Why did my always calm RIR rooster just attack me?

[azygous]

This is a current issue with a friend and me as our two young SLW roos are maturing. Hers just attacked her and she's very concerned her husband will make her re-home him since he was attacked and seriously injured by another roo they had a few years ago.

This site has a wonderful search feature. Type in "removing rooster spurs" and you'll get some extremely helpful "how-to" videos.

I fully plan on de-spurring my roo as soon as his spurs develop.

Also, as the others here advised, you really have to get tough. Humiliate and dominate! As soon as my roo Stan began sneaking up on me and pecking me on the backs of my legs just because he happened to be annoyed with me, I began the habit of carrying him around each day like a football under my arm, and letting his hens out while I continued to hang onto him, even though he struggled mightily. He's since learned the hens belong to me, not him. I only loan them to him.

It's been ages now since Stan has shown any aggression towards me.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

When you simply twist off the outer casing of the spurs there still is a smaller spur underneath. A de-spurred rooster can still do damage with those once they dry off & harden. And they can do plenty of damage, especially to a child, with their claws, beaks, & wings (there's a sharp spur at the wing joint).

 

[PortageGirl]

Give this a read, it has some advice and some good ideas about what goes on in rooster's little pea brains too... (yeah, not much bit there must be a little)

http://shilala.homestead.com/roosters.html I found it very informative.

I have had a RIR roos who were never a problem, but the breed must have that reputation for a reason so maybe I was just lucky.

 

[Tala]

Mine's fine if I wear jeans, and he has a love thing for my rubber muck boots, but khakies and brown shoes?? I had to re-educate him when I started having to wear khakies to work.

I've never kicked my roo, usually what he hates the most is if I grab him by the back of his neck feathers. Hackle feathers. That seems to speak his language. He also likes to try to "herd" me around, which isn't really agressive just dominant/bossy, so I do the same thing right back to him. Again I'm trying to "speak" his language. Eventually he wanders off and lets me be the boss I guess.
For the most part he's gentle enough. He walks along beside or with me and chatters to me and he's really gentle with the ladies. I like him enough to keep him.
If I sense that he might be getting fiesty he responds well to a loud and firm voice. I tell him "EASY BIG BOY TAKE IT EASY" but I think it's the tone not the words.

I've also carried him around some. He used to get scared in the dark (coz he never did it in the daylight) and he would peck me if I picked him up at night, so I wore a heavy polar fleece type sweatshirt. Carried him a few minutes for about 3-4 nights in a row until he quit freaking out and now he doesn't peck me if I want to mess with him in the dark. I think it's just in his instincts to react and fight against being grabbed in the dark. I can't fault him for that.

He doesn't like DH - so DH kicks him, and I don't trust him around strangers, but I get along with him just fine. I think RIR roos are particularly territorial, mine seems what I call "spazzy" - he thinks it's his job to control everything so he freaks out about everything that isn't "just so." My sister has a cat like that. Mr Roo may be replaced by one of the up-and-coming cockerels, depending on how their personalities bloom over the next month.

It's always a toss up with roos. I had 2 and one bit me for no reason so he got et. I can tolerate them doing their "job" and even competing with me for top spot (as long as I can win) but non-provoked attacks are intolerable.

 

[briana1975]

The RIR roo we had was dinner. He was down right nasty. The Buff Orp roo and Silkie roo and the EE roos are good. They know I am head chicken or turkey..... which ever. We have turkeys too. But my little Serama roo in his little coop with his two ladies is always trying to bite my finger. Each time he does I pick his little butt up and take him to the big coop to show him the BIG chickens and turkeys that will kick his butt. I don't let him loose cause they would actually get him. But I hold him and walk around with him and show him what a big rooster looks like. This usually works for a couple weeks till he tries again.

 

[blessedchickenmama7]

I have a RIR/PR roo who, so far, is pretty sweet. He's only around 10 months old though... But I have red cochin, same age, who has had to be booted a couple times. They usually get me if I have skirt on. Not so much in pants. Really, I've got one hen that's meaner than either of my roos. I'd cook her if I could get the guts up to kill her. She's mean as sin.

 

[dianer29]

try to find the video and have spurs removed and hold him with firm pressure and walk around with him . He will catch on. Of course watch the young children they are lower to the ground then we are usually. No reason to kick an animal ,would you kick your dog?We are supposed to be alpha,over the rooster ,hurting him can only make him feel teased and get madder.Think it through and act in a assertive role not an aggressive role.

 

[iamjunebug]

I'm new at this computer stuff -but my rooster's spurs are long but he doesn't hurt any of the other chickens. I just wondered if they should be trimed once in a while and how do you do it?

 

[jeslewmazer]

First of all.....

You can start your own thread that might get a better responce to your question.
Spur saw or one of those small hand hailed saws (looks kinda like that Petty Paws thing)
You don't have to cut spurs but they can get to long and complicate walking and mating.

 

[jeslewmazer]

try looking at this http://www.fowlvisions.com/?p=39