roughly smacked / handled my rooster

[babychickens321]

Excellent point!

@babychickens321 If it is aggression, I imagine it could be a space issue. He may be bothered about it being cramped. Thats just my guess

alright thanks a lot! theyre getting moved out soon hopefully, so he might stop pecking. in the meantime, two cardboard boxes joined?

 

[BelovedBirds]

alright thanks a lot! theyre getting moved out soon hopefully, so he might stop pecking. in the meantime, two cardboard boxes joined?

worth a shot

if theyll be waiting a while, you could always invest in a nice big dog crate, it would be fairly easy to add roosts, and you could join it to their current box

 

[raingarden]

If a chicken pecks me, I slap it, or at least try to slap it. Many times I'm not quick enough.

 

[sdm111]

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)

Blacking out with rage. Your problem isn't the rooster.

 

[babychickens321]

worth a shot

if theyll be waiting a while, you could always invest in a nice big dog crate, it would be fairly easy to add roosts, and you could join it to their current box

thanks a lot for your help!

 

[babychickens321]

Blacking out with rage. Your problem isn't the rooster.

?

 

[BelovedBirds]

thanks a lot for your help!

No worries! Good luck, and be sure to update us!

 

[babychickens321]

No worries! Good luck, and be sure to update us!

i will do

 

[SourRoses]

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?

Part of the reason you got so angry in this situation is that you don't have enough power.
There is good power and bad power. The good kind helps you protect yourself and others.

So, in this situation, you are trying to stay evenly matched with the rooster - he pecks you, you "peck" at him. That is ineffective and it's going to spiral until you lose your temper again. Then you'll feel guilty. You'll try to be nice to him, he will take advantage, and you'll lose your temper again.

Forget about being evenly matched. "Speak softly and carry a big stick"
You need to rise up and take your place as the human in this relationship. Instead of fighting his way, completely outwit him so it does not come to blows again.
One of the main indications humans are so smart is that we can use tools. A large rake or pitchfork really shouts at a chicken that you are stronger than him, especially because it can be extended away from your body in any direction.

I use a giant plastic rake with the tines facing me so I don't poke anyone, to herd my birds. None of the boys would ever think of crossing me. I don't touch them with it or move quickly which would scare them, simply extending it away from my body tells the birds not to try to duck around me so I have some control of where they go. Holding it out to the side so the plastic tines are horizontal makes it resemble a turkey sized bird, then twisting the pole so the top of the "bird" waves forward and back seems to be all the encouragement needed.
It does require some patience and you would never want to hit anyone with it (ever). But if your rooster gets more aggressive with you, it would help hold him off.

 

[Shadrach]

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

Don't feel guilty is the first step.
I've swiped roosters when they were in the air attacking hard enough to propel them backwards a few yards. I don't grab them in anger, but sure, I'll smack a rooster intent on doing me harm.
But, the secret is not to lose ones cool and not react in anger.
I respect the right of any creature to attack me if it feels under threat. I'll even cut cockerels some slack when it comes to adolescent behaviour, which includes trying to fight anything they think they might beat. They do learn, usually from a senior rooster, or even a senior hen that they've ****** up big time by pissing off Bucket Boy (me).
I'll swat them as well.
What I don't do which I have no doubt I'll read about later in this thread is kill them, try to dominate them, or otherwise mistreat them.

I don't know how to say this because the word I'll use has slightly different meanings relative to age and culture.
Roosters demand respect. It doesn't matter much whether one thinks they deserve it, or not.
Years of watching free range roosters led me to have enormous respect for them. Most work hard for their hens. Many die trying to protect their hens. I've found them to be intelligent and trainable.
The simple truth is many chicken keepers are just not interested in putting in the work, frustration and inconvenience of coming to a working relationship with a rooster.

so i was bringing my chickens inside because it was night and my rooster started pecking at everyone inside in the dark.

This is where you went wrong. The slap is fine but this isn't. It's part of the roosters job to lead his hens to roost. Some roosters are strangely fussy about who enters the coop and in which order; as are some senior hens.
You don't mention a light so I assume it is dark in the coop. The rooster was probably trying to peck your hand in the dark. If I stick my hand in a dark coop of just hens fumbling around, I'll get pecked.

Relax and next time you stick your hand in a drak coop trying to interfere in the roosters business, wear gloves and eye protection