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How To Handle An Aggressive Rooster!

Don’t know what to do with an aggressive rooster? Roosters are born with their sense of duty towards the flock they belong in.

We have discussed the reasons why are some roosters aggressive such as genetics, hormones, and sense of authority.

We have received a lot of e-mail concerning this particular questions.

We would like to make it easier for every chicken keeper to handle their aggressive rooster properly.

First Make Sure That You Are Not Scared Of Him

Roosters bully everyone around them, and they are good at it. They can scare off dogs, cats, and even their own chicken keepers along with their families.

At the end of the day, it is a part of every rooster`s job to fend off any threat.

Whatever a rooster considers a threat the rooster is ready to fight to the death to protect his flock.

Roosters have their pecking order.

There is always a rooster in the flock that considers himself as the main (Alpha) rooster. This rooster will be aggressive to other roosters as well to his keeper.

There Are Two Main Methods When Handling An Aggressive Rooster

  •   The Harder (And Safer) Method Of Handling An Aggressive Rooster

When you notice the first signs of aggression in your rooster you need to pick him up and hold him no matter how much he struggles.

Do not put the rooster down until he completely stops struggling and just stays calm. This means that the rooster is recognizing you as an image of authority.

If the rooster does not stop struggling hold him under your hand and move around with him while doing some chores around the coop such as feeding the flock or changing the water.

what to do with an aggressive rooster
via Pixabay

If this works, do not think that the problem with the aggressive rooster is gone. It may happen from time to time in the manner of the rooster biting you when you are picking up another chicken from the flock.

If this happens just hold the rooster by the beak for a minute or so and that will remind him of your authority.

After you have done this if the rooster still shows signs of aggression, repeat the process whenever the rooster does the aggressive thing you don`t like.

Repeat this for one to three weeks and if that does not stop the aggression you may want to check out the second method.

How To Handle An Aggressive Rooster
via Pixabay

As the title says, we do not recommend this method.

It should be used only as a last resort – in some cases, it is better to give the rooster a new home than to do this. When the rooster gets aggressive hold him upside down by the legs and do not let him back up until he is completely calm.

This is dangerous especially if the rooster has something in his mouth.

That can lead to the rooster choking to death.

But it is effective if done properly you can expect your rooster joining you while you are collecting eggs.

We have received a lot of e-mail concerning this particular questions. So, for today`s article, we would like to make it easier for every chicken keeper to handle their aggressive rooster properly.

#rooster #chickens #diy

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45 thoughts on “How To Handle An Aggressive Rooster!”

  1. I have a very aggressive mean rooster. He flies up and tries to kick with the spurs. It’s gotten to where I have to beat him away, just to get in the house to feed and get eggs. He attacks anyone that goes to the pen. Suggestions?

    Reply
    • You might want to take his spurs off every time they grow back more than an inch.
      To do that safely. Have someone else hold the rooster firmly. Then you hold one leg out , firmly, take a pliers. Grab the spur near the base and TWIST. Do not pull. It will dislodge. Spray or dab the open wound with iodine. Repeat on the other leg….. Done …good job

      Reply
    • I have one that gets it in his pea brain that I’m the enemy and will attack, I usually kick him to show dominance. I have a Tom turkey also and I can sweet talk him and tell him to get that mean old rooster away from me and he will get between me and the rooster.

      Reply
    • We never intended to have a rooster. He was sold as a ‘pullet’ chick but ended up being a rooster. He was very defensive of the girls and gave me problems trying to deal with them. IF you don’t intend to raise chicks, put him in a separate pen. That’s the only way I could keep ours from being aggressive, but I still won’t get IN the pen with him.

      Reply
    • I catch mine and hold them down with hands on both sides and hold his head down until,he stops struggling and let him go.Sometimes I do it twice. It’scworked for me.

