Sudden rooster aggression

[Jojo1979]

I have an exchequer leghorn who is about 6 months old and today he has attacked me. First time he cornered me in a stable and then later on I walked on to my yard and he ran from behind and from some distance and went into full blown attack mode. I managed to get him off me but he got back up and kept going for me until my husband (who luckily came out at that moment) and chased him off. I am the main chicken care giver and although I don’t handle him spend a lot of time each day with him. Help!

 

[Yardmom]

You will find all kinds of advice if you look up what to do with an aggressive roo. Your Cockerel is just reaching maturity and has just shown he is human aggressive. My advice would be to get rid of him immediately.

 

[Jojo1979]

You will find all kinds of advice if you look up what to do with an aggressive roo. Your Cockerel is just reaching maturity and has just shown he is human aggressive. My advice would be to get rid of him immediately.

Thanks! I am on a FB group and they say I need to stand my ground…does this really work? It was actually terrifying!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thanks! I am on a FB group and they say I need to stand my ground…does this really work? It was actually terrifying!

No it doesn't work, especially if they're genetically aggressive, best would be to cull him. Facebook isn't always the best source of information when it comes to poultry.

 

[Jojo1979]

No it doesn't work, especially if they're genetically aggressive, best would be to cull him. Facebook isn't always the best source of information when it comes to poultry.

I know it’s not but I am new to chicken keeping and was looking for advice. He was an accidental rooster that slipped through the net and I kept him as he is very striking, looks after my free range girls and was good up until now!

 

[FrostRanger]

Thanks! I am on a FB group and they say I need to stand my ground…does this really work? It was actually terrifying!

Not usually. Some people have luck reforming aggressive roos but they are the exception and not the rule. I also vote to cull him, this is likely to just get worse and even if you can get him to leave you alone he won't be trustworthy around others and he'll likely pass on his awful attitude to any chicks he fathers as human aggression is genetic. The best way to have nice animals is to treat them with care and respect and to not put up with mean individuals. Don't rehome him either, he might hurt someone at his new home as roosters can do a surprising amount of damage if they get a good hit in

 

[Anon112]

Thanks! I am on a FB group and they say I need to stand my ground…does this really work? It was actually terrifying!

While roosters can grow out of this kind of aggression, there's no way to guarantee that they will.

And, frankly, a lot of the methods I've seen for "taming" roosters---spraying them with substances, hitting them, etc----just seem like cruelty to me.

You need to be VERY careful as you go forward if you don't immediately cull or give away this rooster. They can do a lot of damage and you must not let any children around this rooster.

One thing that did work with one of my roosters, advice I read somewhere on here, was to look at the rooster and then "flap" your arms. You are then looking for the rooster to back away from you if you take a step toward him.

My other aggressive rooster, Bernard, I just had to very carefully manage him and always keep an eye on him if he was out. He has mostly aged out of aggression, but it took literally years. (He will sometimes give me a sassy peck on the boot, but nothing more serious than that).

But please take very seriously that this is a dangerous situation for you and for any other person your rooster can get to. It's not an exaggeration to say that a child could be seriously injured, lose an eye, or even be killed by a flogging rooster.

 

[Jojo1979]

While roosters can grow out of this kind of aggression, there's no way to guarantee that they will.

And, frankly, a lot of the methods I've seen for "taming" roosters---spraying them with substances, hitting them, etc----just seem like cruelty to me.

You need to be VERY careful as you go forward if you don't immediately cull or give away this rooster. They can do a lot of damage and you must not let any children around this rooster.

One thing that did work with one of my roosters, advice I read somewhere on here, was to look at the rooster and then "flap" your arms. You are then looking for the rooster to back away from you if you take a step toward him.

My other aggressive rooster, Bernard, I just had to very carefully manage him and always keep an eye on him if he was out. He has mostly aged out of aggression, but it took literally years. (He will sometimes give me a sassy peck on the boot, but nothing more serious than that).

But please take very seriously that this is a dangerous situation for you and for any other person your rooster can get to. It's not an exaggeration to say that a child could be seriously injured, lose an eye, or even be killed by a flogging rooster.

I did flap at him but he just got meaner! I also agree that a lot of methods for ‘taming’ are cruel and other seem like putting myself in harms way. He did semi attack my son (aged 14 and 6ft) but it went a full blown attack, more of a head but and then a chase and I thought it was because my son had startled him as I didn’t think it would be something he would do as he is usually a good boy! I’m gutted!

 

[Jojo1979]

Not usually. Some people have luck reforming aggressive roos but they are the exception and not the rule. I also vote to cull him, this is likely to just get worse and even if you can get him to leave you alone he won't be trustworthy around others and he'll likely pass on his awful attitude to any chicks he fathers as human aggression is genetic. The best way to have nice animals is to treat them with care and respect and to not put up with mean individuals. Don't rehome him either, he might hurt someone at his new home as roosters can do a surprising amount of damage if they get a good hit in

I totally agree about care abc respect of your animals…I rehomed my other accidental roo as he was attacking the roo I have left plus he was very aggressive whilst mating my girls. I thought I was making my remaining boys life better but he is now aggressive too!

 

[50-45-1]

6 months is typical age for some roosters to start testing and asserting their dominance.
After years and years of chicken keeping, I have some rules of rooster keeping.
1. I never befriend my rooster. It's best if he always is leary of me. THe hens I will hand feed and pick up but the rooster only gets handled after dark with a flashlight for spur trimming and health check. And I'm not too gentle about it either..this is to firmly let him know who is boss.
2. No human aggressive rooster remains on my farm. I have people (including children) who visit. I also don't pass a dangerous rooster on to others to be a danger to them.
3. Stride around your chicken area like you owned the place. roosters can sence when you are hesitant or fearful of them. Walk unhesitantatly through him and make him move out of YOUR way.

Don't be his friend, be dominate, be top dog.
There is plenty of advice coming your way from others who will give you things to try to stop your rooster from attacking. My advice is that when those things don't work. Cull him and look for a replacement. Plenty of good roosters are culled for lack of a good home.

I have 2 extra nice roosters right now I was hoping to find homes for. They are probably going to be Sunday dinner as no one in my area needs one.
I have been spured in my youth, I have seen some nasty wounds (not mine) inflicted by roosters (not mine ) which ended with infection stiches and antibiotic treatment.

Do you need a rooster?
Do you have small children?