Topic of the Week - Aggressive Roosters: What is the best way to handle them?

[Norzam]

I'm yet to encounter such aggressive rooster. I've got 7 roosters & 10 hens, 6 of them were young roosters. The old one is tame with 1.5 inch spurs. Btw, the rooster is a cross breed of Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) like below pic.



My thought on your aggressive rooster would be to isolate/cage him...then slowly try to hand feed him...& get him a hen. I hope his animal instinct will then recognize you as a good care taker.
May success be with you.

- Norzam

 

[Agarrard]

I try handling mine as much as possible. Yes I've been bit multiple times however, I quit reacting. If he bites, I let him hang on while giving him a deep, firm NO. He's realized it's not that much fun. I can pick him up easier without incident now that we have an understanding. He still gets worked up when he sees me for the first time each day. He will immediately tap dance and peck at my feet like he's putting me in my place. Too bad I make sure to throw on shoes and tell him to move on. I started talking to him like a bratty child. He gets scorned and I am certain he knows his name as well as "NO!", "HEY!!!", and "Do NOT!" I'm certain the neighbors think I'm the meanest pet owner(HOA doesn't allow chickens). I can only imagine how I sound outside. Spending time with him during the day helps us bond and he's been picking up on the household rules. I truly think that just spending time in his presence helps him understand who's in charge and in return I understand his body language better. I can read him like a book now. I also picked up a squirt bottle and spray any cat, dog, or chicken acting up. My roo doesn't mind it, but it stops his train of thought and I can redirect his attention. I'm hoping that I can keep him on track so as he grows, he's stays trained in positive behaviors. My husband had his feet attacked and flung him when he reacted. It was a sneak attack. Now my roo screams like a lady when he sees my husband and avoids him at all costs. It's quite amusing...to me anyway. The hubby, not so much. Now to figure out his crowing. Pretty sure sometimes he's just being needy and wanting my attention...or treats. Now, treats have helped with our bonding too. I hand feed him blueberries and we are best friends for the day.

 

[centrarchid]

I try handling mine as much as possible. Yes I've been bit multiple times however, I quit reacting. If he bites, I let him hang on while giving him a deep, firm NO. He's realized it's not that much fun. I can pick him up easier without incident now that we have an understanding. He still gets worked up when he sees me for the first time each day. He will immediately tap dance and peck at my feet like he's putting me in my place. Too bad I make sure to throw on shoes and tell him to move on. I started talking to him like a bratty child. He gets scorned and I am certain he knows his name as well as "NO!", "HEY!!!", and "Do NOT!" I'm certain the neighbors think I'm the meanest pet owner(HOA doesn't allow chickens). I can only imagine how I sound outside. Spending time with him during the day helps us bond and he's been picking up on the household rules. I truly think that just spending time in his presence helps him understand who's in charge and in return I understand his body language better. I can read him like a book now. I also picked up a squirt bottle and spray any cat, dog, or chicken acting up. My roo doesn't mind it, but it stops his train of thought and I can redirect his attention. I'm hoping that I can keep him on track so as he grows, he's stays trained in positive behaviors. My husband had his feet attacked and flung him when he reacted. It was a sneak attack. Now my roo screams like a lady when he sees my husband and avoids him at all costs. It's quite amusing...to me anyway. The hubby, not so much. Now to figure out his crowing. Pretty sure sometimes he's just being needy and wanting my attention...or treats. Now, treats have helped with our bonding too. I hand feed him blueberries and we are best friends for the day.

What kind of rooster is that? You may have something working in your favor on his genetics side.

 

[Agarrard]

What kind of rooster is that? You may have something working in your favor on his genetics side.

No idea! I've been told possibly a modern game barnyard mutt. I was sitting in the backyard one evening when the cat came over the fence with him at about a week old! We looked for his rightful home but with no luck. He was unscathed and it sure beats getting dead lizards as gifts! This is how we fell into chickens, lol. If any rooster owners have any ideas on Nugget's make and model, I'm all ears!!! Here are some pictures of him over the past 4 1/2 months starting with my shocked husband when I handed Nugget to him. He's not very big...yet. He has a peculiar comb too. It's like a large single pea comb. Kinda like chewing gum squished flat and stuck on his head. Fingers crossed that I have some genetics working in my favor!

 

[BantyChooks]

I remember reading about him- He's handsome!

 

[Agarrard]

I remember reading about him- He's handsome!

Thanks! I think so too. I wish they had genetic chicken breed testing like they do for dogs. Of course I'm wondering if chickens are anything like dogs, it's all in how they are raised, not necessarily the breed? I live in an area where I wouldn't be surprised if cockfighting was happening around me and if Nugget was the product of that kind of breeding. Fingers crossed he stays nice.

 

[CheerfulChirp]

Any advice on how to handle a roo who knows his place with humans, and always stays out of the way, but begins to show excessive aggression towards the hens he has matured with?

I have one rooster in the flock, he grew up with all the hens, and there should be enough hens and space for him. Before maturing, he was the lowest in the hierarchy, and is still significantly smaller than all the hens. Now he seems to be using mating initiation as a dominance thing, but instead of going through with the deed he often just rips feathers off their heads and jumps off again, only to seek out another hen 20 minutes later. I've had to separate him from the hens because he drew blood with one. Before he reached this phase, he treated the girls very well and was popular with them. He is fairly young, and although he really ought to be out of the teenage years by now he was a bit of a late-starter.

I know that culling is an option, but is there anything else that can be tried first? I have time and patience.

 

[lazy gardener]

Any advice on how to handle a roo who knows his place with humans, and always stays out of the way, but begins to show excessive aggression towards the hens he has matured with?

I have one rooster in the flock, he grew up with all the hens, and there should be enough hens and space for him. Before maturing, he was the lowest in the hierarchy, and is still significantly smaller than all the hens. Now he seems to be using mating initiation as a dominance thing, but instead of going through with the deed he often just rips feathers off their heads and jumps off again, only to seek out another hen 20 minutes later. I've had to separate him from the hens because he drew blood with one. Before he reached this phase, he treated the girls very well and was popular with them. He is fairly young, and although he really ought to be out of the teenage years by now he was a bit of a late-starter.

I know that culling is an option, but is there anything else that can be tried first? I have time and patience.

All the time and patience in the world won't rehab a boy like that IMO. Too many good roos out there to tolerate a serial abuser. Besides, why would you want to breed smaller genetics into your flock? (That's assuming that you are planning on raising chicks in the future.) I'd just replace him. This is the time of year when many folks will be culling wonderful roos before winter.

 

[CheerfulChirp]

Alright, I've resigned myself to sending him to the pot, and will start him on the new special diet.

He was supposed to be from a prolific commercial egg-laying line, so I didn't mind the smaller size, but I haven't been very impressed with his sisters either tbh, so it's probably no loss. The hens I bought from fellow backyarders have the right temperament and performance, plus a better appearance too. Lesson learned.

 

[dekel18042]

Thanks! I think so too. I wish they had genetic chicken breed testing like they do for dogs. Of course I'm wondering if chickens are anything like dogs, it's all in how they are raised, not necessarily the breed? I live in an area where I wouldn't be surprised if cockfighting was happening around me and if Nugget was the product of that kind of breeding. Fingers crossed he stays nice.

On the plus side, if he is from a game bird breeding, he will probably stay nice to humans. Any human aggressive roosters were quickly culled. How they may get along with other roosters is another story, but you don't know.