Rooster aggression questions

[Lexie27]

Hi. Narrowing in on one thing you asked... there's no such thing as "mating season" with cockerels/Roosters. They will mate all day every day- no matter the season. He's not a rooster until he is 1 year old. He's a hormonal cockerel right now. Think teenage boy but with a tendency to fight. He probably won't calm down until over a year old and even then, it's not a guarantee. Some males will always be human aggressive.

Cockerels and roosters can do serious damage, especially to children, so be very careful and be prepared to remove him from your flock if necessary.

But there are times of the year/day when the hormones are elevated. I don’t have a cockerel/Roo yet, but I’ve been studying.
Please don’t kill your boy just because he’s behaving like a boy.
Check out roovolution.org

 

[Lexie27]

Good advice! Roosters are good for 4 things in order of importance- making chicks, distracting predators so hens can escape, soup, being pretty to look at. They are not in charge, you are. If they can't accept that then they must go.

I reckon that depends on your goals in chickening. If you’re keeping chickens only for production you will be less willing to spend time (to learn) and money (to change what needs changing, if anything).
I have zero chickens, but I’m here because I’m trying to learn. Most byc people only want chickens for eggs. Not wanting or respecting these birds as birds.
Chickens are birds, just like a bald eagle or a penguin.
Maybe we owe it to them to learn more about them, and learn to interact with them.
Roovolution.org

 

[Mrs. K]

I’m trying to learn. Most byc people only want chickens for eggs. Not wanting or respecting these birds as birds.

Learn from only the people that agree with you? I have had animals for years, I do want and respect birds as birds. I do care for them. I do manage them and the flock for the peace of the whole. Please do not insult me and others like me, that have been poultry keepers for decades, because we do not agree with your romantic and inexperienced vision of keeping chickens.

As AArt - a highly respected poster here, says, "Roosters are where the romance of keeping chickens meets reality."

I have had roosters for years, some are good roosters, some are not. Once in while you get a wonderful rooster, like Bye. Always solve your problems for peace in the flock.

Mrs K

 

[Lexie27]

Learn from only the people that agree with you? I have had animals for years, I do want and respect birds as birds. I do care for them. I do manage them and the flock for the peace of the whole. Please do not insult me and others like me, that have been poultry keepers for decades, because we do not agree with your romantic and inexperienced vision of keeping chickens.

As AArt - a highly respected poster here, says, "Roosters are where the romance of keeping chickens meets reality."

I have had roosters for years, some are good roosters, some are not. Once in while you get a wonderful rooster, like Bye. Always solve your problems for peace in the flock.

Mrs K

I don’t have an opinion, so your saying “learn from the people who agree with you” is an affront. And I don’t need that in my life.
I don’t know what sort of rooster I’ll get for a flock, but I do know what I know of him. He’s biddable, sweet,friendly, nonplussed by new experiences.
Because his current owners introduced him to many people, forms of transportation, textures-everything.
They are wonderful bird owners.
If you’re insulted, that’s your choice. No one is trying to insult you.
I’m certainly not trying to insult anyone.
I’m sorry if any of my posts offended you or anyone else. I was not calling you out, I don’t even know who you are.

That was not my goal.
And honestly, don’t expect me back.

Queen K, didn’t know about you, but now I know. You have made it very clear me and my ilk aren’t welcome here.
Enjoy your queendom.
I’m trying to figure out how to delete my account, especially after seeing the likes from people I thought I was having constructive interactions with.
Nice. I never acted like I knew anything.

 

[Mrs. K]

I don’t have an opinion, so your saying “learn from the people who agree with you” is an affront.
I don’t know what sort of rooster I’ll get for a flock, but I do know what I know of him. He’s biddable, sweet,friendly, nonplussed by new experiences.
Because his current owners introduced him to many people, forms of transportation, textures-everything.
They are wonderful bird owners.
If you’re insulted, that’s your choice. No one is trying to insult you.
I’m certainly not trying to insult anyone.
I’m sorry if any of my posts offended you or anyone else. I was not calling you out, I don’t even know who you are.

That was not my goal.
And honestly, don’t expect me back.

Queen K, didn’t know about you, but now I know. You have made it very clear me and my ilk aren’t welcome here.
Enjoy your queendom.
I’m trying to figure out how to delete my account, especially after seeing the likes from people I thought I was having constructive interactions with.
Nice.

Goodness.

I did not mean that. I did go to the website, and I do think there is some very good advice there. Advice that I think would help a lot of people.

I do not think it will work for all roosters or in all situations. It is a lot on people being trained. There are all sorts of people, all sorts of roosters and all sorts of set ups. And I think all those variables are why advice to roosters is so far apart.

I don't cuddle my chickens. When I first started, I did. I would sit in the coop quietly, and eventually they came around and would jump up into my lap. I found I really didn't care for that. I just like to watch them. I like to watch their interactions.

However - to each his or her own way of doing things. What works for one person may not work for another. Old ways are old ways because often times they are the reality.

One of the realities is that space has a lot to do with successful chicken keeping. A lot of people have minimal space, which stresses the birds, especially if they are least bit over crowded, often times, a child or children, running, jumping laughing, wearing red are playing in the same space as the chickens.

