Vicious Rooster help please

[MilesFluffybutt]

Sorry, I’ve misunderstood and made a wrong assumption ☺ I really only want to try everything possible before giving up on him. I hoped that the experience of others on here might find a solution that could save his life and my pain (emotional and physical!) I understand that I can’t go on as things are

I keep a small roster flock so I know all about temperamental roosters. I have never found that harsh physical corrections achieve the desired outcome. It takes time and the changes in behavior/attitude are incremental. Some roosters respond better to correction than other.

My go-to method is to put on thick pants and boots and let the rooster flog me until he's tired himself out. While he's attacking, I will take steps forward so he constantly has to readjust his attack. I always keep him in front of me. Once he's tired, I march him around and through his territory then I go about my chores. He's not welcome back into the space until I say so because I control the territory and flock. So I may have to repeat it a few times, but they usually get it. I never raised a fist, a boot, or my voice.

 

[centrarchid]

I keep a small roster flock so I know all about temperamental roosters. I have never found that harsh physical corrections achieve the desired outcome. It takes time and the changes in behavior/attitude are incremental. Some roosters respond better to correction than other.

My go-to method is to put on thick pants and boots and let the rooster flog me until he's tired himself out. While he's attacking, I will take steps forward so he constantly has to readjust his attack. I always keep him in front of me. Once he's tired, I march him around and through his territory then I go about my chores. He's not welcome back into the space until I say so because I control the territory and flock. So I may have to repeat it a few times, but they usually get it. I never raised a fist, a boot, or my voice.

You stole my approach. I have tried the other methods and was not satisfied with results.

 

[DobieLover]

For all the "put him in the crock pot" responders to the thread, roosters like this CAN be managed. I have one.
Two things that boggle my mind every time I start down the rabbit hole in this type of thread is A - my rooster is injuring me and B - why keep him?

My senior rooster has flogged me more times than I can count and not once did he injure me. Why? Because I don't give him the opportunity. Wear jeans, boots and gloves if you need to.

Why do I keep him? Like the OP, I raised him from a chick and I'm fond of him and he is an outstanding rooster with the flock. I, like the OP, have no kids.

I'll be damned if I'm going to give up on learning from that rooster and him learning from me. We've come so far. I can tell when he's in a 'mood' and can avoid issues. He's so much better now than he was a year ago. They can do better. But it's MY behavior changes that have improved things.

If all the rooster killers don't want to work with their birds that's fine. But please move on from these threads if you don't agree with the OPs request for help in reforming 'bad' behavior.

 

[mothernatureshelper]

For all the "put him in the crock pot" responders to the thread, roosters like this CAN be managed. I have one.
Two things that boggle my mind every time I start down the rabbit hole in this type of thread is A - my rooster is injuring me and B - why keep him?

My senior rooster has flogged me more times than I can count and not once did he injure me. Why? Because I don't give him the opportunity. Wear jeans, boots and gloves if you need to.

Why do I keep him? Like the OP, I raised him from a chick and I'm fond of him and he is an outstanding rooster with the flock. I, like the OP, have no kids.

I'll be damned if I'm going to give up on learning from that rooster and him learning from me. We've come so far. I can tell when he's in a 'mood' and can avoid issues. He's so much better now than he was a year ago. They can do better. But it's MY behavior changes that have improved things.

If all the rooster killers don't want to work with their birds that's fine. But please move on from these threads if you don't agree with the OPs request for help in reforming 'bad' behavior.

Thank you so much, your kind words have made my day I love the little ruffian and I’ll keep trying until I’ve nothing left to give! I am very grateful for the helpful suggestions some people have made - they’re exactly the reason I turned to this forum. For the ones I haven’t tried yet I’ll definitely work through each until I find a solution. Thank you again.

 

[mothernatureshelper]

I keep a small roster flock so I know all about temperamental roosters. I have never found that harsh physical corrections achieve the desired outcome. It takes time and the changes in behavior/attitude are incremental. Some roosters respond better to correction than other.

