Suddenly aggressive rooster: I need help

[Kiki]

I was just going to look for that post myself.

I win!
LOL

I love it and I think everyone should read it.

 

[Kiki]

Excellent, Kiki. You saved me the extended process of trying to find that!

I have it bookmarked.

 

[rebrascora]

Other things to consider that may be affecting him are if there is a predator lurking that has him on high alert or a change in your regular clothing can sometimes do it... particularly different coloured trousers or boots. My chickens had a fit last summer when I wore some brightly patterned loose trousers to do chicken chores.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thats normally somethi,g you're often told not to do though with animals, and I did try that earlier which is what prompted him to continue trying to attack me. I often do similar with my rhode island red because she's a mean witch to the younger barred rock I have, even if she only has one useable leg she will attack the craps out of the barred and chase her everywhere, so needing to show a dominance and keep her away from the other hen is usually a thing Ive done before, which did eventually calm her down but it didnt work on this guy.

You stated that you accidentally kicked your rooster and that's what caused him to attack you. There is nothing in that article that encourages kicking them. When Bee says to swat him, it's not meant to be a beating or to cause him pain. Just a little "tickle" so to speak, to get his attention. You need to be consistent in this for at least a few days to get him leery of you. I realize that goes against your cuddling and hand feeding routine, but he well could have just decided that he is dominant over you, and is showing it.

Your rooster, your decision as to how much you want to put up with. I know that as the food and water bringer, I am the boss in and anywhere near my coop and with every chicken in it. The cockerels don't get to be in my space, they don't get to challenge me, and they get to eat or move about when I decide they get to. If I want to be on the east side of the run and am currently on the west side, I get there. Any cockerel/rooster in my way will move and let me by. When they're free ranging, I still get to go where I want to go and pick up, touch, or be near any hen I wish to be without a challenge from the males.

 

[m1chelle1]

Other things to consider that may be affecting him are if there is a predator lurking that has him on high alert or a change in your regular clothing can sometimes do it... particularly different coloured trousers or boots. My chickens had a fit last summer when I wore some brightly patterned loose trousers to do chicken chores.

I was thinking something similar to this. I also noticed that you had noticed that he started attacking in a low to no light (night or morning, cant remember anymore) situation. They aren't known for the best night time vision, and it is possible that he thought you were indeed an actual predator out there in the night. It seems that he stopped attacking that first time after he realized who you are? That is very interesting to me, as it seems that this would indicate that he realized it was you, and then let up. If I were you- id be on high alert for a lurking predator, as this is my best guess, too, as to why a normally docile adult rooster would start being aggressive to you, with no past history of this behavior.
Also, if this is the case, it may be difficult to curb the behavior using the typical dominance techniques being discussed in this article. As much as I swear by them too. Just doesn't seem that would be a solution for a lurking predator situation.

Hope this helps! Good luck with the little guy.
~M

 

[bobbi-j]

I was thinking something similar to this. I also noticed that you had noticed that he started attacking in a low to no light (night or morning, cant remember anymore) situation. They aren't known for the best night time vision, and it is possible that he thought you were indeed an actual predator out there in the night. It seems that he stopped attacking that first time after he realized who you are? That is very interesting to me, as it seems that this would indicate that he realized it was you, and then let up. If I were you- id be on high alert for a lurking predator, as this is my best guess, too, as to why a normally docile adult rooster would start being aggressive to you, with no past history of this behavior.
Also, if this is the case, it may be difficult to curb the behavior using the typical dominance techniques being discussed in this article. As much as I swear by them too. Just doesn't seem that would be a solution for a lurking predator situation.

Hope this helps! Good luck with the little guy.
~M

Further on in OP's first post, it was mentioned that the rooster has attacked at least 4 more times. Three of them, if I read correctly, were in the morning upon being let out of the coop, and once after OP deflected one attack and then turned their back.

I initially thought about the lurking predator when I first started reading, but then read about the subsequent attacks.

 

[rebrascora]

Another possibility that occurs to me is that his eyesight is failing and he feels the need to attack anything that is moving, beyond his immediate flock.

 

[bobbi-j]

Another possibility that occurs to me is that his eyesight is failing and he feels the need to attack anything that is moving, beyond his immediate flock.

That is something to consider.

 

[Dialo]

I did lightly tap with a stick, now is it good hes keeping a distance and just clucking? I know its not meant to hurt him and I would never dream of such a thing, I love this rooster very much, if I didn't I never would have asked how to stop his behavior before needing to resort to killing and eating him. But no, I go out in the evening arounf four or five pm but its well before it gets dark(sun doesn't set at this time of year where I live until around eight on), and the only reason I had kicked him on accident was because he had charged at me first while I was watching the hens while strolling around the yard with them, I hadn't seen him do it though because I wasn't watching which is why I didnt think it was him until he started getting a bit bolder with his approach and what-not, they do sometimes run past me if there's food nearby so it wasnt unlikely he just got in the way when I was walking the same direction. I did as you said though, I lightly tapped him on the butt with a stick a few times when he started acting up again and he started to keep his distance when he seen I was no longer trying to actively avoid stepping on them by going around them if they were in the way. Hopefully he gets it and this behavior stays gone, I fed the hens treats while he kept his distance so I would assume he's ok fir now but ill continue to do this until I'm certain he stops. Thank you for your help with that article kiki, hopefully thats all it takes.. If not I'll have to get rid of him or call over a friend to snap his neck, which I hope it never comes to, I love my chickens dearly and thats the last thing I want to have happen.

 

[Dialo]

Another possibility that occurs to me is that his eyesight is failing and he feels the need to attack anything that is moving, beyond his immediate flock.

His eyesight is fine still thankfully, he can see things even better than I can most days, hes always the first to let the hens know if he finds bugs or fruit to eat, they rely a lot on him still so I know he's alright in that regard. It likely is because I often try to avoid them and quite frankly I haven't shown any dominant or aggressive manner since my old barred rock rooster was around, he was a mean one towards people and I often had to deal with him, but I had to get rid of that one after he pecked a hens eyes out amd tore her neck and chest open. Since he's been gone though I've had no real issues so I never thought there was a reason to be that way any longer. It was likely my own fault in the end for letting things be too relaxed and civil for a few years though, he likely believed my grip on them was slipping away from me given I haven't done anything to prove otherwise.