Do you deal with an angry, hateful rooster every single day?
Do you get challenged, chased, pecked, or even spurred?
Does he make it nearly impossible to finish chores on the homestead?
I know how the story goes, and I know how common this chicken owner’s “rite of passage” is among new homesteaders.
Aggressive roosters are no fun, and I want to help you to restore order and peace on the homestead.
How to Tame an Aggressive Rooster
First, I would like to take a minute to help you to understand why your rooster is so downright aggressive and mean!
In nature and on the homestead, roosters are the protectors of the flock. They are responsible for keeping the hens and chicks out of harm’s way, whether they’re sounding the alarm over a stray dog, or flogging you for getting too close. It makes sense that a rooster would want to keep his family safe, right? After all, chickens are a common target for predators.
Well, for some roosters, this instinct to protect their hens and chicks is a bit stronger than in others. When these roosters mature and take on their own flock of hens, they will begin to protect them from anything and everything; even their caretakers! Other roosters may seem to have no desire to protect their hens from people or other animals; many times, these submissive roosters would lose their hens to dominant roosters, virtually eliminating their ability to reproduce.
Carrying on! Let’s get these mean boys tamed down!
A Few Words of Caution….
When trying to tame an aggressive rooster, there are a few things you should keep in mind. This can be a very dangerous process for all involved, and it may not turn out exactly as you imagine:
- When you have an aggressive rooster, keep smaller children away. A rooster can do quite a bit of damage with those spurs and talons.
- Always wear protective clothing when you’re working with an aggressive rooster; you’ll quickly learn your lesson, if you don’t.
- Not all aggressive roosters can be tamed. For some, the drive to protect and the degree of possessiveness over the hens will simply be too strong. You will have to decide whether he is worth the trouble to keep at that point.
Humiliation: A Rooster Is Prideful
If your aggressive roo just can’t seem to get his attitude in check, you might have to completely and utterly humiliate him! This is best done with the hens nearby, especially when he is putting on displays of dominance (such as dropping a wing and hopping or dancing around you). You should never allow him the pride of a successful display, as this communicates to him that his has won.
One tactic for establishing dominance is to chase him from the food while the hens eat. Done daily, the rooster will quickly learn his place when you are around. If he challenges you, you must chase him off yet again. Do not allow him to access the food for five to ten minutes, at which point he must conduct himself appropriately or risk being chased off again.
Another way to embarrass your rooster is to knock him off of his hens. If he tries to mount a hen in your presence, remove him. In this situation, your are stripping him of his ultimate right as the head of the flock. Done repeatedly, he will eventually learn that the hens are YOUR hens when he is in your presence.
Pinning a Rooster Down: Showing Dominance
Another method for demanding respect from your rooster is to display your dominance over him forcefully. Being a prideful animal, roosters do not accept defeat (or commands!) easily. This will be time consuming, but it can be VERY helpful! You certainly won’t regret it!
First, you want to chase down and capture the rooster after an attack or display of dominance. Use a “football” hold to restrain the rooster, and pin his head downwards. You do not want to hurt the rooster or suffocate him; you simply want to restrain him, with his head pinned downwards, so that he cannot maneuver or see. He will fight you; the goal is to continue to restrain the rooster until he willingly keeps his head in a downward position, without you having to hold it in place. This is how you know you’ve won!
Herding Your Roo into Submission
Another method is to herd your rooster with a stick, and direct him on the path that YOU choose. This “herding” is how a rooster controls his flock, and directs the movement of the flock throughout the day. By herding him, you are transforming him into an inferior member of the flock; one who is forced to respect your orders.
Many people tend to carry sticks for protection from roosters, especially those who are highly aggressive, able to jump at the head, and those that have exceptionally long and sharp spurs. You should always be prepared to protect yourself; but when given the opportunity, the stick should be used to redirect dominance into your hands in a way that the rooster can understand.
Common Issues with Aggressive Roosters
For those who are new to chickens, it might be worth pointing out some of the major issues that occur with aggressive roosters. Some breeds are known for having males that are far more protective, which is generally only desirable in a flock that is free ranging and exposed to many predators.
- An aggressive rooster can easily injure you, your children, or your visitors.
- If he wanders onto someone else’s property, he could become a liability.
- An aggressive rooster may be aggressive with his hens, too; if your hens begin popping up with bald heads or backs, he’s too rough with them.
- It could become impossible to keep any other roosters on the property due to dangerous fights.
- It can be hard to introduce new hens to the flock.
- He may harm other animals on the property, including babies (such as goat kids, puppies, foals, and more).
Final Thoughts: What Else Can Be Done If a Rooster Won’t Become Nicer?
If you absolutely cannot train your rooster to behave, you may have to begin isolating him from his hens when people are in the yard or visiting. You can allow the rooster to see the hens on a very temporary basis, such as for fertilizing hens. You could also remove him from the hens before free ranging them, or only allowing him to join them while free ranging when predators have been spotted.
If you are not using your rooster for raising chicks or for protecting the hens, it would be far more beneficial for you to remove him from the homestead. You could sell him to another local farm, give him away to someone who wants him, or you could use him to feed your family.
Every animal serves a unique purpose on the homestead; if an aggressive rooster causes more problems than he is worth for your family, he should be replaced with a more docile rooster if possible.