My go-to method is to put on thick pants and boots and let the rooster flog me until he's tired himself out. While he's attacking, I will take steps forward so he constantly has to readjust his attack. I always keep him in front of me. Once he's tired, I march him around and through his territory then I go about my chores. He's not welcome back into the space until I say so because I control the territory and flock. So I may have to repeat it a few times, but they usually get it. I never raised a fist, a boot, or my voice.

Thank you, I think this approach coupled with the spray bottle might be a good combo. tomorrow I shall be digging the back of the wardrobe for some thick jeans!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I’m emotionally attached to him and believe that when you own an animal it’s for life. Oh and I’m vegetarian

I was very emotionally attached to my first ever attacker.. and he was "rare breed" and my very favorite bird before the attacks started.. that worked VERY hard to get and intended as the main stag in my breeding program. I'm not vegetarian yet, despite being borderline.. but I'm not joking when I tell you the meaner the roo the sweeter the stew.

My biggest regret... is not dispatching him sooner (or letting someone else, I too am NOT above feeding them out to other animals... the barn cats do ALL the work when needed after I humanely and quickly do the deed)... I took it for so long it almost turned me against roosters forever. It took several months before I could appreciate the beautiful crow of another boy. And YES, I too tried ALL the techniques people claim work for them... EACH rooster is an individual... Ugh, my son cleans stalls and has a Silkie rooster that comes across the property to attack him EVERY time despite being punted quite hard. That Stupid Silkie rooster even attacks my friend and her husband refuses to take any action. There is NO changing SOME boys.. and this sounds like it's been going on way to long to expect a change now.

Dominance and "trust" is not the key in my experience.. De-escalation, body language, and respect very much are. So sorry you face this.. I HAVE been there before.

Now... many roosters later... some were very fantastic and I have mourned their loss! None have attacked the way my first (lap rooster mistake) did.

So glad I started over... and ended up with balanced, amazing flock members... that bring JOY into my life instead of daily pain and frustration.

NO, I wasn't scared either.. some boys don't care.. they are hormonal driven idiots doing what comes natural and they are stuck on that one track in their tiny brain... only way to change it is give him a perspective change.. redirect his focus OFF you. Give him a better target, maybe??

Sorry you face this!

Please note, this is posting while I'm still reading the thread. Please dismiss repeat suggestions or anything that simply isn't applicable to you.

Best wishes for a balanced rooster and positive outcome!

 

[MonroviaChicks]

Before we had our own flock, we had a neighbor whose roo would attack my kids in my yard. I found that a 1"x1" piece of lumber was a great deterrent. I whacked him with it and thought I had killed him, but he got up and shook it off after a few seconds. Thereafter, I could pick up a stick and he would head the other way. Oh, and he would come back if I turned my back on him.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

I have a 14 month old roo that I’ve hatched and owned from egg to now. He has 8 hens and free range all day in my large back garden, only locked in the coop at night.
I’m at my wits end with his behaviour. He is constantly attacking me and I’m scarred all over both legs and a few on my hands.
I’ve tried all the methods I’ve found during hours of research. From waving my arms and chasing him to lifting him and walking about with him under my arm (he’s way too big and violent to try this again!) and everything in between!
Believe me over the past 6 months I’ve spent more time researching and trying “taming” methods than spending time with my hens.
This morning was the last straw - I went to put out fresh water and he came at me with no warning leaving me with a cut and bruised leg and a hole in my hand.
Help - if anyone can offer any suggestions outside the normal taming techniques I’d be very grateful as this boy is causing me tremendous pain.

Ha I have a soft spot for moody animals. My rooster will not bother with me but he does not like women. He will run across the yard at my wife. He sometimes gets the nervous potty dance by my 10 yo daughter but he always looks to see if I'm watching then he puts his head down. He was worse and I did a lot of pick up and hold and he got better. He still doesn't like women. He gives his treats to his hens though.

