Rooster attacked our 18-month-old son pretty bad this morning!

[paxicotrader]

We have 3 roosters and about 30 hens. The 2 Buttercup roosters are as sweet as can be and for the longest time they dominated our Lakenvelder rooster. But something changed recently and I don't know why. The Lakenvelder is now "on top" and dominates everyone else. When you turn your back on him, he menaces you. We've all learned to deal with him.

But this morning he actually attacked my little 18-month-old and left bleeding scratches all over his face. I feel terrible!

I'm pretty sure we'll be culling him TODAY, but I'm just wondering a few things:

1. Why did this particular rooster, who had been beat up his whole life, suddenly become top dog?
2. He is about 8 months old. Is he too tough for frying and only good for soup?
3. What should I put on the cuts? Is just Vaseline ok?

 

[saddina]

Not too tough but you'll want to brine him, make sure to give him the rest period. (there's a whole how-to on the meat bird forum). As for how he became alpha, he most likely fought his way there.

 

[acbear93]

I would think at only 8 months old, he should still be tender enough to cook him up for something other then soup...8 months is still fairly young as far as chickens go, and he probably figured out if he wanted to be on "top" he was going to have to do something about it...sorry for your son though...at least he didnt get it in the eye, thats what I always worry about...my kids want to hug our chickens, and I always have to remind them to keep them away from your face, you just never know when you are going to get that curious peck...we had a rooster turned mean out of the blue too, and first chance we could catch him, we ate him...it just wasnt worth having to worry who he was going to attack next...

 

[horsejody]

He probably has just come into the stage of maturity that the hormones hit. It's not uncommon. Roosters and littles kids together are a bad idea. Just like bulls and stallions and other uncut farm animal males, they are unpredictable and possibly dangerous.

 

[Joyryder]

Definately use antiseptic for the cuts. Open wouds and chicken dirt is a bad mix.

 

[Soccer Mom]

Put Neosporin on the scratches, not Vaseline. Vaseline won't do anything. You need to antibiotics in Neosporin.

 

[chicknjane]

Ooo. Sounds like the insanity that goes with raging hormones, much like teenage humans. Some people think they'll grow out of it. Some say cull immediately, you don't want to breed that tendency. I had a sweet little GLW roo who recently turned into a tyrant and is ruling the roost mercilessly. He has gone after my husband. I have not given him a chance to go after my kids. He's scheduled for processing and at 6 1/2 months, I suspect he'll be quite tasty. Look for recipes on-line from MPC and BYC. If you put him in a slow cooker/crock pot you shouldn't have to worry about toughness.

 

[danielle82]

I think he'd be fine as long as you brine, Ive never butchered at 8 months, but we always brine.
As for the scratches I'd use neosporin at the very least. Animals walk on the ground where they poop, there is a lot of "bad" bacteria that can get into scratches. If you use vaseline, all thats going to do is lock the bacteria in thats already there.

to you and your poor baby, that would be very scary

 

[3KillerBs]

Has your little one had his tetanus shot yet? If not, contact your doctor about getting it promptly.

Its not the rust on the proverbial "rusty nail" that carries the tetanus bacteria. Its the poop.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Awww, I'm so sorry for your little guy & for you too. I agree with the others, wash his face very well & put antiseptic ointment on the scratches. Get medical attention if possible if any scratches are more than superficial. Watch them closely for infection. He should be fine, but there is real potential for infection to develop.

Where is the roo now? He should be confined to a place where he can't get any more food, just water until you butcher him later today or even until tomorrow. There is a ton of help & advice on the Meat Birds section about dispatching, processing, & cooking. He should be good for a lot of cooking methods, especially those that use low heat & lots of moisture.

Is this your first attempt at butchering your chickens? You know it's okay to cull your aggressive roosters & just use them for fertilizer, you needn't add to your burden by trying to process him for the table IF you really don't want to. But if you do, then we're here to support & help instruct you.

It's difficult to say just WHY this happened, both roosters and toddlers are unpredictable. Sometimes a bird that tolerates adults will feel threatened by abrupt and random movements made at close range by small children.

Please keep us posted as to the outcome, I hope it's delicious!