roughly smacked / handled my rooster

[babychickens321]

so i was bringing my chickens inside because it was night and my rooster started pecking at everyone inside in the dark. He pecked me when i tried to stop him from moving to the others so i got really frustrated and kind of shoved him roughly. i feel super guilty about this. then he went on to start aggressively pecking the little baby so I got angry and grabbed him roughly but i cant clearly remember what i did. i kind of slapped him moreof a firm irritated kind of hard pat but i feel super guilty about it and he wasnt hurt or anything but can we do this? i see people booting roosters across the yard but he wasnt spurring anyone or drawing blood, just pecking and i sort of did it in a split second because i was really annoyed

 

[BelovedBirds]

so i was bringing my chickens inside because it was night and my rooster started pecking at everyone inside in the dark. He pecked when i tried to stop him from moving to the others so i got really frustrated and kind of shoved him roughly. i feel super guilty about this. then he went on to start aggressively pecking the little baby so I got angry and grabbed him roughly but i cant clearly remember what i did. i kind of slapped him moreof a firm irritated kind of hard pat but i feel super guilty about it and he wasnt hurt or anything but can we do this? i see people booting roosters across the yard but he wasnt spurring anyone or drawing blood, just pecking and i sort of did it in a split second because i was really annoyed

Im not quite sure what you're asking?
Are you asking whether or not it is something you should do?
Because i would say no. Yes, animals, like people, can be frustrating, and that frustration can sometimes be difficult to deal with, but I dont ever believe it is appropriate to handle an animal that way.
I've done it too, twice. Once when a dog was trying to kill my dog, and wouldn't let go of her (dont really feel bad about that, it was a necessary evil) and once when an animal attacked me, drawing blood. (Some would consider that justified but I still feel guilty and wouldnt repeat it). Animals need to be taught, trained-- violence, in whatever form, wont help. It will only induce further aggression, and fear.

With aggressive roosters, (not that I've had an aggressive roo), Id reccomend using a broom to block, and defend yourself (not hitting, just firmly pushing away) while teaching some boundaries. But this doesn't really sound this aggressive to me. It sounds pretty strange.
Has he done this before?
How old was the baby?

 

[Nyhillbillies]

@Shadrach

 

[babychickens321]

Im not quite sure what you're asking?
Are you asking whether or not it is something you should do?
Because i would say no. Yes, animals, like people, can be frustrating, and that frustration can sometimes be difficult to deal with, but I dont ever believe it is appropriate to handle an animal that way.

i was just really worried that id gone crazy or something, and if anyone else had done that. also, if it was okay to push him if he pecks again.

Has he done this before?
How old was the baby?

Baby was a few months old and he does not normally do this but i have seen him peck everyone at night quite roughly as well (occasionally)

 

[Mrs. K]

Personally I would use a broomstick, but with a different method. It amazes me that people will tolerate aggressive animals and take the punishment, or expect other animals to take the punishment, because they feel guilty in stopping it.

You really cannot train roosters, their brains are very tiny. If you want the bird to continue to peck and attack the other birds and yourself, well he will happily oblige you. If you want him to stop, you will have to remove him from the flock. So either set him up separately, or dispatch him.

As for feeling guilty for your own behavior - you shouldn't because you smacked him, but rather because you did not change the situation, and allowed it to continue. His behavior will continue, you cannot wish them nice.

Mrs K

 

[BelovedBirds]

i was just really worried that id gone crazy or something, and if anyone else had done that. also, if it was okay to push him if he pecks again.

Baby was a few months old and he does not normally do this but i have seen him peck everyone at night quite roughly as well (occasionally)

it would be interesting to get to the bottom of that night time pecking, and whether anyone else deals with it, whether its problematic.
I dont keep chickens, but I think what I said goes for any species.
If he pecks you aggresively, Id say you can push him away, for sure. Firm, but not inflicting any pain or anything.