 

[Shadrach]

There are very few deranged vicious roosters that attack humans for no reason. It isn't in the interests of their long term health and tbh, one has to admire their bravery if they do.
Even a large rooster isn't likely to weight more than ten percent of the human he attacks. He doesn't have a height advantage or a reach advantage.
From what I've read on this forum in particular the most common reasons for aggression from roosters are, feeding his hens and picking up his hens.
The important point here is, no matter what you may think, the rooster thinks the hens are his.
It's a very important point. For some keepers the inconvenience of coming to terms with the fact that the rooster considers the hens his and expects you to act accordingly is enough to make them decide that there can only be one boss and that has to be the human. I can understand this but in such cases perhaps it's better not to keep roosters.
The next common reason for rooster aggression is that while roosters are juveniles they can be the most affectionate and endearing creatures and their human keeps respond to this treating them more like pets, picking them up, cuddling them and generally making a fuss of them. Unfortunately roosters grow up and their flock status changes along with their behavior. Some keepers cannot adapt to this change.
Imo and in my experience the most sensible advice has been given by cetrarchid and DobieLover and that is wear suitable clothing at all time, much as one would when say handling Mink. A mink is far more aggressive and will happily bite an end of your finger off given the oppertunity. It's your responsibility as a keeper to make sure you dont and nobody else who comes into contact with them gets injured by the animals you keep.
This article may help you understand why your rooster is aggressive towards you. It won't give you a solution to your problem directly though because there are so many variations in your and the roosters behaviour. I have roosters that are absolutely fine if I do A, but not at all impressed if I do B.
It's a long article and there is a lot of information in it. It's up to you to decide which pieces of information are relevant to your keeping arrangements.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Ha I have a soft spot for moody animals. My rooster will not bother with me but he does not like women. He will run across the yard at my wife. He sometimes gets the nervous potty dance by my 10 yo daughter but he always looks to see if I'm watching then he puts his head down. He was worse and I did a lot of pick up and hold and he got better. He still doesn't like women. He gives his treats to his hens though.

Actually.. I'm reminded now why my friends husband digs that attacking rooster.. Both have little man syndrome and he sees his own plight playing out.

Short and cocky with something to prove!

I'm sure growing up shorter than many and being judged by all.. (all species do this btw, my full size hens WON'T bat an eye for a bantam roo), had heavy impact on his current thought process and behavior.

For some keepers the inconvenience of coming to terms with the fact that the rooster considers the hens his and expects you to act accordingly is enough to make them decide that there can only be one boss and that has to be the human. I can understand this but in such cases perhaps it's better not to keep roosters.

I love that you provide lots of good information and include to use what's relevant to the individual situation.

I AM the keeper who won't come to terms with a stingy and reactive rooster with no discernment for REAL danger. In my situation, it was simply a matter of finding an agreeable rooster.. but it translated to how the rooster acted about the whole situation.. dogs, visitors, etc. I had some that would come attack everything from across the property and others that simply escort their flock farther away. None truly appreciate the hens being handled even the ones that do accept it.

There are very few deranged vicious roosters that attack humans for no reason. It isn't in the interests of their long term health and tbh, one has to admire their bravery if they do.

I don't think any are deranged or vicious.. but there is a difference between bravery and stupidity.. don't you think? There comes a point when do the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome.. is really not reasonable.

https://www.yourchickens.co.uk/care-and-advice/chicken-body-language-1-4494696

Which leads to another thought.. since this started dear OP.. you said you have tried MANY things.. I have seen a lot of evidence that positive reinforcement works FAR better than negative.. but when you decide to try and do something... like redirect his focus away from you, maybe by tossing treats another direction for HIM to give his hens (or in front of never behind you). The point I'm trying to make here is consistency. Whatever you are going to do try to be very consistent.. and value TINY improvement... don't expect it to happen all at once as it did not become this way all at once.. But once you find anything that gives you the desired reaction even a little.. repeat it, expect possibly back lapses & testing.. realizing hormones do go up and down and we nor they are in control or realize how they effect us subconsciously. Even when we have the desire to believe that something is changing in our heart.. our mind tries to protect us and say this can't be real, sabotage it... IE.. test the keeper to see if they revert back to their old ways. Don't bite.. stay calm, move predictably and intentionally... be patient. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Day after day (not hours on end) until the desired effect is achieved.

These were both decent reads that might give you more helpful ideas..
https://blog.cacklehatchery.com/how-to-deal-with-a-mean-rooster/

https://www.efowl.com/rooster-wants-know/