What to do: should I rehome my cockerel?

[Alexandra33]

My 10 week old cockerel has always seemed pretty docile up until this point, but today as I was reaching down to gather a duck egg off the coop floor, he rushed over and bit my hand hard enough to leave a red mark. This is a pretty serious situation, because I happen to have two younger brothers (ages 2 and 7 weeks) who both will soon like to roam the yard. We don't want to take any risks with little ones around, so what do you roo experts think I should do with my T.Roo? I have been pinning him down and "pecking" him on the head with a finger since an early age, but will that not make any difference? Thank you to all.

-Alex

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A dominant rooster would chase him away, pinning him and pecking is probably making him fight back, when a young rooster gets it in his head to try to confront me I begin my toss something at him every time I see him, usually my blue coffee can, most will begin to avoid me and run the other way, I've only had to do this once or twice, my other roosters know about the blue plastic scoop and never think about coming after me, the older ones get it tossed at them if they are trying to mate while I'm there.

It does sounds like this rooster might be too much for you to handle. I personally never handle my roosters except to pick them up to move them when they are young. No petting, no carrying, I want them to be slightly fearful of me, since I have been raising my roosters like this I have not had any of them attack me. Pet your hens, leave your roosters alone.

 

[aart]

That's pretty young to be so aggressive...and with little tiny kids around, I'd get rid of him.
If you really need a cock bird, keep him penned and away from the kids.

 

[donrae]

With those littles, their safety comes first. Get rid of the rooster. Even with the hens, the littles will need to be monitored around the birds. Kids' eyes are nice and shiny and a prime target for pecking.

 

[Alexandra33]

Thank you all for your invaluable advice. It is greatly appreciated! I completely agree, since last night I caught T.Roo attacking and pursuing my Sicilian Buttercup and Black Ameraucana, who are in the same brood as he is. Those two happen to be my favorites, so that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Such behavior will not be tolerated to any degree. We are now in the process of finding someone around here who would like a handsome Lavender Orpington cockerel; hopefully everything goes well until then.

-Alex