I have a rooster that I'm a little frustrated with... He is an EE and seems to go around grabbing all the other chickens by the back of the neck and just dragging/spinning them around sometimes pulling feathers. Its not just a few times, but quite a bit all day long. I hear the other chickens squawking in the coop and when I check he is still chasing some of them. I know boys will be boys, but seriously is this a candidate for freezer camp? There are others roosters that are no where near as mean as this guy. I want a rooster that will attack predators, not his own flock. I have plenty of other boys that don't seem to cause so much drama ... so tell me am I being a little over protective or is this guy a real brute?
Question about roosters
Titanium, have you looked at the Managing the menacing rooster stickey. It may just help you...Hay
I second Haystack's recommendation. That roo needs an adjustment. :)
I did look at that thread a while back and thought it was more for roosters that are mean to people...I will take a look at it again and see if I can glean something from it again.
He is demonstrating his dominance... You just need to inform him he is not the top dog, you are... that will change his whole mindset.
If he is a real young man, it might just be that he is learning to cope with all the hormone rush...
If he is not your best, and doesn't stop that.. I'd send him to the soup pot too. Good luck.
Yesterday, I did the suggested carry backwards thing and my husband just laughed at me. He said those chickens have pea brains and that he won't remember. Well I guess I see his point, but I think repetition is the key just like you do with a dog. I think the hormones are at work at this point, but there are plenty of others (the same age) that are not acting like bullies.
I used Haystack's rooster- subduing technique on my young Minorca roosters as a preemptive strike. They have never been aggressive.
The strange thing is, once you complete it.. seems you never have to do it again, so pea brain or not, it sticks! I haven't had to do it completely over again.. Just a stern voice was enough to remind him..
I don't like to put human emotions on an animal, or try to think that they have human emotions, but once you truly communicate on their level, I believe you get the message across.
I haven't carried them backwards.. I did the head down thing until they are calm and settled.. with stern voice commands when they fight.. soft tones when they submit.. Call me crazy, but my roo will NOT hurt you or his ladiez. :)
My rotten lil Seramas and Bantams won't either.. although I let them think they are 10' tall. :)