Terrible, Terrible Thing Happened This Evening... *Warning: Long post, and semi rant!*

[1muttsfan]

I have found the most effective way to control an attacking bird is to grab it by the neck and hold it at arm's length until it stops fussing. Birds have complete tracheal rings so you will not choke him that way.

Having said that, it sounds like you had 2 bad roosters, and one of them is yours - meaning Merlin. He had a definate contribution to this whole scenario. Why keep a bad rooster when there are so many good ones out there?

 

[Chickenfan4life]

I agree with oldchick here, I agree with the SSS as well, and I agree with the scoop him up hold him upside down and take to you neighbor. I have used all 3 but in a different order. SSS was the LAST scenario, and it was NOT with a rooster, it was a dog.

If you do SSS I am pretty sure your neighbor will get another one from the sounds of it and you will be back to square one. I would talk to your neighbor first, tell him what happened, if he has any compassion at all he will feel bad and work to keep him at home. If he doesnt, then go the route of holding him upside down by the legs and delivering him to his owner. The water may help if that doesnt work. If all ELSE fails, Brewster is you baby - do what you need to to protect your flock.

I know how much you care for Brewster and I am SO glad he's ok. I can sympath. on your feelings, we all have been there - done that - and feel SOOOOO bad about it. Give him some extra luvn, treats, and time. He will still luv ya!

ps I have used a shotgun to shoot in the air when i have had a squabble and it instantly stopped the fighting for about 30 seconds. Long enough for you to get ahold of the bad one and take him out of the way to stop the squabble. No one hurt. A can of gravel with a lid shaken has worked for me as well.

My neighbor just kind of "has" a rooster. He doesn't really care about it. The rooster is a gorgeous guy, really, and he's good with the hens, but he hates people and roosters. He put a good size scratch on my thigh, and I just know that next time it will be a gash.

Brewster is already warming up again, but he is still learry of me. I am still traumatized from this-I thought I had killed him. Yesterday, the rooster came back over and was fighting with Brewster , who was out free ranging.

I am sick and tired of this crap, and I am so tempted to sic the GSDX on that rooster the next time he comes over. I just really don't want to solve this problem by killing the rooster. Ignorant people make me so mad!

As for my rooster, Merlin (We call him The Rebel Rooster), he is, indeed, very, very aggressive. He hassles the girls, chases me, and flogs me every time I turn my back. This, too, is getting old, but, like Comet, I hate to see the problem solved by killing the rooster. I wish there was another way, but is has become apparent that there really is not another way, which means dad has a rooster he needs to dispatch.

I know this is a part of chicken(animal) keeping, and I have accepted that, but I just wish it wasn't so. I am giving the neighbors one last warning, and if they do not take action, I will, and they will not like what I do.

 

[earlybird10842]

Quote: I am going to discourage you not to do whatever it is. You want to stay on the good side of your neighbors, trust me. I understand not liking what's going on, but would fencing be a possible solotion?

 

[Chickenfan4life]

I am going to discourage you not to do whatever it is. You want to stay on the good side of your neighbors, trust me. I understand not liking what's going on, but would fencing be a possible solotion?

No. We don't want to remove the barbed wire fencing. I am simply keep Brewster and his ladies in his pen. Comet comes over and messes with us, but I almost always have dog with me, so he can't really get to me. I am ging to warn the neighbor again tomorrow, and then we will have to take action.

 

[earlybird10842]

Quote: as in what kind of action? agian, I warn you against doing anything drastic. The holding rooster upside down thing will give the neighbor the picture.

 

[Chickenfan4life]

as in what kind of action? agian, I warn you against doing anything drastic. The holding rooster upside down thing will give the neighbor the picture.

That's going to be my first warning. The second will be when I chase the rooster off our property throwing the scoop at him.

 

[Knittycat]

Good luck.
The little blighters flail a bit when you first grab 'em, might peck at you too, but they eventually calm down. Just make sure you've got a good grip and he'll eventually hang pretty limply and you'll be able to deliver his rooster butt back to you neighbor and make your point.
Last time I had to scoop up a rooster like that, he ended up in the stew pot. Granted, he was *my* rooster, but still (there was a reason his name was Jerkface)

 

[Chickenfan4life]

Good luck.
The little blighters flail a bit when you first grab 'em, might peck at you too, but they eventually calm down. Just make sure you've got a good grip and he'll eventually hang pretty limply and you'll be able to deliver his rooster butt back to you neighbor and make your point.
Last time I had to scoop up a rooster like that, he ended up in the stew pot. Granted, he was *my* rooster, but still (there was a reason his name was Jerkface)

Yeah, I'd love it if dad was up for butchering the roo, instead of just shooting it, but he says no.

 

[theoldchick]

Check your laws in your area before shooting any living creature. There might be laws against the firing of weapons in your area, so if you shoot the rooster you are at risk of being fined or imprisoned (or your Dad). Also consider the risk of hitting a living person when shooting at a moving target. Nothing worse than to be shooting at a fractious animal only to have the bullet ricochet and kill Granny reading the bible in the next house.

If the rooster is attacking you, document the injury with photos, and check the laws about dangerous animals. Also document the rooster coming on your property and hassling your fenced birds. Remember your unrestrained birds might be going on your neighbor's property and irritating him or her. This could be the crux of the problem. Everybody has chickens going all over the place and scratching up the garden and so forth. Your chickens might be irritating the neighbors as much as that rooster is irritating you.

Talk to your neighbor again and make sure they understand the problem. Let them know what your intentions are if the rooster returns. Personally, I'd catch the dang thing and let the owners claim him. If they don't then dispatch of the rooster as you see fit. Remember, the rooster is simply being a rooster. He's doing what comes naturally, and his owners are at fault for not keeping him where he belongs.

 

[Firefighter Chick]

Brewster was just differing aggression to you. Dogs do that all the time, they get mad and take out the anger on something easier to get to. I would definately get rid of your aggressive roo. I had an aggressive roo, mostly aggressive with my kids, and he almost took my son's eye out. That roo was immediately culled. As for your neighbor, it depends on how close they live to you and if you're close. If you're not close to them, make their roo "disappear" next time it's in your yard causing trouble. Simple as that. It's your property and you have a right to protect your flock and yourself. If you like your neighbors, have a frank talk about what the roo has been doing and the need to either pen him up or get rid of him.