Aggressive Rooster? Or Not 🐓?

[Lexie27]

Wow he's beautiful!

Yeah I agree, but I think all birds are beautiful, so..

 

[Shadrach]

I just wanted to share a story and give maybe a little advice that might help you in a similar situation. This is currently happening in my own flocks.
Everyone knows I been raising chickens and dealing with situations in my flocks for a very long time. (40+years) I have had several so called "aggressive" roosters. Pictured below is a rooster that is wearing my wife out almost daily. It is kind of comical, but my wife doesn't think it is very funny.
The rooster is a Showgirl Turkin/Silkie. He is a beautiful splash color and my wife calls him Cinnamon. Anyway she will come out of the house and start the walk to gather eggs in the runs anout 30 yards behind the house. Almost immediately Cinnamon will see her come out of the house and he will get into position. He looks like a track star getting into the starting block. He will crouch down, spread his wings a liitle, duck his head with his eyes fixed on the finish line. Then the starting gun goes off in his head when she opens the door to the run and he is on her. Just flogging. spurring, and even biting like an Anaconda or Snapping turtle, he grabs ahold with his beak and won't let go or he will start to twist ripping or tearing with his beak. Kinda of a new trick I haven't seen before. My wife doesn't like it too much and I get in alot of trouble because I am laughing so hard that I am crying. No bigger than he is, he really can't do too much damage except with the beak manuever. (I KNOW, I KNOW, BAD HUSBAND FOR LAUGHING).
What can she do? What did she do? This may help you too. Most people think it is Stew Pot Time. Could be, maybe, Not. Explanation time. Why is the rooster doing this all of a sudden?and why to her and not me?
1. Spring time-- every spring the temps rise, sunlight is longer and therefore the roosters Testosterone rises.
2. The hens start laying after the molt they just went through in winter, so the rooster needs and wants to breed and also wants to protect his ladies.
3. Do you have Multiple roosters? he is showing off his protection skills to the others. Or is he being bullied? He is showing the others he is tough and can and will fight if necessary.

So what to do? What did my wife and I do?
1. Be aware and understand what is going on SPRING IS HERE.
2. Wear long pants, good boots and gloves.
3. NEVER turn your back to a rooster in spring if you can help it or be sure you keep an eye on him.
4. Carry a bucket or a stick with you. The bucket is for keeping something between you and him if he attacks. The stick is used just to guide him in a direction you would like him to go, so you can gather eggs or feed them safely.
5. Another trick my wife learned and I didn't think of, which she points out, she will carry a spray bottle of water into the coop with her. If he charges she squirts him at his head. Apparently he don't like it and he stays away. Now she just carries the spray bottle in the coop and he doesn't attempt his attack at all now.
6. Relocation or isolation if necessary, but this should be a last resort Really not necessary. Very low chance this will happen
7. Stew Pot- yes this is an option, just not for me. I know some folks will eat the chickens they raise and it is no problem for them. But the only time I euthanize a chicken is do to disease or injury. Not for something that is normal behavior.

I hope this helps someone, maybe a little. This is my opinion and suggestions and zi know there will be people who may disagree or who have more options but this is what we do.









View attachment 4074672

You might enjoy reading this article.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

 

[Lexie27]

You might enjoy reading this article.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

Oh! Fabulous, thank you!

 

[darelmac]

My family has had chickens as far back as I know. Aggressive rosters are normal for free range chickens. More than just normal they are needed. When I see the rooster watching out for his hens I see him doing his job. I keep chickens for eggs, and if needed, the table. They are domesticated but not pets. At least not to me. I raise Rhode Island Reds and Black French Copper Maran. I want some Adam Ceman chickens but have not brought myself to purchase them thus far. I am sure there are pet chicken breeds and for breeds that fit into that category select for passive dispositions. A passive chicken roaming free range will be dinner for the first chicken hawk, feral cat, fox or coyote that it encounters. My wife doesn't usually feed the chickens at our home but when she does she carries a 2x2 to take care of our rooster. He respects the 2X2. I have been spurred by him where he hit me through my blue jeans hard enough to puncture my leg. I had let down my guard and was not watching him. He was doing his job.

 

[Ajb1952]

I have found that a good strong broom works well as a barrier and a defensive weapon against a mean rooster.

 

[sourland]

I'd try scooping him up in a short handled fishing net and carrying him around while conducting business. If that was not an attitude changer, I'd be looking for Coq Au Vin recipes.

 

[Twilia]

I'd try scooping him up in a short handled fishing net and carrying him around while conducting business. If that was not an attitude changer, I'd be looking for Coq Au Vin recipes.

You might like this article on roo aggression:

Ask about Roosters: How to Deal with Aggression, Explained.

After realizing the need for clarity, I decided to create an article for those of you who have roos with behavior issues, those thinking about adding one to your flock, or if you are just curious since the issue is natural to come up for each of us in even the most docile of males. It is...

• Twilia
• Mar 21, 2025
• 4.00 star(s) 2 ratings
• Comments: 3
• Reviews: 2
• Category: Member Pages

If you have suggestions, please leave a comment ; )

 

[Twilia]

When a rooster makes it impossible for me, my family members or visiting friends and neighbors to be safe in my oun yard.....
That rooster Is dead.
And yes. It's not funny.

Aggression is a natural survival tool, it is unfortunate when caregivers are aimed though. For dealing with aggression in roos, please read this article:

Ask about Roosters: How to Deal with Aggression, Explained.

After realizing the need for clarity, I decided to create an article for those of you who have roos with behavior issues, those thinking about adding one to your flock, or if you are just curious since the issue is natural to come up for each of us in even the most docile of males. It is...

• Twilia
• Mar 21, 2025
• 4.00 star(s) 2 ratings
• Comments: 3
• Reviews: 2
• Category: Member Pages

and if you have suggestions, leave a polite comment.

 

[Chicken Heel]

Ironically about an hour ago I had an encounter with an aggressive Shetland rooster. I was placing his water bowl in his coop and he flew against the door knocking it open. Unfortunately I had my short muck boots on and he spurred me in my right calf. It felt like a dagger and the wound began bleeding profusely through my sweat pants. I grabbed him by the neck and he was damn fortunate that I didn’t kill him. I have had chickens for almost 60 years and have never been spurred like that.

 

[FrostRanger]

Ironically about an hour ago I had an encounter with an aggressive Shetland rooster. I was placing his water bowl in his coop and he flew against the door knocking it open. Unfortunately I had my short muck boots on and he spurred me in my right calf. It felt like a dagger and the wound began bleeding profusely through my sweat pants. I grabbed him by the neck and he was damn fortunate that I didn’t kill him. I have had chickens for almost 60 years and have never been spurred like that.

Sorry to hear that happened. Roosters can indeed do a lot more damage than one would think if they get a good hit in as you found out. Hopefully your wound heals smoothly and that will be the last time that rooster attacks you or anyone else. Mean roosters make good soup fortunately