Roosters & Toddlers?

[Yazzo]

The obvious: be smart. Don't leave small children unattended with roosters that aren't completely tame. Many roosters see little kids in a different light than bigger people. I have several roosters though that I can guarantee you would NOT attack a little kid. They are far too docile and my 3-year-old niece loves to play with them and the other chickens. I agree with Qi Chicken.

So obviously, be careful, but you really don't have to get rid of the rooster right away. Interact with the rooster as much as you can. Get to know him and see what his temperament is like. Most importantly, get him used to your little one at a early age and get your little one used to him. As Qi Chicken said, it depends very much on how much they're handled, but after all, you're not really going leave a 1-year-old unsupervised anyways. You may want to take a quick look at this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=63850-the-definite-guide-to-roosters. If your rooster turns out to be really calm and docile, you can certainly keep him, or at least giving him to someone else.

Up to you, but if it was me, I would certainly keep him and give him a chance.

And for all the super paranoid people on here who seem to think I promote bad ideas, I'll say it again: use your common sense and don't leave really little kids in with roosters unsupervised. Sheesh. My sister is super protective over her daughter, but she still lets her pet the roosters. As for me, I've been with chickens since I was tiny. I didn't even go in with the rooster(s) by myself until I was past the toddler stage though. We had a slightly aggressive rooster when I was really little, but I just stayed away from him, that was that, unless, as I said, I had someone with me. I'm still here with both eyes and no injures.

 

[lovemelovemybirds]

any of the aggressive fowl at our house have always become dinner. We did give away two roos once... at least I know we did not eat them...... as for the kids? I do not let the youngest great neice alone in the pasture area because I fear for my BIRDS safety.

I have a very mellow roo... but my geese are nasty to kids..so they are always put up when the girls come over. The eldest I trust alone in the pasture.. but she is 7 and has a fear of the birds. The youngest 3 year old..no fear. Like I said.. I am afraid for the birds when she is over. So..then there's that....give your roo a chance. But never leave a little bitty kid.... 6 and under I think.. alone with the flock.

 

[cat1994]

Some roos are nice and some roos just arent. sometimes you may even think that the roo is nice because he never tries anything with you but then a lil kid comes up to one of his ladies or something like that and then all of a sudden your nice roo is beating up that lil kid. Most of the time its not the roos fault he is just protecting his ladies or maybe he thinks that by beating up the kid he will be higher up in his pecking order. Better to be safe than sorry, you just better be with your toddler any time that roo is around and be ready to step in and stop anything if the roo thinks he can take the toddler on and win.