How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Is it time for Rooster to go?

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Is it time for Rooster to go?

Well, to be blunt, if you're taking care of the chickens, get rid of him one way or another and just be quiet about it. The rooster, I mean.

"um, no, he's been gone a while". Yes, 15 minutes counts a "a while".

No, you should not have to be afraid of a chicken.

And yes, that behaviour is dangerous to you.

I've had them get me in the ankle, in the hand, and even in the face. They WILL hurt you, and intentionally. If he gets you in the eye, that's going to be big trouble, expecially because his feet are dirty and any thing he scratches is apt to get infected.

The hormones kick in about this time of year, as they get about a year old, and some of them do get mean. He's a chicken, you're a people. He's stupid enough to attack his food supply, you can fix that problem for him.

I strongly urge you to get rid of him before you get hurt. Husband is not dealing with it, so he doesn't understand. Mine does the same thing sometimes. As they say, it's often easier to apologize than to get permission.

Diane S.

----- Original Message -----

From: Liz

To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 7:58 PM

Subject: [CHICKENS-101] Is it time for Rooster to go?

I have a rooster that has in my opinion become too aggressive but DH laughs at me and calls me a little girl and asks to see the blood on me. I would really appreciate your thoughts on his behaviour and suggestions for action. Anytime I am in the hen house or the run with him he charges me and jumps up, he will run at me whenever I open the door. In addition he has been pretty rough with the hens. Lots of feathers pulled out to the point of blood on the back and bare necks. I had been dealing with him by never being in the same place. I could close him in the run when I needed to go in the house. But, all the snow fell off the roof a few days ago and broke the fencing which cannot be repaired right away so they are all staying in the house. Maybe I am being a coward because I will NOT go in there. I hold a plastic feed tub lid in front of me and fill their food from the other side of the door. I have been unhappy about his roughness with the hens and have been thinking about dispatching him but I'm pretty sure this will label me as an evil person in DH's eyes. I do not have alternate housing for him and it is still below freezing at nite. So, what would you do?
Thanks, Liz