Rooster worries!

[CarlaJeanchickenlady]

So our first three chickens we watched them be pulled from their mother for the first time and the guilt was horrible so I allowed myself to purchase a dominequer Roo. He has been one of our favorites until recently he attempted flogging my 4 year old daughters leg! It was Halloween and she was bundled up luckily and she considered it him trying to fly on her but it worried me a little. This was a fun outdoor activity and I want to keep it that way, well my dominequer hen is not even laying and I watched him violate her yesterday which scared me for my hens!!! Another chicken owner advised me to separate or he will scar them but I have a small lot that has a privacy fence surrounding it due to predators. (My 9 year old indoor dog was killed by a coyote last winter at the wood line of our yard while going potty so going outside of this fence is not an option, I will not relive that traumatic experience). So I am faced with serious consideration of relocating him and it breaks my heart! He has always been one of our favorites and named pappy after my dad by my daughter! My silkies Roo is a different ball game and not near as aggressive and I’m fearful that he could do damage to my silkies hen if he gets ahold of her! Any advice on how to help improve this or if it will get better! I’m still in my first year of being a chicken mom so I will take all the help I can get! Thank you in advance!

 

[andreanar]

What is your hen to roo ratio? Why do you feel you need a roo at all? I would not keep any roo, if I had young children.

 

[CarlaJeanchickenlady]

Ok that I guess is my question, I just feel bad I guess since they have become pets. I may go ahead and look to into a new home. The silkies stay together and one male and one female and my other dominequer is 1 male to 2 females.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Roosters can be challenging, but I find them to be wonderful creatures, despite a rather dourly temperament.

My rooster is seven months old and outgrew some of his more aggressive behaviors. He would bite my ankles whenever I'd step inside his house. I finally learned to stand my ground and Spanish dance just like he does, and I've only had a few incidents since.

Does your daughter understand rooster behavior? Does she know how to behave around them? There's lots of room for learning; it can make a significant difference, even for a young child.

There's always a reason they do what they do; it's never because they're mean or for the heck of it. It's all about survival and instincts.

Can you create a separate yard and little house for him? Does he get along with any of the hens? When they mate it's not pretty. If he's in the same yard as your silkies, I'd say that's a concern considering his size relative to theirs.

But other than that, if you section off some yard for him and maybe convert an old dog house to his very own bachelor pad, your daughter won't have to worry about him, and he can stay with you.

 

[jdublu]

I’m in the same boat as you regarding the roo. He’s jumping up at the kids, and if he’s out of the run free ranging, the younger kids are inside or I’m outside with them. If I’m going to leave the kids unattended, I let the hens out and he stays locked in the run. I really wanted to try and hatch some eggs in the spring, but I think he needs to be culled and turned into some yummy soup! My ratio is 1:7.

 

[song of joy]

An appropriate ratio is about 1 rooster for every 10 hens, but that is not the most serious issue you're facing. A rooster that has flogged once will do it again - guaranteed. Children are an easy target because they are small and sometimes move unpredictably. However, a rooster than attacks a child will often then attack adults.

There is no way I would trust having a rooster with a young child. The risk of permanent damage is too high - from lost eyesight to deep scars from nails and spurs. I would recommend keeping the rooster locked up until you can get rid of him. That way you and your daughter can enjoy having a peaceful, gentle flock of hens.

 

[song of joy]

I’m in the same boat as you regarding the roo. He’s jumping up at the kids, and if he’s out of the run free ranging, the younger kids are inside or I’m outside with them. If I’m going to leave the kids unattended, I let the hens out and he stays locked in the run. I really wanted to try and hatch some eggs in the spring, but I think he needs to be culled and turned into some yummy soup! My ratio is 1:7.

Turning him into soup is a smart decision. An aggressive rooster will produce aggressive sons, and you don't want to breed this type of temperament forward.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Turning him into soup is a smart decision. An aggressive rooster will produce aggressive sons, and you don't want to breed this type of temperament forward.

This may end up being the best option. It's a tough one, I'm sure, but he'll probably end up as soup anyway if you re-home him. It's an honorable life and an honorable death to keep that circle going.

 

[CarlaJeanchickenlady]

in your opinion do you think he will continue to be mean or will level out?

 

[Kiki]

He will continue to be 'mean'...it's his 'job.'