Small children & roos- can they get along?

[ChickenAlgebra]

Our birds are penned if the little kids are running around outside, unless an adult (DH or I) is watching them VERY close. But we also don't keep any bird who is the least bit mean.

As in the big black JG roo sees the girls pushing dolls in a stroller, he runs over and wants to ride in the stroller. He's also let them put clothes on him. Which is why I question the sanity of letting DH watch them together some days.

 

[bufforp89]

Just about a week ago I took my little brother outside with me to the chicken pens while I was feeding and refilling duck pools. We were in my bantam pen and a bantam lav ameraucana flew up and attempted to get his eyes. Didnt though because my little bro is wise enough to be on the lookout when we are in the pens and pushed to roo away before it made contact but it deff could have been bad. I culled immediently, I dont tolerate aggressive birds and didnt want him passing on any of that bad additude.

I had always heard about roosters going for eyes but this was my first, first-hand experience. My little brother ate him as well that night, we were having roast chicken on the grill anyways so I threw the lav roo on as well. Hows that for revenge?

 

[erinchelsea]

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That is quite a picture!!!

 

[erinchelsea]

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There's the root of the problem.

That's what I was afraid of, and I feel horrible thinking I could have prevented this.

But, the kids come first so the poor roo had to go regardless of who was at fault.

 

[erinchelsea]

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Excellent revenge! Glad your bro is okay and didn't get injured.

 

[Happy Chooks]

My children are older (my youngest is 8), but I'd be very careful with little ones and roosters. If I had children that little and roosters, they would be fenced off separately for both the protection of the child and the chickens.

My chickens are fenced off and my rule is that I must be present when any child goes in my runs. We've had some friends kids want to go in to see the chickens, but I have to be with them. My youngest likes to go into the run with our young roosters (4 of them at the moment) and squat down to watch the chickens. These cockerels are 21 weeks old, and the hormones are just starting to kick in. I told him at one point to stand up as one of the cockerels came close to him (NOT in an aggressive manner, just looking for treats) - he did and the cockerel instantly retreated. I'm teaching him to treat them the same way I do - walk through them, not around them. But he's never allowed in the run without me.

I can tell you from firsthand experience that a puncture wound from a spur hurts like heck. (and bleeds a lot too) I've also had a rooster not break the skin, but he broke a vein in my leg and gave me a bruise the size of a softball. He also hit me at waist level once, and I'm 5'8. I still don't know why he chose to go after only me, he was fine with my DH, my kids, strangers, etc. But he would come at me every chance he could. I tried everything to reform him and nothing worked. I got tired of watching my back every second in the run, so he's not here anymore.

The slightest thing can set a rooster off. Could just be your child picking up a hen and it squawks - the rooster could come to her rescue. It's what they are supposed to do. My welsummer rooster is a perfect gentleman, both with me and with my hens. I have been flogged by him once. Turns out he doesn't like cell phones.

The first time he flogged me I was talking on my phone in the run. The 2nd time I came in with a cell phone, he started towards me - so I instantly hung up and he backed down the second the phone was gone. I now do not carry my phone in the run, and I haven't had a single issue with him since.