Teenage angst rooster?

[KrysMT]

Hi y’all! I’ve searched the boards trying to find an answer to my question and couldn’t.

My chickens have free range of 40 acres, so I need a rooster. I have a 23 week barred rock rooster and he recently started to attack me! First time... I hate to admit it... I kicked him pretty good. Then he and I just looked at each other and he walked away. Second time was actually my daughter. She was holding a gold crown and he did his jumpy, I’m going to get you, I’m a big bad rooster thing and I got in between them and he backed off.

So since that incident I had been researching how to handle this rooster...He is young... we’ve all been there... hormones are surging... well today he came at me and I thought...Ok! Let’s do this! So I put my bowl down and I was going to pick him up. Well he ran from me.
I chased him around the yard for a good 5 minutes.

My question is do I keep working with him until he gets through his teen angst? Or do I get rid of him now and get a new rooster? I DO NOT want an aggressive rooster but I am willing to work with them. If I work with them how long should I give them? Thank you in advance! Y’all are amazing!

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

It’s up to you to decide when enough is enough. I had a rooster that turned on me and I tried everything to rehabilitate him. He would do good for a little while then decide to attack me again. Bruised and abused I finally got rid of him.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/beekisseds-rooster-speak.73664/
This article is a wonderful breakdown of rooster behavior and how you can try and be the head of the flock.

Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. And as much as I hated hearing it myself I will say if he doesn’t behave he’s got to go. There are so many roosters out there looking for homes.

 

[L1sa]

It's difficult to say, each rooster is different and learns at a different pace. But they can be taught. And aggressive isn't always bad, particularly if you want him to protect your ladies when they are out foraging. But you definitely don't want him attacking you.

I would stick with him for a while, you need to show your dominance whenever you are in the run together or out and about. If he is sneaking up and attacking you whilst freeranging I would keep him penned up in a run for a week or so. And just go in the run a few times a day just walking about in there, but make him move for you. Walk straight towards him and if he doesn't move out of your way side swipe him with the side of your boot, and just keep repeting. You are bigger than he is, he just needs to learn that!

 

[aart]

All the humans around the birds will need to learn to deal with him, not just you.
It's often more about the humans behaviors than the birds behavior.
How old is your daughter?

 

[wild chick]

I think to a certain point you can try to work with this rooster, but like @aart said, all the people have to learn to deal with him correctly, not just you. He will spot and attack the others. Personally I spent months trying to fix a human aggressive roo, read all the threads on BYC related to aggressive roos, and still ended up putting him in the freezer. My next one, his SON, I didn't raise any differently and he is perfect. Not even a stink eye from him and he'll be 2 years old in June, he's a keeper. I've made up my mind already that when I have to replace him, I won't spend a minute deciding to cull one if they make one attack. Like @FlyingNunFarm said, there are hundreds of good ones out there, most of them free.

 

[KrysMT]

It’s up to you to decide when enough is enough. I had a rooster that turned on me and I tried everything to rehabilitate him. He would do good for a little while then decide to attack me again. Bruised and abused I finally got rid of him.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/beekisseds-rooster-speak.73664/
This article is a wonderful breakdown of rooster behavior and how you can try and be the head of the flock.

Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. And as much as I hated hearing it myself I will say if he doesn’t behave he’s got to go. There are so many roosters out there looking for homes.

Thank yo

It’s up to you to decide when enough is enough. I had a rooster that turned on me and I tried everything to rehabilitate him. He would do good for a little while then decide to attack me again. Bruised and abused I finally got rid of him.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/beekisseds-rooster-speak.73664/
This article is a wonderful breakdown of rooster behavior and how you can try and be the head of the flock.

Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. And as much as I hated hearing it myself I will say if he doesn’t behave he’s got to go. There are so many roosters out there looking for homes.

Thank you for the article and help!

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I think to a certain point you can try to work with this rooster, but like @aart said, all the people have to learn to deal with him correctly, not just you. He will spot and attack the others. Personally I spent months trying to fix a human aggressive roo, read all the threads on BYC related to aggressive roos, and still ended up putting him in the freezer. My next one, his SON, I didn't raise any differently and he is perfect. Not even a stink eye from him and he'll be 2 years old in June, he's a keeper. I've made up my mind already that when I have to replace him, I won't spend a minute deciding to cull one if they make one attack. Like @FlyingNunFarm said, there are hundreds of good ones out there, most of them free.

You have given me hope! I now have the son of my horrible rooster and cross my fingers daily that he will remain a good boy.

 

[sourland]

A free range rooster and a child involved ? For me the rooster would have to go. I could not take the chance of a flogging to the face and potential eye damage to a child.

 

[Al Capon]

I think to a certain point you can try to work with this rooster, but like @aart said, all the people have to learn to deal with him correctly, not just you. He will spot and attack the others. Personally I spent months trying to fix a human aggressive roo, read all the threads on BYC related to aggressive roos, and still ended up putting him in the freezer. My next one, his SON, I didn't raise any differently and he is perfect. Not even a stink eye from him and he'll be 2 years old in June, he's a keeper. I've made up my mind already that when I have to replace him, I won't spend a minute deciding to cull one if they make one attack.

That's good to know..

My one and only rooster went after me when he was about 8 months old, bloodied my shins. He got the shotgun about 2 minutes later. Haven't replaced him.

It's nice to know that should I ever get another one, they all aren't attack minded. So it it really that simple, some are aggressive and others just aren't? Immediately get rid of the aggressives and move on?

 

[KrysMT]

It's difficult to say, each rooster is different and learns at a different pace. But they can be taught. And aggressive isn't always bad, particularly if you want him to protect your ladies when they are out foraging. But you definitely don't want him attacking you.

I would stick with him for a while, you need to show your dominance whenever you are in the run together or out and about. If he is sneaking up and attacking you whilst freeranging I would keep him penned up in a run for a week or so. And just go in the run a few times a day just walking about in there, but make him move for you. Walk straight towards him and if he doesn't move out of your way side swipe him with the side of your boot, and just keep repeting. You are bigger than he is, he just needs to learn that!

Thank you!!! I did that earlier and so far so good!