Rooster trouble

[CannedMonster]

People have reported having nasty Silkie roosters too, although they tend to be on the nicer side usually. They can be very difficult in a mixed flock, or in real heat or cold.
I also don't make pets out of my cockerels. And trying to grab an attacking bird? If you have very good reflexes, and don't mind getting hurt, go for it! Otherwise, beekissed's article gives good advice.
Better yet, only have nice boys! I've decided that 'three strikes and you're out' is as far as I might go with a rooster, and I'm talking about early 'dancing', or thinking bad thoughts at me.
So far, this year's cockerels have been saintly here. Their daddies and granddaddies were nice boys, and good genetics matters.
Mary

@Mimi’s 13
Folly I’ve asked you for advice about my boys before.
We actually put one in the freezer because he was sneaking up on me and bit me twice and tried to bite my small dog.
Three strikes and you’re out is an excellent policy IMO.
With the remaining three (4 months old), they’ve never shown aggression towards me but one (Angus) did bite me the other day but I think it’s because I scared him.
Two are LF (Angus & Loki) and one is a bantam Cochin (Frodo).
The two LF ones will come up and eyeball me sometimes.
They get pretty close, like right next to me.
They never do anything but they keep looking up at my face.
Angus constantly chases and harasses the hens but he’s also afraid of them.
They do fight back but he likes to “sneak attack” mate them when their backs are turned.
Frodo chases him very aggressively and will attack him sometimes. As chicks Frodo was higher in the pecking order and still is.
None of them dance and sometimes they tidbit but Angus & Loki are faking because they have nothing. The girls never come over to them anyway.
Will Angus get better with them or do you think he’ll always be like this?

Loki hasn’t shown interest in the girls until the last day or two.
And it’s not a strong interest yet.

It’s so stressful with these guys but I don’t want to send them to freezer camp for not being good with the girls unless they won’t get better.

 

[Mimi13]

@Mimi’s 13
Folly I’ve asked you for advice about my boys before.
We actually put one in the freezer because he was sneaking up on me and bit me twice and tried to bite my small dog.
Three strikes and you’re out is an excellent policy IMO.
With the remaining three (4 months old), they’ve never shown aggression towards me but one (Angus) did bite me the other day but I think it’s because I scared him.
Two are LF (Angus & Loki) and one is a bantam Cochin (Frodo).
The two LF ones will come up and eyeball me sometimes.
They get pretty close, like right next to me.
They never do anything but they keep looking up at my face.
Angus constantly chases and harasses the hens but he’s also afraid of them.
They do fight back but he likes to “sneak attack” mate them when their backs are turned.
Frodo chases him very aggressively and will attack him sometimes. As chicks Frodo was higher in the pecking order and still is.
None of them dance and sometimes they tidbit but Angus & Loki are faking because they have nothing. The girls never come over to them anyway.
Will Angus get better with them or do you think he’ll always be like this?

Loki hasn’t shown interest in the girls until the last day or two.
And it’s not a strong interest yet.

It’s so stressful with these guys but I don’t want to send them to freezer camp for not being good with the girls unless they won’t get better.

You know, I would honestly give them a little more time. The mating roughness you are seeing could possibly be the result of inexperience that hopefully will get better with time. My cockerel was all out attacking the pullets and cockerels. There was nothing about him that made me think he was “learning” the mating ropes.
However, I would definitely watch their actions towards you. What might start out innocently enough could turn out terribly in the end.

IMO there is nothing worse than an aggressive rooster! Life is too short and I like to eat! That should be the name of my new book!

 

[CannedMonster]

You know, I would honestly give them a little more time. The mating roughness you are seeing could possibly be the result of inexperience that hopefully will get better with time. My cockerel was all out attacking the pullets and cockerels. There was nothing about him that made me think he was “learning” the mating ropes.
However, I would definitely watch their actions towards you. What might start out innocently enough could turn out terribly in the end.

IMO there is nothing worse than an aggressive rooster! Life is to short and I like to eat! That should be the name of my new book!

