Rooster's starting to be aggressive

[KDrake]

Hi everyone!
We have a Welsummer rooster. He' about 5.5 months. He's always been a good boy, but recently he's been getting very mean and aggressive. He goes after us if we try to pick up one of the hens, he went after my husband 3 or 4 times the other day. He went after me once when I picked up a hen. He has also gone after our kids. Not sure what to do.
I don't have the heart to cull him. Is there any methods that could calm him down? I'm hoping with age he gets better, but we obviously can't have him attacking our children.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Well, you can't really calm him down, but you can stop him from attacking you by showing him you are the dominant one. He thinks he owns the hens, and you are a threat to his power and dominance. Well to keep him from harming you, you have to threaten his power and dominance, if you understand what I'm saying.

First, try pinning him down by pressing down on his back just enough so he can;t move or escape, but don't actually hurt him. He will try to get out from under your hand--Don't let him. Hold him there until he is still or after a minute or two, perferably still or when he submits to you. Do this multiple times, or even whenever you see him. He will realize you have the power to control him and usually stop harming whoever does that. The only thing is that your children will need to do the same as well to become the boss of him.

If that doesn't work, you'll have to really be aggressive. I've heard you can grab a stick or meter stick, just something long and skinny. Then when he tries to eat with the hens/the flock, slap the stick near him and prevent him from eating. You're supposed to freak him out. Chase him out of the coop with the stick, slapping the floor hard and in front of him. You'll have to do this a lot, and this will make him fear you as the alpha rooster. Once again, your children may have to do this. Really you just want to show him you are higher in the pecking order than him, then he will respect you and not fight you constantly.

If neither works, maybe there's something else but you might have to cull him as a last resort. Also, I've just read these things from other sites, this has never been one of my experiences since my roosters are sweet and friendly. Rooster temperament is in their genes or just a part of them. You can't fully solve it.

Good luck!

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

My Hank is a pretty good boy but started the same behavior at that age. If he jumped at me or bit my foot I kicked him away. Generally this meant scooping him up with my foot and tossing him across the run. It only took a couple of times for him to get the picture.
He is a good protector and sometimes I have to remind him that I am not a danger to his girls. Overall, I'm glad I kept him.

 

[AGirlAndHerChickens03]

It's tricky. You could try showing him you're in charge and putting him in his place or you can try spray bottle training. I know that it's more often used on dogs, but it's worked on my roosters as well. They hate being sprayed in the face.

 

[bobbi-j]

Hi everyone!
We have a Welsummer rooster. He' about 5.5 months. He's always been a good boy, but recently he's been getting very mean and aggressive. He goes after us if we try to pick up one of the hens, he went after my husband 3 or 4 times the other day. He went after me once when I picked up a hen. He has also gone after our kids. Not sure what to do.
I don't have the heart to cull him. Is there any methods that could calm him down? I'm hoping with age he gets better, but we obviously can't have him attacking our children.

You said the magic words: He has also gone after our kids. That right there would be the end of him at my house. I don't know how old your kids are, but if they are little, he needs to be locked up or gone. Why would you risk their safety? You can be out with them, near them and watching but it only takes a second or two for something to happen. Normally, I'd suggest you read Beekissed's article on training a rooster/cockerel, but the thing is, even if you teach him to respect you, that does not mean your kids would be safe. If he decides to fly at them with spurs, think about where those spurs would end up. Right in their faces.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would either pen him separately or cull. When a rooster reaches the point of attacking on a regular basis it's generally too late to change these behaviors.

 

[snow5164]

Agreed 110% with @oldhenlikesdogs and @bobbi-j

Don’t risk it when children are involved , get rid of him .

 

[Acre4Me]

First cull doesn’tean to kill, it is removing him from your flock. This can be accomplished by giving him away, selling him, separating him into a different enclosure, or sending to freezer camp or the pot.

Second, going after your kids is a key phrase...you need to decide the risk you are willing to expose your kids to. If they are ornery teenage boys, well then they might be able to teach to the rooster a thing or two with their boots, but if they are young, then they will be at risk of injury or a lifelong dislike or fear of chickens/roosters.

Good luck