Rooster Trouble

[A.M. Eggs]

Hey! So I have a wonderful, cuddly barred rock rooster who has suddenly began attacking everyone who enters my coop. I am going to be leaving in a few days to go on vacation and the person who is going to care for them will kill him if he attacks. I need to find a solution to his behavior so then that doesn't happen to the truly sweet boy. Any suggestions will be considered! Thank you!

 

[JedJackson]

Find someone else to take care of him. Otherwise, I don't see a solution. The rooster is unlikely to change. Is there a way you can rig up so they can be feed and watered from outside the coop? Maybe have the dishes on the side of the run so a hose can be slipped through for water and food can just be thrown in? I don't know if that would work but it's all I've got.

 

[Noellereagan]

Hey! So I have a wonderful, cuddly barred rock rooster who has suddenly began attacking everyone who enters my coop. I am going to be leaving in a few days to go on vacation and the person who is going to care for them will kill him if he attacks. I need to find a solution to his behavior so then that doesn't happen to the truly sweet boy. Any suggestions will be considered! Thank you!

Find new friends. That's terrible that someone would do that to you. Maybe call your local FFA or 4H office and find someone who is willing to care for them that has the knowledge they need to protect themselves WITHOUT hurting and/ or killing your rooster. All I know is, I have a rooster flock of five and if someone other than my boyfriend or I went into their coop- they're going to do their job and protect it. There's ways to tend to roosters without killing them. This is just a bad person that would say such a thing to you - especially if he knows how you feel about the idea. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. Good luck!
PS if by some weird coincidence you live in southeast Wisconsin, I, myself, would tend to your rooster. And without any killing. Like the post before mine- you're unlikely to change the roosters behavior, it's more of a people behaving badly situation. If we weren't around and someone invaded our coop- there would be no way of teaching our roosters not to follow their instinct and attack. So my heart goes out to you.

 

[Criticalicious]

A rooster's job is to defend his coop. He's only doing his job. Figure out a way to feed and water from the outside or have them fed and watered in the morning before they're let out or in the evening after they go in the coop. And find a more rooster-savvy sitter. Check care.com or petsit.com or similar sites.

 

[A.M. Eggs]

Ha! No I don't live in Wisconsin. The person caring for them is the only person I know who can do it that week. I just need to find the person some protection like a water bottle that squirts or something.

 

[A.M. Eggs]

Anyone have any experience with squirt bottles and roosters?

 

[Noellereagan]

Anyone have any experience with squirt bottles and roosters?

In my experience, that may not stop him when his testosterone and adrenaline is in full gear. What about local FFA students. Find someone old enough to drive themselves that is well versed with poultry. They won't be afraid and that is the answer to your quandary I think. Offer them cash to take care of your animals. In my experience, this particular genre is honest and trustworthy. And as I said , knowledgeable.

 

[mixedbreeds]

You could train him pretty quick with a rake or even a box chickens seem to freak out when you are carrying a box have your care taker carry a medium size box with them all the chickens will scram. Give it a try

 

[llombardo]

Anyone have any experience with squirt bottles and roosters?

I used a hose to stop an argument between two boys just yesterday. After the third time they got the point and a stern knock it off replaced the hose.

 

[Silkie2]

i would find someone else to take care of him. like @Criticalicious said, he's doing his job. i personally haven't had experience with a squirt bottle, but it sounds like it may work.
maybe have the person who is taking care of him lock him in a crate while she/he is taking care of the others? or carry a broom (our chickens scatter when they see a broom lol) we have 2 silkie roosters, and one of them will attack you. i just give him my boot and he'll take out all of his anger on that just gotta look over your shoulder and make sure he's not chasing you. overall, it would be best to find someone with experience with mean roosters. (never kick/push a mean rooster, it'll just make them angrier)