Excellent advice!
Thank you.
Angus is quite beautiful and I really don’t want to cull him.
He’s constantly flogged and chased by Frodo the bantam Cochin

He’s so much bigger! Yesterday Frodo chased Angus up on the deck where Angus slammed himself into the slider and then across the deck to the side yard where I found Angus hiding behind the air conditioner unit with his head hidden in a crevice, shaking all over.

But I’m sure that whatever he did he deserved it lol.
I’ve noticed that Frodo often does chase Angus for no reason though.
Frodo seems to view himself as the disciplinarian.
And Loki just stares and runs around with his dorky Gomer Pyle (well golly!) self like he has no idea what’s going on.
Too much drama!

 

[Mimi13]

Excellent advice!
Thank you.
Angus is quite beautiful and I really don’t want to cull him.
He’s constantly flogged and chased by Frodo the bantam Cochin

He’s so much bigger! Yesterday Frodo chased Angus up on the deck where Angus slammed himself into the slider and then across the deck to the side yard where I found Angus hiding behind the air conditioner unit with his head hidden in a crevice, shaking all over.

But I’m sure that whatever he did he deserved it lol.
I’ve noticed that Frodo often does chase Angus for no reason though.
Frodo seems to view himself as the disciplinarian.
And Loki just stares and runs around with his dorky Gomer Pyle (well golly!) self like he has no idea what’s going on.
Too much drama!

Chickens can be extremely humorous. And even though Frodo (love his name) is much smaller, it sounds as he is the one terrorizing Angus. You might need to carefully watch their relationship. I do feel so bad for the one being bullied.

 

[Folly's place]

Your cockerels need to move off, not stare at you, or 'get close'. Make a point of walking 'through' them at least daily. You aren't actually chasing, you just happen to need to go over there, and the bird is in the way. Never walk around one of them! These two big boys ARE being aggressive, they are sizing you up! Carry a stick or something, and move them away from you, just because you can.
There are no excuses to be made for bad thoughts or actions!
Some stupid behavior towards the pullets is normal, but there should be no injuries.
The more time you can allow, the clearer the picture you will have and the better your decisions can be.
Beekissed's article about managing roosters is excellent!
Mary

 

[Mimi13]

Your cockerels need to move off, not stare at you, or 'get close'. Make a point of walking 'through' them at least daily. You aren't actually chasing, you just happen to need to go over there, and the bird is in the way. Never walk around one of them! These tow big boys ARE being aggressive, they are sizing you up! Carry a stick or something, and move them away from you, just because you can.
There are no excuses to be made for bad thoughts or actions!
Some stupid behavior towards the pullets is normal, but there should be no injuries.
The more time you can allow, the clearer the picture you will have and the better your decisions can be.
Beekissed's article about managing roosters is excellent!
Mary

It is this kind of excellent information that I looked for once I realized I had too many cockerels and was going to have to make a choice in selecting which ones to keep. Keeping roosters is new to me and I was searching for any and all rooster-related information I could find. Thank you, Mary, for your wise words!

 

[Folly's place]

Mimi, thanks for the kind words!
Mary

 

[cmom]

I have had a male that was being picked on badly by some of the other males that he couldn't walk. I took him out and nursed him back to good health and he was great then one day he went after me. I thought I may have been mistaken but the next day he did it again a few times as he was free ranging, then he did it to my husband. I found someone who wanted a Rhode Island White male so I gave him to him. I told him that he was being aggressive towards us but he wanted him anyway. I put him in with my Gladys and Gladys really helped him. She would stay with him and wait for him.

 

[Folly's place]

Some breeds have a higher % of 'man fighters' than others, because it is a genetic trait, separate from flock protection, or other behaviors. That's been demonstrated by the game birds, who are often very nice with people, and eager to kill each other.
Then, flock management, and how the people interact with the cockerels, does influence their behavior. It's not likely to over-ride that genetic programming though.
It's sad that this PR decided to attack the folks who saved him, but his hormones and genetics ruled!
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

And some breeders don't care to select out that trait, so it goes on and on. Like the guy who wanted your aggressive bird!
Mary