It's 100% normal to get annoyed at an animal, especially if we feel is justified by how theyre treating us, or other animals. But they dont think or see things the way that we do, and inflicting pain or fear on them isnt going to be just or help. When I get frustrated, be it with a person or animal, I just step away. Step away, take a deep breath, before carrying on. Sometimes that is important.

I would understand using more force, if he was hurting you, or wounding the others. But since he was not drawing blood or being very aggressive in his behaviour, I think it was the wrong choice to treat him that way

 

[BelovedBirds]

Personally I would use a broomstick, but with a different method. It amazes me that people will tolerate aggressive animals and take the punishment, or expect other animals to take the punishment, because they feel guilty in stopping it.

You really cannot train roosters, their brains are very tiny. If you want the bird to continue to peck and attack the other birds and yourself, well he will happily oblige you. If you want him to stop, you will have to remove him from the flock. So either set him up separately, or dispatch him.

As for feeling guilty for your own behavior - you shouldn't because you smacked him, but rather because you did not change the situation, and allowed it to continue. His behavior will continue, you cannot wish them nice.

Mrs K

That is simply untrue. Roosters are trainable.

You make a huge assumption here about this rooster and his behaviour. He wasnt drawing blood or inflicting injuries, just pecking, which he only does at this particular time (based on what OP has said).
To say
"he will not stop unless you remove or kill him" is absolutely ridiculous, and unfair to OP.

 

[babychickens321]

Personally I would use a broomstick, but with a different method. It amazes me that people will tolerate aggressive animals and take the punishment, or expect other animals to take the punishment, because they feel guilty in stopping it.

You really cannot train roosters, their brains are very tiny. If you want the bird to continue to peck and attack the other birds and yourself, well he will happily oblige you. If you want him to stop, you will have to remove him from the flock. So either set him up separately, or dispatch him.

As for feeling guilty for your own behavior - you shouldn't because you smacked him, but rather because you did not change the situation, and allowed it to continue. His behavior will continue, you cannot wish them nice.

Mrs K

normally, he is an incredibly docile bird and doesnt show any aggressive behaviour, and normally very tolerant to baby birds except for the first 2 - 3 days of getting intorduced to them (he pecks them). It is normally at night he starts to peck the others. also, i thought it would be extreme for me to separate him, because it isnt pecking which is hurting the others or plucking feathers, just hard pecking. and he does not peck during the daytime at me at all.

 

[Nyhillbillies]

Personally I would use a broomstick, but with a different method. It amazes me that people will tolerate aggressive animals and take the punishment, or expect other animals to take the punishment, because they feel guilty in stopping it.

You really cannot train roosters, their brains are very tiny. If you want the bird to continue to peck and attack the other birds and yourself, well he will happily oblige you. If you want him to stop, you will have to remove him from the flock. So either set him up separately, or dispatch him.

As for feeling guilty for your own behavior - you shouldn't because you smacked him, but rather because you did not change the situation, and allowed it to continue. His behavior will continue, you cannot wish them nice.

Mrs K

Roosters are trainable. As you would teach a child, and animal can also be taught.
Hard to spank a fluffy butt!

 

[babychickens321]

it would be interesting to get to the bottom of that night time pecking, and whether anyone else deals with it, whether its problematic.
I dont keep chickens, but I think what I said goes for any species.
If he pecks you aggresively, Id say you can push him away, for sure. Firm, but not inflicting any pain or anything.

It's 100% normal to get annoyed at an animal, especially if we feel is justified by how theyre treating us, or other animals. But they dont think or see things the way that we do, and inflicting pain or fear on them isnt going to be just or help. When I get frustrated, be it with a person or animal, I just step away. Step away, take a deep breath, before carrying on. Sometimes that is important.

I would understand using more force, if he was hurting you, or wounding the others. But since he was not drawing blood or being very aggressive in his behaviour, I think it was the wrong choice to treat him that way

thanks for your response, i will make sure to not act out so much. however, can i sort of poke his back or tail area if he pecks me and it hurts?