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

[kysilkies]

You cannot equate the mating behavior of different species to humans.

Agree, to a point. We can compare it to the behavior of other roosters and it's not that far a stretch from humans, in my experience.

Some you can tell are very happy with the "relationship" some you can tell aren't, the common factor we see is rooster behavior.

No different than men, some care how the mate feels, some don't. The difference is the hens can't get away from a non-caring rooster.

 

[snywalker]

I find that even when the rooster is nice to his flock and older hens had pecked him into line, he can still be a terror to you. It's about having confidence in the coop and also not letting the big boy push you around. As I said in an earlier comment, I pick up my rooster and carry him around, talking to him and handling him so he starts understanding that I am not going to hurt him or the hens. 

On another note, what are thoughts on removing spurs?  In an experiment one day, I began filing down my older roosters spurs, and they popped off. There was just a little blood, and the cockerel was fine. I'd started filing down his spurs because I had introduced another younger rooster and did not want them to hurt one another. All was fine in the end, but I had no idea you could just pop off the spurs. It made me rest easier when young people would go collect eggs, not that there was ever an issue, my roosters are handled often and respect people. 

I have been wondering about this lately. I have never done anything with them. I like the idea of them having some in case he has to defend the flock. But my current rooster's really need to be trimmed or something. They are very long.

 

[centrarchid]

Agree, to a point. We can compare it to the behavior of other roosters and it's not that far a stretch from humans, in my experience.

Some you can tell are very happy with the "relationship" some you can tell aren't, the common factor we see is rooster behavior.

No different than men, some care how the mate feels, some don't. The difference is the hens can't get away from a non-caring rooster.

The typical backyard setting has a lot in common with a mixed sex prison. Lack of options key to your interpretations.

 

[3girlz]

I agree. Hormones are just coming in. Hopefully he calms down

Last night I put them all together again and prayed for the best !! I heard some commotion this morning but this morning everyone looks ok !! Clara was sitting on her roost and I went to check for an egg and she started squawking!! Hank , who was free ranging came running!! He was squawking!! Lol but he didn't enter the coop ! I was happy to see he protected her as well !! So I'm going to butt out !! She ate with them for a couple of seconds so maybe the upheaval of having the alpha hen gone is calming down ! He did his thing with her and was much gentler today ! So maybe it's my fault for not understanding 18 week old cockerels!!!

 

[newhamplover]

And Bzzoff I have had a lifetime of people like you who think they can impose & make animals submit to them. Their standards. I have never seen these types be successful with animals. They may MAKE it submit for awhile but it will always come back to bite you....so to speak. I have always found it very rewarding to get the animal to work for you & with you. They are happy, enjoyable animals & so am I.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Last night I put them all together again and prayed for the best !! I heard some commotion this morning but this morning everyone looks ok !! Clara was sitting on her roost and I went to check for an egg and she started squawking!! Hank , who was free ranging came running!! He was squawking!! Lol but he didn't enter the coop ! I was happy to see he protected her as well !! So I'm going to butt out !! She ate with them for a couple of seconds so maybe the upheaval of having the alpha hen gone is calming down ! He did his thing with her and was much gentler today ! So maybe it's my fault for not understanding 18 week old cockerels!!!

That's good! Yeah I think the problem is he's just young and immature and glad to see he is learning. If you want you could always separate him until they both mature a bit more or keep them together and he should hopefully keep learning

 

[ShrekDawg]

And Bzzoff I have had a lifetime of people like you who think they can impose & make animals submit to them.  Their standards.  I have never seen these types be successful with animals.  They may MAKE it submit for awhile but it will always come back to bite you....so to speak. I have always found it very rewarding to get the animal to work for you & with you. They are happy, enjoyable animals & so am I. 

I don't know what the original post was but i do agree with this sentiment, though sometimes it can be hard finding the right motivator

 

[newhamplover]

I don't know what the original post was but i do agree with this sentiment, though sometimes it can be hard finding the right motivator

I couldn't agree with you more. I think that is what has always been so rewarding in working with animals when you do figure it out & it works. Over the years all of the trial & error & thought process in trying to get them to work for you. Then when you do get the lightbulb moment...how great. I guess that is why I have always enjoyed animals so much, even though at times they can make you want to pull your hair out.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I couldn't agree with you more.  I think that is what has always been so rewarding in working with animals when you do figure it out & it works.  Over the years all of the trial & error & thought process in trying to get them to work for you.  Then when you do get the lightbulb moment...how great.  I guess that is why I have always enjoyed animals so much, even though at times they can make you want to pull your hair out.

I definitely agree and you said it wonderfully! For the first few years I just thought my dog was stubborn or lazy (which admittedly he can be lol) but then I realized I was just boring, repeating many of the same tricks over and over and not that good of rewards, so then as I learned more I started adding new stuff to teach as well as higher value treats and sometimes I get more excited when he does it right, I was really boring before and he got bored versus getting more excited about it. I also realized in some cases play motivated him more, getting to play after, etc. But sometimes he's not interested or it gets him too riled up. I've been bad about training lately but I'm going to start getting back into it and he's great at obedience now. Heck, I've even taught the cat some tricks lol it's definitely fun when you get it right.

 

[cwaldensr]

I have a rooster "Brutus" who became a mean lil sucker. Not so much to me but to the hens. He had his lil flock and bit the other hens pretty bad. I built him a pen of his own and a nesting area for at night. I let him out every few days to be with the hens. I want to get chicks out of it. Is this acceptable. To just move him and then let him back in? Those poor beat up hens come out now and when I let him back in they just hide in the nest. Suggestions welcome.

Some of what I read is horrible. I just wanted him to stop tearing up the hens. I had about 4 hens who wouldn't even come out the nest. I think he was breaking eggs too but I couldn't really get the proof.

I have two chicks that are about 6 months old. I am about to let them into the nest with the other hens. I have no idea what he would do to them. What's the age when the rooster can get with the hens anyway?