Thursday, April 2, 2009

When Roosters Attack


When I was a child, our chickens ran free in our chain length fence. Every day after school, I would have to go through the fence to get into the house and every day this mean old rooster would chase and spur me. I was terrified to come home after school. I was the only person he would bother, and I couldn't figure out why. Eventually, daddy got tired of it, and he became supper. I think I know now why he bothered only me. I think it's because I was a kid, the smallest person there that he could bully.


We have a rooster now, that we got from Barb, because he was being a bully to her five year old. He's a gorgeous Easter Egger rooster. All the other roosters in the coop beat up on him and he runs and hides. He never really bothers my older son, or my husband and me. But, let my little one go in that fence and he attacks him almost every time. I don't want to have to get rid of him, but I don't want Hunter to feel scared going out there. The last time the rooster attacked him he left marks all over his back.


I don't really know why that one rooster does that. We have three other roosters who live in there, and they never bother my kids. If he doesn't stop attacking my son, he's either going to have to live in a small pen by himself or go to the auction. Anyone have any advice?

**If you want to enter my giveaway and haven't, it ends tonight at midnight.

8 comments:

Barb J. said...

The rooster is penned up. Can you just not let Hunter in the pen until he gets older?

Michelle said...

No advice, just sorry he's attacking Hunter :(

Anonymous said...

Wish I could help, but I have no chicken experience whatsoever! (Except for cooking them, that is). I love reading about your chickens, though.

On a totally unrelated note, I noticed your son's Lego blog. Do you have a way to store Legos that both you and your son are happy with?

QuiltedSimple said...

Poor Hunter! 2 of our 3 roosters sometimes go after the kids - just pecking at them so far, but they are hitting the road. Jessie is terrified of them - TYler just chases them away.

Paula said...

Thta's too bad, Nancy, usually once they start attacking it's hard to get them to stop. Does he try to spur Hunter if you're in there with him, or is it just when he's alone?

Jennifer said...

eat him for dinner? how scary for your son.

Crazy Chicken Lady said...

We had a really mean old New Hampshire roo who was crippled at birth and he loved to beat us kids up lol.

I would just advise that your little one not be allowed inside the pen and don't let the rooster out.

Jen's Farmily said...

Our rooster likes to randomly go after Mr. C sometimes. Mr. C will whack him or kick him and he'll leave him alone for a couple weeks.

I read some good advice about roosters on backyardchickens.com. If you pick up a rooster (and carry him around) you're telling him that YOU'RE the boss. Our rooster isn't easy to catch during the day, but after he's on the roost at night, I'll pick him up and pet him. He's never tried to attack me.

Chickens are a lot more easy going when they're on the roost at night. Maybe you could help the boy carry the rooster around at night. Or, if you can catch him after he tries to attack the boy and YOU carry him around, maybe he'll realize that is NOT acceptable behavior.