      Reply
  2. I have Jersey Giants and one of my roosters- whom I raised from a chick, has become aggressive. My trick is to chase him around the pen (a small area) and when he starts to tire, I put my hand in the middle of his back and push his chest into the dirt- holding him there for a minute or two. Once I let him up, I move aggressively toward him and he usually backs off. I know he’s going to be a jerk again, but so far this has worked and no one had gotten hurt.

    Reply
  3. I still have a scar on my leg from one of his attacks. He doesn’t let you get close. He charges then jumps almost head high sometimes and rears back and kicks, He’s evil.

    Reply
  4. Toilet brush. Poke him with it. They hate it. You have a million beaks. Never had a roo attack me more than once.

    Reply
  5. I had a black australorp rooster that was very aggressive. I put him on the grill with some BBQ sauce. He was a little tough but i never had a problem with him being aggressive again.

    Reply
  6. There are ten times more roosters hatched than there are places for them to live as flock husbands, breeders, or pets. Unless your rooster has ever saved your children from a burning building or is pooping genuine 14 karat diamonds I don’t see a reason to put up with aggressive behavior from him. A long soak in simmering broth will make the worst rooster turn out nice. Then look on Craigslist for a replacement from all the manymanymany offers of FreeToGoodHome roosters available. An aggressive rooster can do considerable damage, especially to a child or the elderly. Why take a chance? With so many nice roosters going off to the chop, there’s no reason to keep a mean one.

    Reply
    • Good advice for the common breeds, but if you are trying to breed some of the rarer breeds you may need to preserve the genetics of a particular rooster. So, learning how to handle and aggressive one (or even better, learning how to prevent aggression in the first place) is good information to have.

      Reply
    • What the heck is a “14 karat diamonds” rooster?! 14 Karat only applies to GOLD percentage in a piece of jewelry. 9, 14, 18, 22 and 24 karat quantities are often seen in gold jewelry for sale. The higher the number the more gold in the jewelry. A karat of a diamond refers to its size/weight in milligrams. If you have a rooster pooping any size of diamond, …I’ll take him off your hands no matter how aggressive.

      Reply
  7. I use to carry a water bottle with me after my roommates rooster kept charging and attacking me. Couple sprays to the head took care of it after the 2nd time he backed off… he still crows to let me know it’s his yard and that’s fine he can have it but I will spray him to walk thru it if I have to

    Reply
  8. We also use the water bottle spray right at the head and best if it hits the eye. It is the best way because the natural instinct for the rooster to attack is if you try to swat him away. With the water spray, he doesn’t actually put it together with you doing the attack. He just hates it and stays away.

    Reply
  9. I had a Black Autralorp rooster, Raptor by name, that was very good with his hens…and very protective.
    One winter day when I was cleaning the coop, I must have startled one of the hens
    and Raptor came after me. I took the broom and shooed him out into the cold, where
    he stayed until I was done with caring for the hens.
    After that he never bothered me again. He became so tame, he ate out of my hand.
    He was the best rooster we ever had!

    Reply
  10. Our problem hasn’t been aggressiveness towards us as much as being a jerk to the hens. We have yet to find a rooster that protects the hens. We saw a “wild” rooster totally care for and protect his wife in Kona. That’s the only time I’ve witnessed a protective, yet kind, rooster. How can we get roosters to stop thumping on the hens?

    Reply
  11. I have a NJ Giant that attacked me twice. I got a bigger stick and whaled the tar out of him the third time he tried. As soon as I get babies from him, he is going somewhere or the pot. I have 2 doz hatching on the 28th. I will not put up with him. Someone else can rehab him or I’m inviting him to dinner.

