Suddenly aggressive rooster

[Percydoodle]

TLDR: one year old rooster has suddenly started coming after me. Is it worth finding him a new home or should I find him a freezer?

Hello all! I know there’s probably loads of posts about these dumb dumb boys who decided to be jerks but as this will probably be a life or death situation I wanted to post my specific question to get some opinions.

We’ve had a flock of 5 buff Orpingtons for 4 years. I just adore them so much, they aren’t big snugglers but I still like to pick them up and hug them. We got a rooster from a friend about two months ago now. He was supposedly friendly, she only had him about a month because she wanted to hatch chicks but the girl she got him from said he was great. And. He was. Until about two weeks ago. He was hatched last spring so hes just over a year (I thought that meant he was solid in his temperament at this age). We had to treat everyone for mites that I think he brought. So after our first treatment I picked up one of our girls to check if there were any live bugs and he suddenly came at me. It scared the crap out of me, but I rationalized that he’s there to protect them so I guess that’s okay.
However, last night when I was making their ‘sangria’ (fruit and ice water) I walked past him he jumped me for absolutely no reason.
So now I’m terrified to even be outside. He’s a really big rooster, a buff Orpington and he’s just starting to grow spurs. I have a home based business where 6-8 people are here throughout the day and I can’t worry that he’s going to attack someone.
I feel like I’ve made my decision about keeping him or not, but I’m not sure if it’s worth trying to find another home for him. I’m so disappointed, we’ve wanted a rooster for so long. I thought I was being smart, buffs are a nice breed and I thought getting an adult would mean his personality was established.
I’d love any opinions. And also if realistically nice roosters are so rare if it’s even worth getting another in the future. Our new chicks are all Swedish flower chickens and I was excited to breed them all someday because they’re so beautiful. But I’m afraid of getting another rooster now.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

With having a business based off of your property I personally would have put him in the freezer two weeks ago. I would be very worried about someone being injured and adding to that people are very sue-happy these days. Unless you have somewhere that would take him today I would have him butchered by tonight. It’s not worth the risk of someone getting hurt and if he did hurt someone it would be 100% your fault for knowing that he is aggressive. If you want a nice rooster your best bet is to get one as a chick, don’t let him imprint on you or handle him and let your older hens boss him around to show him respect/manners.

 

[Percydoodle]

With having a business based off of your property I personally would have put him in the freezer two weeks ago. I would be very worried about someone being injured and adding to that people are very sue-happy these days. Unless you have somewhere that would take him today I would have him butchered by tonight. It’s not worth the risk of someone getting hurt and if he did hurt someone it would be 100% your fault for knowing that he is aggressive. If you want a nice rooster your best bet is to get one as a chick, don’t let him imprint on you or handle him and let your older hens boss him around to show him respect/manners.

So it’s better to get a chick and be hands off? I do have an accidental blue Orpington rooster that was sent with my Swedish chicks. I should put him out with my older ladies? This adult rooster from the get go was not able to get the respect of my adult hens. He wound have to pounce on them to get them to mate they want nothing to do with him, I assumed that was normal, since I have no other rooster to go by.

 

[FrostRanger]

Try the accidental cockerel and see how he does, but if he doesn't work out your best bet would be to buy a boy from someone who aggressively culls for human aggression. Human aggression is genetic and you're far more likely to get a nice rooster from someone who weeds that nonsense out of their line. Roosters, particularly roosters from hatchery stock are a gamble as they don't necessarily cull jerk roosters. Handling 100% plays a role and for your part, you should learn about how to handle them properly but many roosters are going to be bad eggs no matter what you do or don't do just due to their bad genetics. It takes both nature AND nurture to get a nice rooster

As for your current jerk rooster, cull him, don't make him someone else's problem. It's occasionally possible to reform a jerk rooster, but IMO it's a waste of time if you're wanting to breed him as he has already made his bad genetics known, you or whoever gets him are far more likely to have problems with his sons if he fathers chicks. Plus, if someone who doesn't know what they're doing gets him, they could get hurt and if they have kids.....

 

[Percydoodle]

Try the accidental cockerel and see how he does, but if he doesn't work out your best bet would be to buy a boy from someone who aggressively culls for human aggression. Human aggression is genetic and you're far more likely to get a nice rooster from someone who weeds that nonsense out of their line. Roosters, particularly roosters from hatchery stock are a gamble as they don't necessarily cull jerk roosters. Handling 100% plays a role and for your part, you should learn about how to handle them properly but many roosters are going to be bad eggs no matter what you do or don't do just due to their bad genetics. It takes both nature AND nurture to get a nice rooster

As for your current jerk rooster, cull him, don't make him someone else's problem. It's occasionally possible to reform a jerk rooster, but IMO it's a waste of time if you're wanting to breed him as he has already made his bad genetics known, you or whoever gets him are far more likely to have problems with his sons if he fathers chicks. Plus, if someone who doesn't know what they're doing gets him, they could get hurt and if they have kids.....

honestly I think I’m just afraid that I somehow caused this behavior since he was supposedly fine before and it just started happening. Like maybe I was acting weird around him somehow? And I’d feel awful if it were my fault that he’s suddenly acting like a jerk.

 

[FrostRanger]

Around a year old is when they start showing their true colors. So him suddenly turning aggressive after being fine before sounds about right. Is it possible the move to your place or something else pushed him over? Sure, but it was probably bound to happen with him anyways and doesn't change the fact that he is human aggressive and should not be bred. Learn more about roosters, cull this particular roo, nurture your young cockerel to be a nice rooster and know that it probably wasn't your fault that your current roo is mean. Most roosters won't turn out, that's just how it is

 

[Percydoodle]

Around a year old is when they start showing their true colors. So him suddenly turning aggressive after being fine before sounds about right. Is it possible the move to your place or something else pushed him over? Sure, but it was probably bound to happen with him anyways and doesn't change the fact that he is human aggressive and should not be bred. Learn more about roosters, cull this particular roo, nurture your young cockerel to be a nice rooster and know that it probably wasn't your fault that your current roo is mean. Most roosters won't turn out, that's just how it is

Thank you. That is helpful. So would you agree the best course of action for our young roo is to put him right with our older hens and have him learn some manners from them like the above person suggested?

 

[FrostRanger]

Yes, integrating him with your older girls would be a very good idea, they'll teach him some manners and make it more likely he'll be nice as an adult. Be prepared if he doesn't work out either though as you have no idea what genetics you're working with, nurture can only get you so far if nature is against you

 

[Percydoodle]

Yes, integrating him with your older girls would be a very good idea, they'll teach him some manners and make it more likely he'll be nice as an adult. Be prepared if he doesn't work out either though as you have no idea what genetics you're working with, nurture can only get you so far if nature is against you

I think my ultimate goal is to have a flock of solely Swedish flower chickens. I haven’t had luck finding anyone that isn’t a hatchery that breeds them. Do you happen to know where I’d want to look if we looked for a Swedish rooster in the future with better genetics? Would posting on here get me the best results?

 

[Percydoodle]

I think my ultimate goal is to have a flock of solely Swedish flower chickens. I haven’t had luck finding anyone that isn’t a hatchery that breeds them. Do you happen to know where I’d want to look if we looked for a Swedish rooster in the future with better genetics? Would posting on here get me the best results?

And thank you for all your help!