When to cull a rooster showing signs of aggression?

[McCouchsky]

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?

 

[Chickin Fairy]

It's not about attacking the rooster back! It's about his behavior, and I agree that getting into scraps with the attack bird can make things even worse.
When we have had human aggressive cockerels, or a rooster who decides this is a good idea, nothing we tried improved the situation. And about liability: any visitors, children, delivery people, all at risk. How is your liability insurance? Does you policy cover poultry? Find out before there's a problem! Most home owners, and some farm policies do NOT cover anything involving poultry!!!
Mary

My birds are all in a covered run because AI is bad here and I don't want to risk them getting sick. If they free range, they go out in the evening when I am supervising them. I know we disagree on this, Mary, but there are other solutions and people just don't know because the old-school ways are much more predominant. To the original poster, protecting others is a concern and should be considered in all of this as well, but if it is doable to protect others and keep a good rooster, why not work with him to build trust and see where it goes?

 

[McCouchsky]

My birds are all in a covered run because AI is bad here and I don't want to risk them getting sick. If they free range, they go out in the evening when I am supervising them. I know we disagree on this, Mary, but there are other solutions and people just don't know because the old-school ways are much more predominant. To the original poster, protecting others is a concern and should be considered in all of this as well, but if it is doable to protect others and keep a good rooster, why not work with him to build trust and see where it goes?

Well that is the plan. I'm not going to go smack him for no reason, but I will create a situation, repeatedly, where I am showing that I am the dominant rooster - I will pick up the hens whenever I want and parade them around and ignore him. If he repeatedly has a problem with this and attacks, despite me being much bigger than him and not bothering him and swatting him away if he initiates aggression, then I have done what is reasonable imo. I'm sure a smart rooster would not have a problem with this or quickly realize he is not dominant to me.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

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?

Picking up your hens in front of him will only tell him they need him to protect them from you. If you want to work with him, you need to build trust with him. Smacking him away is just going to show him you are a threat and he will come at you. Give him room and space. Move slowly while in there with him. Offer treats to him first, so he can pass them out to the hens. That's showing him you respect his place in the pecking order. The gloves, pants, glasses are all great ideas. You can also use a piece of cardboard or the lid to a tote or trashcan as a shield to protect you from him running at you. Don't use a stick/broom/shovel to protect yourself, he will see that as a threat. Spending time with them is what is going to show him you can be trusted. I can't remember the name of the method, but there is something where you put your hand out toward him repeatedly until he stops running away and then you use repetition on small actions like that, getting a little closer each time, until you can pet him/pick him up/etc. Good luck.

 

[McCouchsky]

Respectfully, these are livestock, not pets.

Edit: And the hens need to be picked up from time to time for their sake. If the rooster gets in the way of this then he is a bad rooster and needs to go. I don't see this as arguable.

Edit#2: I seem to recall reading that what you are suggesting is somewhat of submissive behavior to the rooster, which a near wild animal like a rooster will take advantage of. I don't think they see relationships as if them and the keeper are friends or equals, it's about dominance. Just like their relationships within the flock. It's instinctual.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Picking up your hens in front of him will only tell him they need him to protect them from you.

No. You need to be able to handle your hens whenever you please, even in front of the rooster. A smart rooster learns very quickly that a person picking up a hen isn't a threat like a predator snatching a hen. There is no reason to keep a rooster that is going after people when there are many others that are much better behaved that people often give away because they can't keep them.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

Well that is the plan. I'm not going to go smack him for no reason, but I will create a situation, repeatedly, where I am showing that I am the dominant rooster - I will pick up the hens whenever I want and parade them around and ignore him. If he repeatedly has a problem with this and attacks, despite me being much bigger than him and not bothering him and swatting him away if he initiates aggression, then I have done what is reasonable imo. I'm sure a smart rooster would not have a problem with this or quickly realize he is not dominant to me.

Just to let you know, my "aggressive" rooster does not attack me anymore since I have begun using these techniques. He also does not stalk/follow me when they do free range and works with me to "help" me gather the hens back to the run/coop. He now will allow me to pick up the hens and cuddle them, not because I showed him I was dominant, but because I showed him I can be trusted.

If you do the things you are suggesting, based on his previous behavior, you had better get your gun ready. You're putting him into a behavior pattern that he will not win in your eyes. Depending on where you are, I may be able to find someone who has a rooster sanctuary and can take him off your hands without the need for him to be killed. I can reach out to my contacts and see if there is someone nearby you who would take him. Just let me know.

 

[FrostRanger]

Another thing is human aggression can also be genetic so if you breed him, his sons are more likely to be human aggressive, I would cull him personally, there's a small chance behavior modification could work for him, but he has already shown he has bad genes in regards to temperment so this will likely be an issue in the future and even if he doesn't attack you, he might attack someone else, particularly a child

 

[Debbie292d]

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?

We have a 20-gauge and not to be gross but hubby was so mad at the rooster in the link I gave above that he shot him with it and it took his head right off.

Otherwise, to ever "catch" the uncatchable chicken, just go in the coop at night when they're roosting. They can't see but you can bring a flashlight or wear a headlamp. That's how we treat them for SLM (scaly leg mites.)

 

[Chickin Fairy]

No. You need to be able to handle your hens whenever you please, even in front of the rooster. A smart rooster learns very quickly that a person picking up a hen isn't a threat like a predator snatching a hen. There is no reason to keep a rooster that is going after people when there are many others that are much better behaved that people often give away because they can't keep them.

I meant what he is planning to do right now. He needs to build trust. Agreed there are so many roosters that need good homes because people cannot keep them. I understand my techniques are different than yours, but I agree the need to handle your hens whenever is vital to their health as well. We are saying the same thing just with different belief systems.