    Reply
    • Most people on this forum are anthropomorphizing their roosters. MOST males of any species are the “protectors” of the species, so don’t expect anything but aggressive behavior. If you want a “safer” rooster, then de-spur him. You only have to do it every few years so it’s no big deal. Hold the rooster’s legs tightly with your body and one hand, grab a spur using a set of pliers, GENTLY squeeze and twist. If it doesn’t come off, take your fingers, grab the squeezed spur and twist. Repeat on the remaining spur. If it bleeds you can daub with a septic pencil or it will most likely stop on its own. I totally agree with the comment that if you start socializing or taming the rooster when it is young, you have a better chance of having a well behaved rooster around people.

      Reply
  12. My Rhode Island/Cornish Rock cross is gorgeous and usually friendly but today he hit me from behind and almost knocked me down, he’s huge! Thankfully he didn’t use his spurs. I need to discourage this behavior or I’ll have to get rid of him. I can’t pick him up, I doubt I can lift him! I may try the spray bottle. Any other suggestions appreciated.

    Reply
    • I was checking for anything new and came across my own post from last May. It made me very sad! Bubba was a bit aggressive occasionally but overall he was better than average roo! A huge kingsnake lived near his pen and was after my eggs. It got my one baby chick that had just hatched and the egg that had not hatched yet. Then as far as I can tell, the snake killed him by catching him by the head. I’m guessing it scared the hens and he attacked! His head was slimy wet and he was dead! So Bubba died doing his job, protecting the girls! Now I’m afraid to let the hens out even mid-day because of the coyotes, I had a couple of chickens attacked in daylight and I had always thought he’d attack anything to defend his women!
      I sat down and cried like a baby!!!
      BTW I killed the snake a few days later and it was almost 7 feet!

      Reply
    • My rooster is awesome with his hens, but recently has shown aggression towards me. One day as I was stepping out of the coop he attacked. I had a Rubbermaid tote next to the coop so I grabbed it and put it over him. I left him trapped underneath the tote while I finished my chores, probably 1\2 an hour. When I finally let him out he was calm and went about his business. I keep the tote next to the coop in case I need it again, but he hasn’t been aggressive since!

      Reply
    • I pinned my Big rooster to the ground the very first time he came after me.
      I grabbed him by the neck and back, pinned his head down to the ground and screamed at him ‘don’t you ever do that again or in the pan you’ll go’ (I know he didn’t understand…Ok) I held him until he stopped struggling. One other time a month later he puffed his chest out and did the ‘rooster dance’ I just yelled You need held down again? He calmed right down and walked away from me. Never in 14 years did we have another problem with him. Died of old age and a pet.
      Cared for many hens over the years.

      Reply
  13. We have a rooster that gets aggressive. He has flogged me more than once. We tried both of the methods mentioned. Hanging him upside down works better. He is acts up every once in awhile but not nearly as bad as he was. We just repeat the process and he behaves better.

    Reply
  14. I have a very large cochin roo who, will protect his hens. Fought off a coyote one morning, coyote took off but didn’t survive the rifle. When Rocky gets nasty with my I just kick him hard and when he backs off I stomp and charge at him, he usually gets the hint and goes on about his business growling elsewhere. He is pretty good with me because I am out there every morning and evening caring for them. My husband has had to punt him across the yard a time or two, now he just crows when my husband comes out but he keeps his distance. I have an old axe handle and I will beat him down if I have to, he is too dang big for me to pick up and carry and those spurs are at least 2 inches long, it hasn’t come to that but if it does I am prepared. Had a RIR Rooster where i used to board my horses, that SOB, I had to beat him senseless with a horse halter and lead, and I mean I beat him till he laid down and didnt want to get back up. He torn my slacks and drew blood so I was done being nice. Told my barn manager and he was dinner that very Sunday.

    Reply
    • You do know that beating them to death only aggravates their aggression right? I’ve had some mean roos that chased and bit everyone in the family, but we never abused them, and I always started training them as soon as the aggression started. A good push and hold to the ground for a minute a few times each day for a week is all it took to make my roosters as tame as baby chicks. Swinging and hitting them makes them retaliate even more, and risks injuring the roo. If they are that mean I would just cook them and get another roo, but not kick and beat them. That’s just cruel.

