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

[DHarmon]

Our 2 year old houdan roo, Milton, will attack and seriously scratch our legs, drawing blood any time and any place. Now we try to always carry a squirt bottle which he has learned to respect. Whenever I forget the bottle, he notices and is sure to attack my legs and work shoes. He's good with his girls, and he'll eat from my hand, but just when all seems fine he'll jump up kicking and scratching my hand or legs. We keep him because of his novel appearance and humorous behavior when herding his girls. His vision is hindered by his fluffy crest, so I can simply reach down and grab him when necessary if I've forgotten my squirter. Then it's under my arm and over to the spigot and hose for a more serious dousing in warmer months. We love him as a pet, but must be mindful and keep him in the coop when visitors drop by.

 

[bobbi-j]

I have a beautiful Barred Rock Rooster who has been so sweet until about 3 wks. ago. He now charges me & tries to scratch at me.  Needless to say, my feelings are hurt:/   He belongs to my disabled son  so I'm hesitant to eat him.  Whenever I go outside I take my cane or if I'm out & he's coming at me I turn & raise my arms & "get big".  That works.  But, darn, he's sneaked up on me a few times & tried to dig out my back &  legs.  Good thing I had on jeans.

So, he's already attacking you - will your son be able to escape or defend himself when the bird goes after him?

On another note - I kept two cockerels from this year's chicks. They are approximately 4 1/2 months old. The Buff Rock is clearly the alpha, but minds his manners around me (although he "growls" at my dog, which is rather humorous since it's a big dog). Today I was removing my broody hen from the coop (yet again - trying to discourage her) and that cockerels headed my way when he saw me carrying her. So, I held onto her and just kept walking toward him, making him move, until I got tired of the game. So far, so good. Time will tell how he progresses.

 

[Lincityfarmette]

have an agressive blue Blue Barred Cuckoo Marans roo. His first attck scarred my arm. The 2nd attack I met with dominion conversation and tools of pursuasion. He became afraid for awhile. But I do NOT trust him with Husband who has recent skin grafts due to 3rd degree burns at his job, nor with my grandchildren who are pre-schoolers. So if you want him let me know. he did eat out of my hand a couple of times since all this but the girls do not seem to care for his attention. He is isolated now. If you want him for breeding say so soon. I am In Big city Southern Calif.

 

[Folly's place]

This Marans cockrel is Not a good breeding prospect, because of his behavior. Human aggressive birds will produce more of the same! Mary

 

[AustralorpsAU]

Hi everybody. I currently have a 12 week old Australorp cockerel and he hasnt showed any signs of maturing or attacking yet. I dont think he will be too much trouble but then again i dont really know. When i walk up to him he immediately moves out the way. I mean if i sit down he will still be inquisitive and wonder over but as soon as i stand up he moves away. I don't know if this is any indication

 

[Lisa Wood]

Ok, moving on to an other point:  My roo desperately needs to have his spur(s) trimmed.  He broke one last summer, so it's blunt but getting longer.  The other one is very deadly.  I have not yet done it b/c I'm a scaredy cat, afraid that I'll get into the quick and he'll bleed out.  So, how short can I go?  How difficult is it to do?  What do you use?  I have some blunt end nippers that I think would do an admirable job, if they don't crack it.  Then, I think I'd hit it with a plain metal file.  I've heard of the hot potato, and simply twisting them off with a pair of pliers, but... I think either method would leave a very soft quick that would be prone to injury.  I have no intention of putting him in a cage for a few days for something like that to heal.  Will a styptic pencil stop any bleeding???

I have dog grinders, that run so fast, you cannot draw blood because grinder cauterizes the root, so to speak, if I ever get that close. I never get that close because they flinch and let you know you are close. Roots can actually withdraw a little if you get close enough.
My bird lady for my little cockatoo uses the same tool. I am afraid, as one mistake and you could rip a toe off. But it is an option for somone with more confidence than myself.

 

[meltel]

I didn't read this whole thread, but just wished to respond to the OP.

Also I should say I've never had one of those sociopathic roosters people often hear about. So my dealings with roosters have all be very good, ... so far!

I did have one, an easter egger roo, who started to front with me and attack my heels if I'd walk by. I remedied this by turning around swiftly, picking him up and tucking him under my arm and walking around with him for a while... as if he was a rag doll. It worked. You don't have to be violently aggressive... in fact, I would suggest not as this could make the situation worse. But you just have to let them know early who is boss (well, the ones I've had, as I said none were those kind that were insanely wicked) The more respectful you are with them, the more you can get them to open up to you and respect you. Don't hurt them, but firmly and gently carry them around until they get it that you are in charge, not them. Stay calm, like its no big deal too. Don't be afraid of them. This is what I've found.. don't know if this is true for all roosters though. I pity those who deal with a real nightmare of a roo!

I do want to note now that the rooster mentioned is now very much friendly with me and not had a problem with him being aggressive with me since.

This has worked for me too. As a matter of fact, as soon as I know that my bird is a roo, I begin handling them firmly, walking around with them around the other chickens and if I see signs of aggression toward the flock, I actually hold them in the "chicken grasp" and tip them upside down for a bit. It shows dominance-much like training a dog to be submissive. I haven't got an aggressive roo yet but if there is one I can't handle, I know there is a needy family out there that would love to have a fresh chicken dinner.

 

[jeepgoil1508]

I know next to nothing about chickens, but I know about my chickens. Our roo was a very nice guy until he was about 5 or 6 months old. Then nearly overnight, he turned into a jerk.

 

[kysilkies]

This was easy decision for us, we put too much love and caring into every bird to deal with a meanie. They will learn the hard way, "they had it best", when they go bye bye.

First, I'm only talking about aggressive with us, if aggressive with hens, there's no decision, ciao amigo after immediate isolation. We have zero tolerance for that.

Now with us, if the rooster is good to hens and is fertile, it depends. We have one now that every now and then gets cranky but 99.9% of time is fine so he stays. If mean to just one of us, seems to be the case as more roosters have issue with wife than me(is this normal out there?), if the other can deal with him and he's still good to hens and produces, he stays. If constantly poop head to both of us, we will take the next 2 roosters he bears and raise them to replace him. We will tolerate him until production won't be messed up. We then watch the two and get rid of alpha. If both get along, we'll keep both. We only want docile, sweet and beautiful birds...

 

[PrairieChickens]

Quote: I've been fortunate. I haven't had a single human-aggressive rooster since I started teaching my classes. I had three roosters out of probably about 200 or so that were actually aggressive towards people, and they were culled. Now my focus is on culling roosters that are too aggressive with each other or too pushy with the hens.