place within its realm. If you come to my house and my rooster attacks you, is it the roosters fault? NO, it is your fault for not first establishing your place within his realm.

No I provide my child the respect to take the food from my hand or table and feed him/herself. And if you are asking me if humans and animals are exactly the same with us having a few more brain cells I will say categorically NO I DON'T.

A. I am not sure about more brain cells
B. I don't put my children and my chickens on the same plain
C. And yes if my horse bites you it is your problem unless "you" decide to sue me.

One more quick point. My ex wife was always troubled and thought me a bit brutish for not feeding my horses from my hand, I advised her not too but she did anyway, it was her choice of course. One day when petting (she was not very skilled with horses) the horse bit her and hard looking for the treats she normally had. I think everyone has a right to do as they wish, but I think folks put pets in a friend category and most of the time it doesnt work out very well. That is all I am saying

 

[jjparke]

Wow this thread turned hostile in a hurry. Anyway, I also have young boys and I've always taught them the 4 rules of roosters:
1. Never back away from a rooster no matter how he challenges you
2. If the rooster moves in your path he is testing you. Keep moving in a straight line don't go around him. He goes around you.
3. Never never never turn your back on a rooster.
4. You are the boss not him. You decide what happens in your yard not him.

What it really comes down to is are you comfortable letting your boys in the yard with the rooster without you there? If you say no then it's best to get rid of the rooster because they're just not worth the safety risk to your kids. I've had a couple roo's that I just had to get rid of because the yard is for my boys to enjoy. Good luck.

 

[greathorse]

I think I am the one considered hostile and I think, in reading back my tone is sharper than I intended, but really just giving my opinion that a lot of times when folks get hurt with animals it is when they trust them as though they were a friend and most animals just are wired like that. They have instincts that come into play. Two roosters can appear to be buddies one day and fight to death the next.

Sorry if it is me