One of the pullet chicks I raised from a day old (got em in late April) turned out to be a roo. Very nice, very calm until a couple weeks ago he started following my 9 yr old granddaughter around the yard. One day he jumped at her and clawed down her legs, scaring her but leaving no marks. After that she only went to the chicken house and run when I was with her. Then one day when they'd been let out to run in the evening she went into the run to close a gate for me and he followed her in. I heard a blood curdling scream and he had her backed against the fence and was jumping and flapping his wings at her. I swung at him with the dustpan in my hand and he didn't back down so I kicked him back about three feet. He came at me again and I kicked him clear out of the run. Before my girls came over the next time I called a friend and asked if he'd come get him. He agreed to come in a while but as soon as I told him the roo was terrifying Madison he said he'd be right over. He was here in 15 min and I already had the roo in a pet carrier. Man, I hated having to do that knowing he'd be killed, but I won't have a bird that is going to be aggressive like that. My granddaughters, especially Maddy, have been involved in this chicken thing from day one and they HAVE to be free/safe to go out to the chickens when they want to. I expect he made a very tasty meal.
Note: Hubby said what my roo did is called flogging, and once they start they won't stop. It's also not unusual for them the single out an individual. My beautiful black australorp.
Note: Hubby said what my roo did is called flogging, and once they start they won't stop. It's also not unusual for them the single out an individual. My beautiful black australorp.
