How to tame aggressive rooster?

[ThreePompoms]

Hello,
We have a Icelandic rooster named Dippy. He was hand raised (and saved by us several times). He has been very sweet until about a week ago (he is 6 months old). He started attacking my Mom and Dad by jumping from the roosting bar feet first. He hasn’t attacked me yet as I held him far a while to show I was dominant a month or two ago. After checking on internet what we should do, we decided to show we are dominant. Mom started holding him, and I chased and held him. When I chased and held he acted very subordinate, hiding in the nest box, not crowing, running away from me. When Mom held him, it didn’t seem to make a huge difference. This morning, Mom opened the door to the chicken coop and he imidiatly ambushed her (he new it was Mom because mom is the only one who comes in the morning). We really like him, and we really want to keep him. Does anyone have suggestions on how to make him stop being agressive and to make the process safer?
Here is some more info:
He started being agressive a few days after we came back from a trip. The first time he was very agressive was a day when we came to see the chickens very late. They had food, but the water was frozen (they weren’t thirsty).
He had a dificalt hatch.
He is the only rooster we have and he is with 3 hens (all hatched by us and haddeled a lot and very sweet)
Thank you,
ThreePompoms

 

[Melky]

Might try this article for advice for how to tame or handle an aggressive rooster.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dealing-with-roosters-roo-behavior.48152/

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[Shadrach]

Hello ThreePompoms.
Welcome to BYC.
There are lots of articles and threads on handling roosters here; there are also a lot of opinions. Have a read and choose what suits your time and abilities.

 

[SniperGoose]

6 months was around the age my roo was when he started becoming aggressive towards us. Like yours, mine was friendly and all, until one day that just stopped. I wanted to keep him, and so I tried changing his behavior. I'd grab a hold of him when he was trying to attack me, and pin him to the ground till he quit struggling, or hold him upside down by his legs. This worked for a short while - maybe 2 weeks, if that. Then he just didn't care, and was becoming increasingly more and more aggressive. We couldn't even go outside without him trying to attack us. It got so bad that we had to keep him locked in the run all day and let the hens free range on their own. We couldn't go in there without getting attacked either. He was constantly having to get pinned down, kicked away, etc. On top of that, he was an awful roo to our girls.

We finally had enough of him, and culled him. Haven't regretted the decision. I've heard roos are less aggressive when they aren't handled at all growing up. So maybe that is part of the issue here. Personally I wouldn't be putting up with an aggressive roo ever again, after dealing with mine. But I do wish you the best of luck in getting yours under control!

 

[Pork Pie]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-roosters-what-is-the-best-way-to-handle-them

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Look up beekissed's article here about managing roosters, it may help you.
My first rooster was an aggressive jerk, like Sniper's, and we tried too. I learned that idiots who attack the giants who bring food aren't worth the food or the danger, and none of them live here any more.
Human aggression is at least in part about genetics, and is separate in chickens from other more acceptable and helpful behaviors. Management matters, and I'm in the 'don't make pets out of cockerels' camp. Hens can be hand fed goodies and fussed over, but cockerels have to learn their job, which is watching over their flock and looking out for danger, not stalking the folks with the food.
Raise some straight run chicks this spring, and find a better boy!
Mary

 

[Shadrach]

A quick word of advice on what should be an obvious point.
Should you read a post where they have stated they killed the rooster then that poster has obviously failed to 'tame' a rooster and that post can be safely ignored.
You should concentrate on the posts where the poster has managed to succeed in 'taming' their rooster.

 

[Melky]

If you fail, rehoming in the free rehoming section can be an option and just order only females next time and just be in it for the eggs. A lot less hassle. Keep in mind taming an animal takes time, consistency, positive reinforcement only, and patience.

 

[Folly's place]

Another word from an 'old fogie'; reordering that little cockerel brain isn't always possible, especially with behavior that's hardwired in there. Failing to make a bird who's attacking his human caretakers into a sweet and charming pet isn't failure, it's often reality. And there should be no guilt attached to it.
I always hope that retraining can make a difference, but often it doesn't.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

A quick word of advice on what should be an obvious point.
Should you read a post where they have stated they killed the rooster then that poster has obviously failed to 'tame' a rooster and that post can be safely ignored.
You should concentrate on the posts where the poster has managed to succeed in 'taming' their rooster.

Yep, yep, yep!