Roosters and children

[SarahP85]

Hi everyone, I'm new to chicken keeping and was told I was buying 4 hens. Turns out I have 2 hens and 2 roosters, aggressive ones at that. We assumed they were sorting out pecking order until they started attacking us. One pecked my 5 year old son in the eye (luckily missing his retina), one tried pecking my 2 year old daughter and they go for me everytime I go in their pen.
One is slightly more aggressive than the other.
I would like some advice as to whether I should get rid of one or both. My worry is that if I get rid of the most aggressive one, the other will take it's place and become just as aggressive. Obviously, my children are my main concern, I don't want them getting injured.

 

[bobbi-j]

Get rid of both of them ASAP! Since they've already attacked your children, there shouldn't even be a question. Eat them, sell them, give them away. Just get them off the place and until you do, keep them penned up when your little ones are outside, and don't - under any circumstances - let your kids in the pen with them. If you find them a new home, please do so with full disclosure so someone else's child doesn't get attacked.

 

[galanie]

Get rid of both of them ASAP! Since they've already attacked your children, there shouldn't even be a question. Eat them, sell them, give them away. Just get them off the place and until you do, keep them penned up when your little ones are outside, and don't - under any circumstances - let your kids in the pen with them. If you find them a new home, please do so with full disclosure so someone else's child doesn't get attacked.

x2

 

[cafarmgirl]

Get rid of both of them ASAP!

X 100! Either that or pen the roosters up so they do not have access to the children, ever. Personally I would just not have the roosters around with small children. Even if they are penned stuff happens, gates get left open, kids venture into pens etc. Toddlers and small children really seem to set roosters off and their height makes it so easy to get a face full of rooster, as you've already experienced. Get rid of them and get a few more nice hens for your family to enjoy.

 

[fried green eggs]

Get rid of both of them ASAP!

X2 You could teach him to respect you but, it will always see small kids as fair-game to attack. List on Craigslist if you don't want to eat them.

 

[Blessedchickens]

Quote:
Just get rid of them both. There are plenty of really sweet, wonderful roos out there, without the hassle and trauma that could result. You do not need to risk injury to your child and you are absolutely right to be concerned. I had an Australorp rooster who would just fluff his wings on our legs for the first few months. I was not too worried about this but my six year old son was terrified of him. It was not fun to go to the barn. Once when I entered the coop with feed in my hand he spurred me on the leg at about at the knee. I have a permanent scar (little circular indentation) from that. It would have been right about groin height for my son and done terrible damage to him. This rooster did not do a whole lot of that type of thing beforehand besides running up behind and whacking you with his body and fluffing his wings on your leg. After said roo was disposed of (stew pot, after I tried to find a home for him) my son took a month to get back out there and not be afraid. And he is the type of kid who picks up hens, frogs, snakes, lizards - not usually afraid. He is still a little worried when the hens come running up for treats. I have a sweet, sweet bantam Cochin roo. I hear the standard are just as sweet. The Australorp we did not raise so I cannot speak honestly about the breed as roos. I now have a standard Easter Egger roo who sat in my lap and fell asleep. I have him isolated and he will be integrated into the flock but if he turns aggressive he will be rehomed or go to meet Jesus. By the way - the scar I have - was AFTER my husband and I sanded his spurs points off. He hit me so hard but it was with a blunt spur. I was really, really lucky. They can get to be three inches long on big breeds and are wicked sharp. Just my two cents. I won't have a mean one. There are two many sweet ones out there.

 

[SarahP85]

Thank you both. I was hoping that maybe they could be trained in some way. Being new to chicken keeping I haven't got the stomach for 'getting rid.' Have kept both kids away from the pen.
I'll try and advertise but I don't think anyone will be interested in them due to their aggressive nature but I wouldn't ever let them go without pre-warning the new owner.

 

[speckledhen]

Small children DO NOT belong around roosters, period. Kids make jerky, sudden movements and make even the calmest rooster nervous. Roosters are not puppies. They are stallions. They are bulls. They are just in a smaller package.

Mine are the sweetest roosters on the planet, but never would I allow a toddler with either one without a barrier in between them. The loud, raucous sound of young kids screaming and playing in the distance at a neighbor's house makes my sweet Delaware visibly nervous and jumpy.

Larger children can handle themselves, but not a child who is barely taller than the rooster. It takes ONCE to blind a child. Not worth it.


Some people may be interested in a rooster, no matter how aggressive, for their free range situation, if they don't have kids. So, it would be okay to rehome with full disclosure, of course, or have someone cull the roosters for you.

 

[SarahP85]

Wow, I started writing and by the time I finished there's loads more posts.
Thank you all for your replies. Didn't realise Cockerels could do that much damage. Maybe I've gone into this a little naive. I'm not bothered about having a cockerel even a nice natured one. But I will definitely be getting some more girls. The two girls I have (Rosie and Fifi) are beautiful friendly girls and the kids love them. Thankfully, my son isn't bothered by the chickens even after being pecked. He had to rescue me earlier because Fifi got on my back and I couldn't reach to get her down.
Unfortunately, I'm in the UK so don't think Craiglist will be any use to me. I only joined today and have found the forums fantastic for advice. So glad I found this page

 

[fried green eggs]

You could list your roos in the Buy - Sell - Trade forum on this site and list where you are and maybe a member from your area will answer and help you. The Search Navigator on this site is great! You can go to the forum tab, chose a category and type in a question and it will bring up past post from members related to your question. Tons of information and hours of reading available.