Urgent advice needed, is he going to bite me

[Glenmar]

I have a mean rooster. I want to separate him from the hens tonight when I get home.
If I take him off the roost at midnight, is he going to wake up enough to fight me??

 

[gardendufus]

Can't answer your question, but thought I'd say that I read somewhere to be sure you use as little light as possible as the more light you use the more aware of what's happening they will be.

 

[Den in Penn]

He may well wake up and fight. If you can cover his head quickly he should calm down. Try to use as little light as possible.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Don't think the lateness of the hour matters as long as it's dark out. Roosters are supposed to be alert; it's their job.

Keep it as dark as possible and snatch him up fast. Prepare for a struggle- as far as he knows, he's fighting for his life. Maybe you could try draping a towel over him first, a common practice with wildlife rehabbers. I hope someone can help you so you don't have to deal with closing the door at the same time.

 

[Glenmar]

OK. I will take a towel in there to cover him with. Man, I am nervous, but I have to do something about this boy. I have resorted to feeding and watering the hens only at night because I don't want to go in the run with him.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Is he very special to you? Have you considering finding him a new home? Or maybe a new purpose in life (dinner)?

I know it's a tough decision, but you shouldn't have to be afraid of him. Roosters can really do some damage and you'll always have to worry about little kids around him.

If he's still young, you might be able to curb his aggression, but I've never heard of an older meanie mellowing.

 

[Glenmar]

He is a year old. I currently have an ad out on CL. I am hoping to rehome him. I am not against eating him, but I would have a hard time doing him in.

My first choice is to find him a home. The ad went out tonight. I have a separate temporary run to put him in for now.

One one and a half hours left, and I will be face to face with the beast.

 

[bj taylor]

i think a towel or other cloth is a good idea. it's hard to control them when they start flapping desperately. you don't want to break his wings, let him hurt you, or have to leave without getting him. i used a towel to hold an injured owl once. he was too far gone to fight, but if he had gotten loose in the car, things could have gone bad, so i made sure he had no chance of escape.

 

[DelDels]

I had a rooster like this. I moved him at night in the dark too. I used leather gloves and safety glasses. I didn't need them because he was docile in the dark. But it made me feel better and I would use them again if I had to do it again. He went to the big coop in the sky.

 

[Glenmar]

Ok. I am on my way home in 15 min. Wish me luck.