rooster went after our daughter

[Oregon Blues]

Stew pot.

If he jumps at your child, his spurs are going to be right at her face level.

Some roosters have lovely manners and some roosters are aggressive. You seriously can not keep an aggressive rooster if you have small children.

You can not train a rooster to not attack. You might be able to teach one to not attack one specific person. But you know what they say runs down hill, and if you punish the rooster he will immediately look for someone else to take it out on. That someone might be your baby.

Spin the wheel again and hope the next rooster is one of the mellow ones.

 

[NYRIR]

Wendy'sChicksRock :

Its a rooster! You can't replace eyes and facial scars last a lifetime..get rid of the Roo

 

[drdoolittle]

I agree with most of the other posters---get rid of the roo. I have the same dilemma, as I have at least 5 roos right now (maybe six) and am getting rid of all but one. One of my Ameracauna roos is my 12 year old son's, but he has to go. He has been a little agressive toward people, but the biggest problem is how much he bothers the hens. He is top roo, but I can't stand seeing my hens backs torn up. I talked it over with my son, and we agreed to keep my favorite silkie roo (a partridge). He's good with the silkie hens, and never has attacked----so even though he's smaller and not quite as impressive, I think everyone will be happier. Maybe you can let your son help find a replacement.

 

[BrattishTaz]

I'm glad your daughter is ok.

Your rooster did nothing wrong, he is not "bad" or "aggressive" simply because he did his job. Imagine his perception of a fast moving, noisy creature charging toward his hens.

Unfortunately, your child could have been seriously injured by him. She will be at risk anytime he is around. I would rehome the rooster and wouldn't get another until the kids are much older. JMO

 

[rolffamily]

'daughter' or 'rooster' mmmmmmm?

 

[so lucky]

I totally agree that the roo should go, but hope your son can be be OK with the decision, too. I hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but I am wondering how old a rooster usually is when they get to the "stew pot" stage? Have you other folks with more experience than I have "knew" your roos would have to go for quite a while before they actually attacked someone? Did you try to give him a chance to get over his teenage bad manners? I am asking because I think my big 11 week old White Rock is gonna have to go. He is already seeming to challenge me, and chases/pecks the 5 girls for no reason. He is a bully. Should I let him mature and see how he behaves, or get rid of him now? I have several small grandchildren who are fascinated by the chickens, so I need to think about safety....

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:
They tend to go through a nasty stage right after "puberty". I've always been able to get them under control and calmed down in time. My most difficult roo (he was really bad for a while) calmed down at a year old. I just grabbed them when they challenged me and held on until they stopped fighting me. They got a tug on the tail feathers if they tried to bite and run. Now, they show how big and bad they are by untying my shoe.

I would not have any roos around small children though. Even my sweet boy can be cranky and I won't risk injuries to a child.

BTW I have 2 adult roos and 8 teenaged cockerals right now.

 

[marilyn15]

Thanks to all of you who have posted on all my concerns for our daughter and also for our son's love of his rooster Romeo. We have been going back and forth with what to do and decided to let our son decide. He loves his baby sister and kept saying we should just give him to our friend that has a perfect home for a rooster. But Then we thought about it some more and definitely our daughter's safety and other children is most important, but only 6 that are old enough for mating and we were keeping him locked up separate from the hens. This instance was the first time he had been with the hens in about a week and that is why we believe he was os aggressive. I think we were wrong to separate him from the hens, but we were trying to give them a break from all the mating! So we are at fault at that time not realizing what was going on.......
We are taking precautions to keep a closer eye on them especially when the kdis are around, but when I went out to feed this morning he was fine, and my husband and daughter sat in chairs in the yard tonight and let them free range and were feeding them by hand with not problems. Romeo was a gentlemen....so hope to the dear Lord this was a one time event. MY children's safety will always come first.......
I am an avid animal lover, but want everyone to be safe, so we will continue with a watchful eye and keep reminding the kids to be slow and gentle with the chickens, especially our roo Romeo!
Thanks to all for all the information, it was very helpful. Will keep you updated! I love this site I learn something new everyday!

 

[marilyn15]

I should have added to my reply that we have decided not to let him free range at all anymore unless the kids are not in the yard. We have a huge coop with a large fenced yard so that should work. Our kids will always be safe in our yard, and if they are free ranging the rooster will not be out if the kids are. So I think that is our solution for now! Thanks!

 

[NYRIR]

Good luck...I hope he manages to behave! I also love my roos...they do go through a "stage" where they are kinda wild...hopefully he was only reacting to being startled!