[Dans]

Anyone had issue with a cockerel charging them from behind?

Our boy has started doing it in the last couple weeks. Not every time we go out (they free range in the garden), but a fair few times a week.

It seems to be related to food, we noticed that when the pellets are low or empty he does it, and at night time when we do the corn. He runs at us from behind and gives one peck with his beak. He hasn't tried to use his spurs at all.

I thought it was hunger but a couple of times I've put the corn down, the girls are all pecking away and as I walk away he charges me.

I don't know much about chicken behaviour. Is this wanting more food? Is it him trying to dominate? Any tips of how I can break the habit? We walk with a stick (For the geese) and if I put the stick between us as he is charging he stops, watches me for a bit then goes back to his girls, but he's starting to make me weary of going into the garden with my daughter in case he escalates.

I know there isn't much chance of rehoming a cockerel, especially when he's not pure breed but he is so nice at other times that it seems a waste to send him to the pot and I'm not entirely sure how to do that.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Dans

[Fleecewife]

Pot I'm afraid Dans.  You can't risk keeping him with your daughter around, and even if it was just you two it's not a good idea.  They always escalate.  There are ways to dominate a cockerel, but I don't think they're sure enough with a baby around.  You can dominate him, but she can't.

[Anke]

Yep, any of ours that have started to do that ended up in curries or stews... just not worth it.

[Womble]

Yup, life is too short to share with a grumpy man! We've tried various ways to correct it over the years, but IME once it's started, it's very difficult to stop. It's just not worth the risk, especially with children around.

Casserole him and get a new one (if you need a man at all of course). Have no moral qualms either, as wasn't the new one destined for the pot until you intervened to save him?

[suziequeue]

Ours started doing that a year or two ago. Just a peck on the heel of my boot.

Next time he did it I turned around and chased him for a few minutes. He tried once more and got the same response. Never again.

[Jukes Mum]

I think it is related to feeding. Cockerels like to find food for their girls and can get rather stroppy if you do that for them. Ours usually go in the pot at this stage, but Steve, our current cockerel did this for the first time last month. I was holding a bucket at the time and chased him around the field bashing the bucket for a few minutes and he hasn't done it since. If it does he will be going bye byes.
If yours has been doing it for a while it may be too late to nip it in the bud and I'd agree with the above. Eat him and get another.

[waddy]

I had one start to get stroppy (spurs as well). I pinned him down a couple of times (as they would do with a hen) then quickly followed him round for a minute or two. I also now hand feed my boys regularly. He hasn't done it now for over a year (he is about two). Agree with the others though if you think he won't be safe around your daughter don't take risks.


Helen

[Womble]

^ I agree that approach *may* work, and is worth a try. The trouble is, in the natural order of things, you would fight him and win. You would then become top cock, and would get all the girls; shooing him away if he tried to come near.

What actually happens though is that you win the fight, but afterwards put him down and go to work or whatever, leaving him to resume top spot. The power struggle is thus never fully resolved, and can repeat over and over.

So yes, do give him a chance or two, but if he's stuck in his ways, treat him to a long bath with some cider, stock cubes and selected root vegetables  .

[suziequeue]

treat him to a long bath with some cider, stock cubes and selected root vegetables  .

Mmmmmm - almost sounds too good for a bolshy cock.....

[Dans]

Just thought I'd update. I think he heard us talking about the pot. He has only charged once since I posted and hubby chased him around after that go. We will wait and see but he is on a yellow card.

Thank you all

Dans

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I agree with everyone else, would be better to pot roast, a nice coq au vin I had a cockerel which hid in a tree and jumped on me with claws and all, really horrible, he did it often until ee sold him to someone along with all the flock, probably stewed the cockerel, who knows

[pgkevet]

Some thread titles just give me silly mental images:
120 or 240v cockerel?
Toll bridge fees?
Have it dehorned.
Didn't 'the good life' have a problem cockerel? Stalin?

..of absolutely no help but cheered me up

[Womble]

Well, our cockerels to date have been called Kellogg, Roger (or was that his job description?), Mr Ginger Nuts, Foghorn Legover, Hitler and Castro. We also had a Gadaffi Duck for quite some time until he sh*gged himself to death. He was hatched during the Arab Spring, and it just kinda stuck. Oh, and Gandalf the gander of course: "None shall pass!".

[Marches Farmer]

Ours never get a second chance to attack.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

you could always borrow the Blimmin cat!