      Reply
  15. I had an aggressive rooster, who I re-homed. However, while he free ranged the property I kept a child size lacrosse stick with me at all times. I could keep him at bay by holding the stick in front of his chest, but he would not back down and I could not get anything done. Then I realized if I held the net end of the stick up under his chin, so he could not drop his head, it unnerved him. I was able to back him up across the yard at a fast pace, actually until I was running and he was trying to just get away. It probably helped that I was yelling things like “Buffalo wings! Pot pie! Noodle soup! Southern-fried! Francaise! Cacciatore! Cordon bleu! Stir-fry!” After that he gave me a wide berth. I have another roo that I adore! He became slightly aggressive after I had to move the coop closer to the other roo’s territory. With this roo I nipped it in the bud though. I turned around and tried to pick him up. I bent over slightly with my arms outstretched and scurried after him saying, ” Oh, do you want a hug? Do you want to hug Mommy?” I do this every time he shows even a tiny bit of aggression toward me, which is rare. Mostly he only has to hear “Do you want a hug?” and he creates some space between us,

    Reply
  16. I give my roosters one chance. The first time a rooster attacks I deal with him then and there by penning him to the ground and holding him down until he submits. If there is ever a second time he goes straight to the crockpot. I won’t keep an aggressive rooster. It isn’t worth it. There are plenty of nice roosters out there. I will not rehome an aggressive rooster, because I do not feel right passing the problem to someone else and I will not hatch chick from an aggressive rooster.

    The only exception I ever made to this was a bantam cochin rooster who was so stinking cute I didn’t have the heart to dispatch him. That was a mistake because he got meaner and his son has a nasty attitude as well. Tastiness comes in small packages, so it all worked out.

    Reply
  17. I have enjoyed reading these items regarding aggressive roosters. I learned a lot about how to handle them and had a lot of laughs besides.
    I no longer have chickens (got too old to go out in the snow and ice in winter) but miss them a lot.
    Reading these replies bring back a lot of wonderful memories.
    Thanks to everyone who brightened my day with laughter!! (Especially PJ/8/29/16)

    Reply
  18. Aunt Jane…Sorry to read of your loss; the rooster, chick, eggs and any hens by the snake and/or coyotes.
    I am glad you were able to get rid of the snake.
    We don’t have anything like that in WI, at least not that I know of, but there are other things that tried
    to kill my chickens, and sometimes succeeded. Raccoons sometimes got our chickens or ducks, took them
    down to the trout stream along our property and killed them. They would tuck the half-eaten bodies under
    a rock or branch in the stream and return the next day to finish the meal.
    We also had several red fox that caught some of my young roosters, but when I gave chase, the fox let it go, with no harm to the roo.
    We had some neighborhood dogs that came, broke a window to get in the chicken house, killed some chickens and maimed others. We also had a cougar come and visit, but ran off when we came outside. Even the yearlng deer
    came to see the chickens when their mother’s were off giving birth.
    Now that we no longer have chickens, it seems we see less wild animals around the farm. I even miss the wild animals a bit!

    Reply
  19. I’ve done both methods, but, yes, he needs frequent ‘refreshers’. I also do not allow him to mate with the hens in my presence. I’ve also tried pinning him down on the ground by his neck — first time I did it he cried like a baby, but didn’t mess with me for a LONG time after that. He’s the size of a turkey, so I need him to respect me. I actually appreciate his aggressive, protective qualities, as I witnessed him saving his girls from a large red fox.

    Reply
  20. Unless they r very rare and u HAVE 2 have them keep them around but why keep a mean common run of the mill rooster around………….they do NOT change. It sounds so easy, just pick them up and hold them, just grab them by the beak…..yeah right good luck with that. They KNOW when 2 attack u why don’t u
    just break your arm or fracture your wrist on a rooster that is NOT WORTH it……

    Reply

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