[oink]

hello, I have 2 cockerels ( speckled sussex and rhode island red) and 4 hens (2 le bresse, 1 barred plymouth rock and 1 speckled sussex).  My plan was to hatch their eggs this year and then use the resulting flock to try and breed a good dual purpose bird.

Unfortunately the RIR cockerel is VERY aggressive.  Some of the stories of his behaviour sound quite funny, my girlfriend definitely though it was a laugh to see me trying to defend myself!  Is this the kind of behaviour that will be passed on ie.  should I dispatch him before I hatch some eggs.

My first thought was to do just that but I do really like the look of the RIR, he's my only one, so I was hoping I may be able to dispatch him after he's become a dad.  Also, we've had no trouble from the fox since he's been around.  Could this be because of he's protecting his flock?

Cheers in advance

[OhLaLa]

I can't say whether the chicks would take on his nasty gene, some might, some might not, or answer your fox question as only the fox really knows the answer to that one, but I wouldn't tolerate the cockerel, he would have to go.

 

[bloomer]

can't give advice

but can we hear the funny stories just for entertainment value please??

 

[pottsie]

If it makes you feel better i got a French copper maran cockerel and three hens at the end of last year (having seen dark brown eggs picture), the girls are already giving me an egg a day, but the cockerel tries to have me every time i go anywhere near them, managed to get on my back the other day when i was crouching down to collect the eggs, i was going to leave him until i get my next batch of young ones through as he isn't related to the hens then get a new one.

Rob. 

[Helencus]

My light Sussex cock went for me once so I posted on here and the advice I was given was to get hold of him when he did it next and hold his head to the ground and shame him in front of his ladies. I did this after much scuffling to get hold of him but it worked he's never gone for me again. He does look after his ladies though and they do say it's these protective instincts that make them so successful at defending the flock, makes sense if you think about it.
Personally I wouldn't stand for the aggression which is why my lad had 1 chance and if he'd of carried on he'd be Sunday lunch I'm afraid. Maybe he heard me say it but he's fine now keeps well away from me.

[shetlandpaul]

its funny until they hurt a kid. kill it and get a softer one.

[darkbrowneggs]

I am pretty certain it is genetic, and passed on down, so by hatching you will get feisty stock.

Obviously that's why cock-fighting people were so into their breeding and genetics.  I personally will not tolerate any aggression from the cockerels and they are immediately removed from any breeding programme, no matter how good

If you just want to tame him down then there are a few things, though these are best put into practice whilst the bird is young so you are regarded as the dominant flock leader

Never let him eat first, always the flock leader lets the hens eat first then himself, then any subordinate males

Never let him mate a hen whilst you are there, knock him off and chase him shouting loudly (don't know whether the last bit is strictly necessary, but I always do )

If he shows you aggression you MUST catch him and hold him down and if necessary squeeze the back of his comb, and when you let him go make sure he runs off quick - if not repeat the process.

Then when he is calm speak to him softly and give him some tidbits.  Penning in a large cage at eyelevel for a while seems to make them very tame quite quickly .

All the best with him - whatever you decide
Sue

[oink]

Thanks a lot guys.  I just took your advise and held him head down in front of his ladies.  When I put him down he ran away a couple of yards, then came back again so i grabed him and this time he ran away very fast.  It seems so pathetic to be fighting a small bird but it really was quite fun. mano a birdo.  I've never done it before and my heart was beating overtime when I finished!

As for you bloomer, it's nice to know my misery gives you so much pleasure   I suppose the worst time was when I was fixing my fence and little known to me I was backing closer and closer to the chickens while on my hands and knees.  At first I thought it was my dog jumping up on me but as i fell to the floor and turned around I saw the cockerel flapping profusely and attacking my leg. I was terrified!  I ran away like a little girl (although there are plenty of little girls braver than me)!

Hopefully he'll be calmer now but if he's still aggressive in 10 days I've decided I'll put the eggs in the incubator and have him for lunch.  I do hope this works though.  I quite like the idea that I've staged a coup (pun intended) and taken over leadership of the chickens

[doganjo]

Hey, you're a star!  Well done!  I did that with Jamie, and I was getting the better of him, but then had to rehome him due to a neighbour on shift work not getting sleep in the day time.

[ambriel]

Our Nigel can be quite fiesty, too. He's come at me a few times, claws first.

He's such a handsome boy though, it'd be a shame to eat him.

My wife was in the garden with me on Sunday and I warned her not to turn her back on him as he had that look in his eye. Being a school-teacher she automatically assumed I was talking nonsense - until he flew at her.

It was really quite funny watching him chase her round the garden, but as Paul says, it could be one of the kids next time.

I'll try the catching and shaming technique on him (when I'm feeling brave), too, and see if that helps.

[Hermit]

To me an aggresive Cockerel is doing his job. If they are confined to an area then they will protect that area and it is your fault if the garden is his territory and no boundaries.They dont know what a garden is ,he is protecting his females from an area he is in 99% of the time and you just visit! The holding down of the head does work and if you are sharing an area he needs to know you are flock leader as in dogs etc. He is doing what nature intended him to do as any other leader of the herd/flock worth his salt would do. I would like you to meet my stag turkey, he is a fiesty one, he herds his females to bed at night and always last in, he parades his perimeters and really looks after them. However you trying to take anything out of his paddock, which includes dirty bedding and he will be on your back like a Harrier jump jet taking off. But he is doing his job and it is breeding season. Compare this to a Stallion doing his job with a herd of mares, or is wringing a chickens neck too easy. I never found breeding from a overly protective cockerel passes on indeed I have found the opposite.

[shetlandpaul]

true. and its always the best looking ones that are the pains. were lucky at the moment the cocks are all chilled out ones. apart from a small polish bantam that likes to fight the bigger chucks. true also about the stallions but you would not be bending down near the back end of a worked up colt. well i would not anyway. i would not fancy a full grown tom attacking your face. that reminds me i need to start planning the turkeys this year.

[Helencus]

Good for you oink here's hoping it works well and he settles. I also try to let mine free range so we have room to stay out of each others way. That way we respect each other without the need for further confrontation.

[Beewyched]

Interesting subject -

Our cockeral, Ziggy (as in Stardust, linked to Bowie, coz he's the colour of a rainbow ...) suddenly started going for me totally out of the blue last week >>> was it because Spring is in the air? & why only in the front garden, not in the yard or over with the pigs?

Answer: silly mummy had bought a pair of pink spotted wellies from a Boot Sale (oh how apt) (& ye they were unused - no atheletes foot thanku)  to wear in the front garden to keep the smellie green ones for seeing to the pigs - oh dear 

NOT ALWAYS THE BOY'S FAULT - OOPS!!!

 

[Hermit]

My turkey stag hates red..... gloves, wheelbarrow wheels , buckets etc.