Mean rooster

[CCsRanch]

You can catch him at night, if all else fails. Since it probably will (fail that is) I'd skip the catch attempts during daylight. I would consider getting him when he gets on his perch ready for bed. I'd put the dog crate in the barn now so no one thinks anything of it. Have his straw or whatever bedding you use inside, ready for him. Open the crate door, get him off of the perch & in he goes. He can spend the night in the crate & then off he goes for processing in the morning. No muss, no fuss & no terrified hens.

Assuming that this is what you are going to do, of course. If it's any consolation, I know how you feel. Let your little hen steel your resolve & best of luck. It will be ok.

Their 'perch' is 6' tall so would be hard to get him at night from up there. BUT I moved the crate into the area just now so he'd be used to seeing it, and put some straw into it. Two hens went looking into it, then Roo walked in alone and I LOCKED HIM IN! Thanks for the idea! So I'll give him some food and water and he's stuck there until I take him to the processing place tomorrow! Hens are safer now!

 

[Folly's place]

Very good work!!!
Some of my birds roost eight feet up in the coop rafters, and we can get them down at night anyway. Get a big long handled fish net at the sporting goods store, move the bird off the roost with it, using only a small flashlight, not full illumination, and then scoop the bird up in the net.
It's not as smooth as picking one off a lower roost, but doable.
Mary

 

[BarredRockMom]

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! Or the crate door in this case! Glad it worked out!

 

[CCsRanch]

Chicken soup from that mean Rooster wasn't too bad. And news is that last week the old red hen hurt by him last Oct finally STARTED laying again! She's the only one with a light brown egg, so I know it's her! Bottom left in pic.!