roughly smacked / handled my rooster

[Mrs. K]

I am hoping you will consider keeping up on this thread. I think that his aggression will continue to rise, especially with a less than confident caretaker. Not that I think that is that person's fault. I just think that the OP is basing the cockerels previous behavior when the animal was less mature as a future to build on. With cockerels, previous behaviors is no indicator of future behavior. This forum is filled with posts where the darling became the nightmare.

As to the OP... it is ok for them to take pecking, hard pecking every night? I would not like to watch this. Always solve for peace in the flock.

As to the person who indicates that you can tell a rooster 'no'. That might work while you are standing there, but very few of us live in the coop.

Mrs K

 

[Nyhillbillies]

i didnt know how to phrase it and if it sounded weird so i toom it away. i saw a pigeon do this as well, it was a very defensive pigeon, and when my chickens went near it, it started pecking in their direction, but not at them. sort of what my rooster did ONLY today (or maybe only because i caught him)

Hmmmm….

not sure of the measurements but now that you mentioned it, im sure that this is the cause. it is kind of cramped, so we’re making another one. It is a big conservatory that they are free to roam in, but we put a box filled with hay in case they want to be in there, and they all get in there at night, maybe its warmer? they used to sleep on this wooden kind of bench.

I’m not understanding your set up.

 

[Nyhillbillies]

And how old is your rooster? Beyond ‘puberty’.
Oh, and when correcting him , use his name also. Do your chickens have names they recognize?

 

[babychickens321]

How much space do they have in the coop when shut away? Just wondering what could be causing this behaviour, he sounds like a good roo the rest of the time.

I would suggest separating any broodies with their babies if he is at all rough with the chicks. That isnt uncommon for roosters, better safe than sorry

broodies are normally separated from the flock through a wire, but i let babies and broodies hang out with the rest when im watching. he watches them carefully and does light oecks, but if the chick is running near him a lot, pecks them.
He is a very good roo most of the time, and bever pecks me except at night! Which is why i felt super guilty, he was following me around so much when i was outside

 

[babychickens321]

And how old is your rooster? Beyond ‘puberty’.
Oh, and when correcting him , use his name also. Do your chickens have names they recognize?

they dont recognise it at all but they have bames. he is a year and a bit old

 

[babychickens321]

Hmmmm….

I’m not understanding your set up.

basically a box in a conservatory. they sleep in the box which is quite small (and are also moving out by the next week hopefully, conservatories are a really bad place to keep chickens, it stinks up the house if you accidentally open the door on a rainy day)

 

[Nyhillbillies]

Even a 3-sided shelter or hoop house for shelter would be good, with lots of perch space.

 

[babychickens321]

Even a 3-sided shelter or hoop house for shelter would be good, with lots of perch space.

alright!

 

[Nyhillbillies]

There’s lots of coop design ideas here on this site. Depending on your temperature ranges, can go from super simple to the opposite.
The goal is safety from predators.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Perhaps try to peck him back? I occasionally do for the males I hope to keep if they start getting big heads. They peck someone and I tap their face to get their attention, but not super hard. If they try to peck someone harder or are mean and grabbing amd making then other bird cry, I gently tug a few of their neck feathers until they let go.

Doesn't always work, but it does enough I feel it's worth continuing to practice