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Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 6:01 am
by CoopBuilder
Im at my wits end with my rooster and need serious advice. He has attacked me multiple times, often violently, to the point of injury. Its gotten so bad that he actually waits outside my car and ambushes me as soon as I step out. He chases me to the door and attacks from behind, and he has no hesitation in coming at me with full force.
At first, the only way to keep him from attacking was by holding him, but now, even that doesnt work. The other day, my husband was holding him and tried to hand him to mehe bit me twice while I was reaching for him! He doesnt act this aggressively toward my husband, though he has nipped him occasionally. Hes also somewhat aggressive with other members of the household, but for some reason, I am his main target.
Interestingly, one of my hens actually tries to intervene and stop him when he attacks me, almost as if she knows its wrong. Ive heard that neutering or hormone treatments can sometimes calm aggressive roosters. Does anyone have experience with using estrogen or other methods to lower testosterone in an aggressive rooster?
I really dont want to get rid of him, but I also cant risk having him around my grandchildren or guests this summer. If I cant find a way to curb his aggression, Ill have to rehome himbut where would even take an aggressive rooster? Culling is not an option for me, so Im looking for any possible solutions to make this work.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Re: Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 11:16 pm
by HatcheryHelper
CoopBuilder wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 6:01 am
Im at my wits end with my rooster and need serious advice. He has attacked me multiple times, often violently, to the point of injury. Its gotten so bad that he actually waits outside my car and ambushes me as soon as I step out. He chases me to the door and attacks from behind, and he has no hesitation in coming at me with full force.
At first, the only way to keep him from attacking was by holding him, but now, even that doesnt work. The other day, my husband was holding him and tried to hand him to mehe bit me twice while I was reaching for him! He doesnt act this aggressively toward my husband, though he has nipped him occasionally. Hes also somewhat aggressive with other members of the household, but for some reason, I am his main target.
Interestingly, one of my hens actually tries to intervene and stop him when he attacks me, almost as if she knows its wrong. Ive heard that neutering or hormone treatments can sometimes calm aggressive roosters. Does anyone have experience with using estrogen or other methods to lower testosterone in an aggressive rooster?
I really dont want to get rid of him, but I also cant risk having him around my grandchildren or guests this summer. If I cant find a way to curb his aggression, Ill have to rehome himbut where would even take an aggressive rooster? Culling is not an option for me, so Im looking for any possible solutions to make this work.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
It sounds like your rooster sees you as a threat or rival rather than part of his flock. Roosters are territorial and often view humans as competitors, especially if they bond more closely with another person. Training an aggressive rooster takes time, but some techniques include consistent handling, reinforcing boundaries, and using a deterrent (like a spray bottle or stick) to stop attacks. However, extremely aggressive birds often don't improve. If he's making your life miserable and could be dangerous to visitors, rehoming may be the best option,even if it's difficult to find a placement for him.
Re: Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:21 am
by BarnyardBuddy
Since you mentioned he's better with your husband, he might see you as a lower-ranking flock member and feel the need to challenge you. Some people have had success “resetting” an aggressive rooster by placing him in a large dog crate within the coop for a few days, which can disrupt his dominance. However, this doesn't work for all birds, and truly aggressive roosters can be dangerous, especially with children around. If there's no improvement, rehoming may be the safest choice.
Re: Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2025 10:26 am
by RoostRuler
Some roosters are just wired for aggression. If he's already this bad, it might be safest to rehome him or consider humane alternatives.
Re: Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 11:25 am
by HennaHatcher
CoopBuilder wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 6:01 am
Im at my wits end with my rooster and need serious advice. He has attacked me multiple times, often violently, to the point of injury. Its gotten so bad that he actually waits outside my car and ambushes me as soon as I step out. He chases me to the door and attacks from behind, and he has no hesitation in coming at me with full force.
At first, the only way to keep him from attacking was by holding him, but now, even that doesnt work. The other day, my husband was holding him and tried to hand him to mehe bit me twice while I was reaching for him! He doesnt act this aggressively toward my husband, though he has nipped him occasionally. Hes also somewhat aggressive with other members of the household, but for some reason, I am his main target.
Interestingly, one of my hens actually tries to intervene and stop him when he attacks me, almost as if she knows its wrong. Ive heard that neutering or hormone treatments can sometimes calm aggressive roosters. Does anyone have experience with using estrogen or other methods to lower testosterone in an aggressive rooster?
I really dont want to get rid of him, but I also cant risk having him around my grandchildren or guests this summer. If I cant find a way to curb his aggression, Ill have to rehome himbut where would even take an aggressive rooster? Culling is not an option for me, so Im looking for any possible solutions to make this work.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Protective behavior is normal for roosters, but this level of aggression is extreme. Have you tried a temporary separation period to see if his behavior resets?
Re: Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 2:15 am
by WattleScribe
CoopBuilder wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 6:01 am
Im at my wits end with my rooster and need serious advice. He has attacked me multiple times, often violently, to the point of injury. Its gotten so bad that he actually waits outside my car and ambushes me as soon as I step out. He chases me to the door and attacks from behind, and he has no hesitation in coming at me with full force.
At first, the only way to keep him from attacking was by holding him, but now, even that doesnt work. The other day, my husband was holding him and tried to hand him to mehe bit me twice while I was reaching for him! He doesnt act this aggressively toward my husband, though he has nipped him occasionally. Hes also somewhat aggressive with other members of the household, but for some reason, I am his main target.
Interestingly, one of my hens actually tries to intervene and stop him when he attacks me, almost as if she knows its wrong. Ive heard that neutering or hormone treatments can sometimes calm aggressive roosters. Does anyone have experience with using estrogen or other methods to lower testosterone in an aggressive rooster?
I really dont want to get rid of him, but I also cant risk having him around my grandchildren or guests this summer. If I cant find a way to curb his aggression, Ill have to rehome himbut where would even take an aggressive rooster? Culling is not an option for me, so Im looking for any possible solutions to make this work.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
If you want to keep him, you could try isolating him for a few days to reset his attitude. It has worked for some roosters.
Re: Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 1:08 am
by RoosterRanger
If rehoming isn't an option, consider creating a separate enclosure for him. That way, he can still protect his flock without attacking you.
Re: Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 2:41 am
by ChickenChick
I had a rooster that acted the same way,he would ambush me every chance he got! What helped was carrying a lightweight plastic rake and blocking him anytime he tried to rush me. I also stopped feeding treats by hand and made sure he knew I wasn't part of his flock structure. However, not all roosters can be trained out of aggression. If he's truly relentless, consider whether keeping him is worth the stress.
Re: Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2025 6:27 pm
by ScratchAndCluck
Some people swear by carrying a squirt bottle filled with vinegar water,spraying him during attacks might make him rethink charging at you.
Re: Desperate for Help My Rooster Wont Stop Attacking Me!
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:06 pm
by GreenThumbed
Unfortunately, some roosters are just naturally aggressive due to genetics or past experiences. If you really want to keep him, you could try putting him in a separate pen or run to limit his ability to attack you. That way, you can still enjoy having him around without the constant risk of injury. However, if he continues to escalate, it may be best to rehome him or find a more manageable solution.