When to cull a rooster showing signs of aggression?

[tripletfeb]

I have the chickens in an area enclosed by a poultry fence, far away from the one neighbor that we do have and far away and inaccessible from visitors or delivery people. My children are far too young to even be able to get outside by themselves, let alone into the chicken area. So these aren't problems now or in the next few years.

The roosters spurs have not come in yet, they are just slightly growing. It will probably be months before they can do real damage.

Considering the above and that I'm a tall large young man, I think there is room now, if ever, to either test things out or to train the roosters who is boss, if that's even possible. This week going to wear some thick jeans and longsleeve and safety glasses and go into the pen and pick up and carry some hens, and see what happens. I hope the rooster eventually figures out he is not getting his way and if he tries to do anything physical he will get smacked away. They are my hens and not his, and he will learn that. If I do this near every day for a few weeks I hope he is smart enough to get with the program instead of repeating his failing behavior. If he doesn't improve then he's being removed.

BTW an issue with culling him I have is that there is just no way this rooster will let me pick him up. If I have to kill him, do I shoot him with a small gauge shotgun? Any advice?

If this was in my flock, I would keep the RIR and cull the more aggressive cockerel. You can take him off the roost at night and do the deed. Enjoy him as dinner. That will let you see how the other cockerel would behave if he is the only male around. Any aggression from him and he goes too. It's never to late to cull for peace of the flock, and safety of the humans. I've had much success using the broomstick method to cull. I've also put a .22 in the back of the head, for one that was very sick. Good luck to you

 

[WoDia]

If you have any issue with culling your aggressive rooster, take him off the roost at night and have a new home ready for him the next morning (or a temporary enclosure ready until you do rehome him). If you’re willing to advertise, there’s someone out there who might want him for flock protection. I had a gorgeous, but aggressive, rooster years ago. I advertised, being very honest about his behavior, and I was able to quickly rehome him to a farm that was looking for a roo like him to watch over their free range flock. They gave me an update almost a year later and let me know that they were happy with him.

 

[Vixen with Chickens]

BTW an issue with culling him I have is that there is just no way this rooster will let me pick him up. If I have to kill him, do I shoot him with a small gauge shotgun? Any advice?

You can buy a hand net big enough to catch them, its very helpful when catching a bird that doesn't want to be grabbed.

 

[Mrs. K]

They have very small brains, and very big gonads! I have not found them very trainable unless you start when they are chicks. Once they show aggression, it is too late and you really should not trust them. A lot of people enjoy the brave and friendly cockerel as they grow up. And then they make excuses for their behavior as the hormones begin to change the behavior of the roo. Most people keep the first rotten rooster way too long.

It sounds like you have young children in the family. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of kids. Personally I do not advise keeping a rooster until kids are 6 years old. Before that, there is a strong chance that kids will take the attack in the face. And cockerels are opportunist, in that they attack children first, then women and men last of all.

I will admit that I have grandchildren, well under the age of 6 who visit frequently. I keep a rooster. But the coop is a ways from my house, the littles ones don't go without me, and my rooster has not given me any warning of a aggression. I am highly experienced, and very aware of the warnings of aggression. New people to chickens are not.

In my opinion, there are rotten roosters, a lot of them, so -so roosters, and then fabulous flock masters, which rather ruin the other roosters for you, for years to come. But the best way to get a truly wonderful rooster, is not to keep the rotten ones.

When I have multiple roosters, I thin them out, wait and see and thin again. Sometimes none of them make the flock in the end. If you are raising these with flock mates, your chance of a good rooster, IMO dramatically decreases. I would be tempted to cull both of these, and look at the feed store, or 4-H groups, or poultry clubs. What you really want is a rooster about a year old, who has been raised in a multi-generational flock, and is so darn nice he got the bye on being culled by someone who would cull if needed. But do not add him to your girls until they are laying.

Mrs K

 

[McCouchsky]

Regarding a rooster raised in a multi generational flock, I am considering having a hen hatch some fertilized eggs (not from my current roosters), and let the current roosters and older hens teach any cockerels some things before culling these roosters. I am heavily leaning on getting rid of the BR if he fails the next few weeks, and then watch to see how the RIR does and potentially get rid of him too. It's also interesting that the RIR is much much larger than the BR yet is not as aggressive.

 

[nuthatched]

Do you want nice roosters or roosters who will protect your hens in case of a attack?

These are not mutually exclusive traits. A human nice rooster will still protect his hens* and a mean one doesn't guarantee he'll guard them.
* roosters are generally not capable of defending against any larger predators and even then, it's a self sacrificing 'fight'. They're a distraction, they usually die. 'Guard rooster' is really a myth.

 

[Folly's place]

If you are able to convince this cockerel to leave you alone, which I think is doubtful, he sill still try any other human he meets. Not worth it!
And off the roost at night is when it's best to pick up birds of either sex, although a big long handled fish net is essential equipment for those occasional mid-day adventures...
Mary

 

[Mrs. K]

Regarding a rooster raised in a multi generational flock, I am considering having a hen hatch some fertilized eggs (not from my current roosters), and let the current roosters and older hens teach any cockerels some things before culling these roosters

Do not keep the cockerels you have now for this. Older hens will often do a great job keeping a cockerel in his place. These are not great cockerels that you have.

Sometimes an older rooster will work out educating younger birds, but most of the time it doesn't work, and they don't call it cockfighting for nothing. And I think that causes a lot of tension in the flock.

Last year, in a rebuilding mode, I added a pair of cockerels to my older hens. They received quite an education. I would have said that they were getting along fine, and the hens and pullets seemed fine. But a friend needed a rooster, and I let one go.

Much to my surprise, this really changed the dynamics of the flock. The hens just seemed happier with just one rooster to dote on. He paid more attention to the girls, not the other rooster. There was a lot more tension in that flock than I thought or noticed until it was gone.

Eliminating one rooster now, may really change things in your flock, might not too. Always solve for peace in the flock.

Mrs K