Roosters that attack

[sueg6255]

I have a great rooster that protects but does not come after me or my family. I started when he was young to show him I was head person.

I read this in a Chicken mag. The article was chicken physcology(however you spell it). They said to go up to them when they are eating and take your foot and move them away from the food and leave the hens eat. when he come back do the same. That way you are showing you r over him.

I have done this with all of my roosters and have had no problem except for one rooster. But that rooster went after me and my head rooster came from across the yard and took it to him for trying anything with me. He (Honker is his name) is also my protector and my hens.

Just thought I would share this.

 

[Peeper7]

Thanks all.
I don't think I could tolerate

watching my back all the time. I have offered corrections to roos who fly at me, but usually they quit. ...don't think I would stand still for spurring....

 

[HobbyChickener]

I can appreciate what they are doing but I have to agree with Peeper. I don't want to have to watch my back when I am in the yard. I want them to see me as Alpha and know they won't be harmed by me. Kind of like the whole "Don't bite the hand that feeds you thing?"

To add another protection story to it though. I used to have a banty barred cochin roo that would flat whip a cat's tail end if it got anywhere near his girl friends. I was kind of a sight to watch.

 

[wjallen05]

That's a nice story!

My story is a bit different. I had a Buff Orpington rooster and 5 hens. They would free-range all over the place. The hens would go off and do their own thing, and he'd be with them until we went outside. He would run up to us and follow us around all over the place, like a little puppy. He was the sweetest thing and I loved him dearly. One day he was just laying in the yard, down by the barn, dead. My heart broke. There were feathers all over the place, but we had no idea what had happened. The next day, two hens were missing. And the next, one more. The day after that, we heard our dogs (Great Pyrenees) going crazy, we ran outside and there were two dogs (Pit Bulls) trying to get into the pasture with our goats (miniature dairy goats) but the dogs wouldn't let them in (Livestock Guardian Dogs- they stay in with the goats), the dogs ran off down towards the barn and we caught them in the act of mauling another chicken.

Anyhow, I lost my entire flock. We had raised them up from chicks and they were about 6-7 months old. It was devestating, and I still can't get over losing my sweet roo, Clyde.

I got a bunch of baby chicks from Ideal back in January... we built lots of nice coops and runs for them. I also hatched out some Silkies and Ameraucanas from a breeder. I'm affraid to ever let my chickens free-range anymore, what a shame. Though I have a Rhode Island Red rooster now and I'd never let him out, after what I've read on how aggresive they can be. That bird would be a gonner if he ever harmed my children, it doesn't matter if he was just doing his job.

 

[chickachickadoo]

We have 3 roosters in a flock of 9 (between 5 and 6 weeks of age) and the rooster with the biggest, reddest comb is the meanest, too. It isn't that he is protecting the flock--he doesn't care about anything but harrassing them--and he doesn't bother my husband. It's just me he goes after. At first I thought he was simply scared but now I think he is just mean. He pecks and bites HARD, leaving bruises. Hubby wants to find him a new home and I'm saying he'd better hurry or I'm going to let the little ***** free-range. He will learn about the hawks on his own.

Whenever I take him outside and carry him around with me, the rest of the flock seems to breathe a collective sigh of relief and carries on happily without him.

I actually don't hate him--I kind of like him, when he's making the little cheeping noises when I have him with me--but after a few bites and bruises it is easy to forget the sweet cheeping in the rush of pain. And he is such a brute to the others, too. He's either bullying them or stepping all over them.

Could this be something he'll grow out of? Or is it only going to get worse as he becomes older and more self-assured?

 

[montcapu]

rooster can be so fuuny sometimes... I have had a mean rooster to a point, he was ok with me, but anyone else that came out to the coop he would follow around jumping at the fence at them, he especialy did not like my 2 year old or my husband, he had his eyes on them they minute he saw them, I never let him free range at all because I just did not trust him, he seemed to get better over time (I got him when he was a year old) so I decided to let them free range when the snow all melt, I just thought poor birds being cooped up all winter, big mistake. I was out cleaning the hen house after the thaw (can't do a whole lot when things are frozen) and getting all the new bedding down, my kids were out playing next door (grandma and grandpa house) and apparently my 2 year old wanted mom, so he came over to the coop and I he ran into the rooster, when I noticed what was going on, the rooster had is neck feathers all puffed out and before I could get to him, he jumped up on the 2 year old, he did not spur him thank god, but I knew it was time to get rid of him (I mean I hear the pot boiling over) Husband saw the whole thing from the pole barn and he was on the 4 wheeler as soon as it happened and took care of the rooster how he saw fit.
Though I loved that rooster, he was gorgeous I knew I could not have a rooster that would attack for no real reason especially on my 2 year old. but luckily we had a couple of roosters sent with a guinea order last june, that have been the best roosters ever (and one looks exactly like the one we put down) they are so sweet and loving, I turn the corner from the house and he is usually the first one to see me and he comes a running thinking I have a treat for them. He lets the hens eat first and then he picks a little, but he would rather have the cracked corn in the coop. I can pick him up and pet him, my kids carry him around and he just sits there and lets them. My 2 year old was deathly afraid of the chickens after the attack, but he has grown to attached to the rooster, he climbs into the hen house thru the door with him and trys to pick him up (rooster is too big for him, but it is cute when he trys) and he has started to like the chickens again, and just loves helping mom collect the eggs, it is his favorite!

 

[undermywings]

Quote:
I am noticing and admire that most people love their roosters and try going as far as 'chicken psychology' home treatments before making the drastic decisions. kudos everyone.

 

[bonitapatrita]

I have also been inspired by the "chicken psychology" method. My rooster, Patches, will be a year old in June. Do you think he will respond to it at this age? I am so willing to try. I think the guy just gets freaked out sometimes and that is when he attacks. I try to give him loving attention and hold him often so he feels safe with me, but that is all I have tried.

 

[rebecca10782]

That is a great story and a wonderful point! I feel the same way. I love roosters and would love to have a farm full of them. They have so many wonderful qualities. They are natural alarm clocks, they protect the flock, and make beautiful babies! We ended up with a couple of roos. Our first had to go to a (supposedly loving) new home. We had a neighbor call the cops on us. Even though we kept him in the house until mid morning

Anyway, the family we gave him to told us that the dog killed him. But, I don't believe it because after that happened we asked if we could visit the hens that we gave them along with Lucifer so he would not be lonely. The woman told us that she dumped them on a random farm because her husband was going to kill them because one started to crow after Lucifer was killed! So I have no dought that the husband killed Lucifer just for crowing to early. It took all of my strength to keep myself from seriously hurting him for killing my baby and dumping the other two God know where. I don't understand why people do these things. All creatures have their own wonderful qualities and no one appreciates it.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Great story and a very timely one for our family. My sweetie pie cockeral is becoming a bit of a tyrant. We have discussed rehoming & freezer camp.

Thanks, again. I gotta go find a stick!