My rooster hates me :-(

[grimresa]

Happy New Year everyone!

I am at my wits end with my rooster. He has hurt me badly on many occasions, and will violently attack me every chance he gets. He will literally wait outside my car and attack me as soon as I get out. He will chase me to the door and attack me from behind. The other day, when my husband was holding him, he was trying to hand him to me so I could hold him and try to get him to understand that I'm not the bad guy, he bit me twice while I was trying to get him! That he has never done before, holding him was the only way I could get him to not attack, but honestly I can see the look in his eyes, he really hates me! He is much friendlier with my husband, and while aggressive with the others who live at my house, he is the most aggressive with me. The chicken, bless her soul, tries to stop him when he attacks me. I have heard that neutering or estrogen treatment could calm him. Is there any way I can use hormones to reduce his testosterone? I don't want to get rid of him, but if he isn't calm by the summer, I will have to, as I don't want to risk my grandchildren or others playing in my yard of getting pecked to death. He is very nice to my husband, although he does bite him on occasion, but not the full blown feather raising pterodactyl attacks that he does to me! I could never bring myself to cull him, and I'm not sure if there is a farm or rescue that will accept an aggressive rooster. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[DobieLover]

How old is he? I suspect he is a cockerel. In which case, things are only going to get worse in the spring.

With other people, especially small children involved, the only options for you IMO are to rehome him with full disclosure or put him in the freezer. If he is this bad now and already attacking you and others, you have a huge liability on your hands.

 

[Daisy June]

Happy New Year everyone!

I am at my wits end with my rooster. He has hurt me badly on many occasions, and will violently attack me every chance he gets. He will literally wait outside my car and attack me as soon as I get out. He will chase me to the door and attack me from behind. The other day, when my husband was holding him, he was trying to hand him to me so I could hold him and try to get him to understand that I'm not the bad guy, he bit me twice while I was trying to get him! That he has never done before, holding him was the only way I could get him to not attack, but honestly I can see the look in his eyes, he really hates me! He is much friendlier with my husband, and while aggressive with the others who live at my house, he is the most aggressive with me. The chicken, bless her soul, tries to stop him when he attacks me. I have heard that neutering or estrogen treatment could calm him. Is there any way I can use hormones to reduce his testosterone? I don't want to get rid of him, but if he isn't calm by the summer, I will have to, as I don't want to risk my grandchildren or others playing in my yard of getting pecked to death. He is very nice to my husband, although he does bite him on occasion, but not the full blown feather raising pterodactyl attacks that he does to me! I could never bring myself to cull him, and I'm not sure if there is a farm or rescue that will accept an aggressive rooster. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Do you know of a good taxidermist in your area? Employ his/her services. Then prop the stuffed Mr. I-Am-Not-The-Boss up so all your other chickens can visit him when they need a reminder that YOU are the boss around there.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, he will attack your husband eventually. The thing is, you might be remembering him when he was a darling, but that bird has gone and is not coming back. We have all been where you are, and most of us have kept a rooster like that too long.

You do not deserve to be attacked and IMO, people outrank roosters. You have to make that decision for yourself, but really he needs to be out of your flock and home. He is not working there. If you have to keep him, build a pen and hut for him and do not let him out to free range.

This won't get better. Once he is gone, you are going to wonder why you kept him so long. If you can get anyone to take him, he is their bird, and their problem and don't ask any questions.

Mrs K

 

[FrostRanger]

I agree with everyone else, he's already very aggressive and is bound to only get worse. No one like culling but it's 100% necessary here. Retraining is rarely successful with roos and even if you get him to leave you alone somehow, he will never be trustworthy with your grandchildren and children are small enough that a roo can do serious damage to them and even take their eyes out

 

[21hens-incharge]

I also agree he will only get worse.

You and your family as well as the hens will be glad he is gone. You deserve peace.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Even though he is "only" a bird, a rooster can actually inflict some pretty serious damage to you or another person, especially a child. Please don't risk it! He'll make a wonderful soup. Or if you can't bear to dispatch him, rehome him to someone, tell them why, and don't ask what they plan to do with him, nor make them promise not to eat him. Everything in life has a purpose, and his is NOT to stay where he can harm you or yours.

 

[nuthatched]

Off with his head.
You have scars from an aggressive animal, there shouldn't be any further consideration regarding his fate.
The second time was one time too many.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh. And your rooster does not "hate" you. This is just typical cockerel hormonal behavior, try not to take it personally. He wants to be "cock of the walk" and dominate everyone and everything in his realm, including you. The more you run from him, the more he will chase you, and the more he will be convinced he should chase everybody. You can't fix him.

 

[RcoM]

This may sound bad but I am telling you this for good reason: my rooster/s adore me. I even had one returned due to bad behaviour and he's fine now. Read posts on how to raise them and you should have less to no trouble. You deserve a loving boy- choose breed and stock wisely. Read up. Sell him to someone else cheap and don't ask what they will do with him! It's not your concern.