:( My favorite rooster spurred me today...

[Sukiyaki]

I'm a first time chicken owner with a flock of nine. Six hens and three roosters. Two of the roosters are nice as can be but the third one, Piper the golden polish roo attacked me out of the blue yesterday. I was wearing jeans but the open part of my foot he managed to get bled. We'd been 'friendly' before that--he'd eat out of my hand. Ever since that, however, he's been nothing but aggressive towards me. I've hand raised my chickens and am hesitant about giving him away or killing him. Is there any possible thing I can do?


Any suggestions would be appreciated, I'm at a loss of what to do!

(Posting in the morning to reply in the afternoon)

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Good morning!

You really would be better off with fewer roosters. The ratio of hens to roosters in a flock is about 10-12 hens per rooster. As your roosters mature, they will begin to fight amongst themselves for control of the hens, and may end up severely injuring one another. They will also overmate the hens, and you will end up with stressed hens with bare, scratched backs from too much mating.

It's possible that your rooster attacked you because he considers you another member of the flock (a bigger rooster), and is trying to show you that he is dominant over you.

If you want to keep the roosters, choose one as "flock roo" to remain with the hens and put the others in a separate coop or "bachelor pad."

 

[PortageGirl]

Don't give up, it IS possible to get him to where you can manage him... maybe... probably... but he's never going to be a baby again, you'll have to keep an eye on him and any other rooster you have.
Read Rooster-Red's article > https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2588-Roo_behavior and be firm with him. It seems like it confuses some and gentles them when they realize you aren't going to actually -fight back- with them on rooster terms, but on human terms and that you'll be sorta nice, but using hands instead of wings does put them at a disadvantage!!!

You pick them up and take away their advantage, no leverage to flog you so you must be dominant. Also in the past, I've gotten a hand on their neck/shoulders and pushed them down flat (sort of flat) so they have to squat like a hen... I'd say it embarrasses their macho-selves, but chickens don't have human emotions, so embarrassing isn't the right word. What they do have is a 'pecking order' though and he's trying to convince you that he’s more dominant than you are. If you can’t convince him otherwise, you’ll have an ongoing problem with him.

It's funny how roosters just don't seem to consider size a barrier. They must be very optimistic creatures!! "Hey, there's a giant human!! I'm going to attack now!!"

[edit] And Yes to what Chicken Lady said, you either need more hens or less roosters.

 

[digitS']

I've related this story before: I once had a neighbor with a BIG Leghorn rooster. One day, he was spurred in the knee.

That knee swelled up like a basketball and the neighbor missed a couple days of work. I'm not all that interested in being laid-up because a 8 pound chicken decides I don't belong in my yard.

The restraint method advised by Rooster Red makes a great deal of sense. Tolerating aggressive behavior makes no sense at all. Things will only get worse.

Steve

 

[LocoPollo]

I had one spur me, though he was young and didnt have developed spurs yet. I was so mad I literally kicked him around the yard - several times! I didnt kick hard, but very firm. He never did it again. Now I dont necessarily recommend that, but I just lost it. If he ever shows signs of even being tempted to do that again he is soup. I just don't need the hassle. And I do need the soup.

 

[Sukiyaki]

Thank you so much everyone! When I get brave enough, I'll try Rooster Red's method of holding him. He's a big guy for a polish roo. Also, he'll just randomly attack me for no reason. It started however, when I got my first eggs out of the chicken coop. Maybe he thinks he's eliminating the egg thief!

 

[DTchickens]

just because he spurs you once and has never shown agression before doesn't mean you have to jump on the dominant wagon, nor the sell/kill/eat/be rough with him wagon. springs coming and they're getting.."hyper", Theres also the chance that he may have gotten mad for some odd reason at something (usually other roosters or hens not letting them top em. loads of other things..) and your leg was just the first thing in his sight he felt like hitting. could have been something about that pant leg he didn't like.. color, if designer.. images. etc or could be a off day they have those as well... Theres also he could have thought you were endangering him and or his hens therefore.. attacked you

You never really know about them. i've pretty much been attacked for all of the reasons above, and if your rough with him right off the bat what will happen? He'll either be horrified of you, or become even more agressive.. And then you WILL have to sell/kill him. and dont worry too much about the hen to roo ratio people flash around here a lot. Yes it does come in handy but its mainly individuals, and most of the time when you hear about it. its only Rhode island reds/barred rocks and other big breeds they need the "Chicken saddles " for anyway.

 

[chicken_dude]

When a rooster gets mean sometimes spraying water in his face will calm him down.