They can be attacked, knocked over, and seriously hurt. It is ok to have theories of chicken keeping, but one does not want to take them to the emergency room.

I hope you do stay, I enjoy my birds and other ways of doing things. But on the other hand, I have culled birds too, that didn't work out for me.

Mrs K

 

[Lexie27]

Goodness.

I did not mean that. I did go to the website, and I do think there is some very good advice there. Advice that I think would help a lot of people.

I do not think it will work for all roosters or in all situations. It is a lot on people being trained. There are all sorts of people, all sorts of roosters and all sorts of set ups. And I think all those variables are why advice to roosters is so far apart.

I don't cuddle my chickens. When I first started, I did. I would sit in the coop quietly, and eventually they came around and would jump up into my lap. I found I really didn't care for that. I just like to watch them. I like to watch their interactions.

However - to each his or her own way of doing things. What works for one person may not work for another. Old ways are old ways because often times they are the reality.

One of the realities is that space has a lot to do with successful chicken keeping. A lot of people have minimal space, which stresses the birds, especially if they are least bit over crowded, often times, a child or children, running, jumping laughing, wearing red are playing in the same space as the chickens.

They can be attacked, knocked over, and seriously hurt. It is ok to have theories of chicken keeping, but one does not want to take them to the emergency room.

I hope you do stay, I enjoy my birds and other ways of doing things. But on the other hand, I have culled birds too, that didn't work out for me.

Mrs K

This cockerel is nigh on a year old (August I believe).
We bought him and 5 others for our neighbors after their chickens were obliterated by predators.

We have no chickens, we are building a 10x 16 run and a 10x10 house for him.
He will need friends. I have been told he will gouge my eyes out and eviscerate me.
So I’m trying to learn and learning that there’s not much knowledge on cockerels or roosters.
I’m sorry if somehow I gave you the impression that I know more than I know.

 

[FrostRanger]

This cockerel is nigh on a year old (August I believe).
We bought him and 5 others for our neighbors after their chickens were obliterated by predators.

We have no chickens, we are building a 10x 16 run and a 10x10 house for him.
He will need friends. I have been told he will gouge my eyes out and eviscerate me.
So I’m trying to learn and learning that there’s not much knowledge on cockerels or roosters.
I’m sorry if somehow I gave you the impression that I know more than I know.

Not every rooster is mean, most aren't. Just cultivate a mutually respectful relationship and see how it goes. Certainly be aware of the signs that a rooster is turning aggressive but no need to be paranoid either

 

[Lexie27]

Goodness.

I did not mean that. I did go to the website, and I do think there is some very good advice there. Advice that I think would help a lot of people.

I do not think it will work for all roosters or in all situations. It is a lot on people being trained. There are all sorts of people, all sorts of roosters and all sorts of set ups. And I think all those variables are why advice to roosters is so far apart.

I don't cuddle my chickens. When I first started, I did. I would sit in the coop quietly, and eventually they came around and would jump up into my lap. I found I really didn't care for that. I just like to watch them. I like to watch their interactions.

However - to each his or her own way of doing things. What works for one person may not work for another. Old ways are old ways because often times they are the reality.

One of the realities is that space has a lot to do with successful chicken keeping. A lot of people have minimal space, which stresses the birds, especially if they are least bit over crowded, often times, a child or children, running, jumping laughing, wearing red are playing in the same space as the chickens.

They can be attacked, knocked over, and seriously hurt. It is ok to have theories of chicken keeping, but one does not want to take them to the emergency room.

I hope you do stay, I enjoy my birds and other ways of doing things. But on the other hand, I have culled birds too, that didn't work out for me.

Mrs K

Since I can’t figure out how to delete my account, my account will be here.

 

[Mrs. K]

So I’m trying to learn and learning that there’s not much knowledge on cockerels or roosters.

It sounds like you got a good one. When asked, I often give the advice to do just what you did. Get a rooster as close to a year old that you can, from a multi-generational flock that is so nice, he did not get culled.

Be aware, just be aware. They can get some hard pecks, and scratches in. I hope you can get some nice hens too, cause getting eggs is fun.

good luck,
Mrs K

 

[Twilia]

I don’t have an opinion, so your saying “learn from the people who agree with you” is an affront. And I don’t need that in my life.
I don’t know what sort of rooster I’ll get for a flock, but I do know what I know of him. He’s biddable, sweet,friendly, nonplussed by new experiences.
Because his current owners introduced him to many people, forms of transportation, textures-everything.
They are wonderful bird owners.
If you’re insulted, that’s your choice. No one is trying to insult you.
I’m certainly not trying to insult anyone.
I’m sorry if any of my posts offended you or anyone else. I was not calling you out, I don’t even know who you are.

That was not my goal.
And honestly, don’t expect me back.

Queen K, didn’t know about you, but now I know. You have made it very clear me and my ilk aren’t welcome here.
Enjoy your queendom.
I’m trying to figure out how to delete my account, especially after seeing the likes from people I thought I was having constructive interactions with.
Nice. I never acted like I knew anything.

Please don't leave yet.
I understand your perspective and there are so many others here who are different, learners and experienced, trying to help each other. It is your choice to decide whom to allow your attention.
If your roo needs a lil' help, do not give up yet and I will help you all I can: )

Check out 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

_twilia ; )