[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi,

   thats sad news as he is clearly a pet. This time of year does bring the hormones to the surface but it sounds like he has a very dominant/ agressive temprament. Replacing him with a more docile breed may be the best answer. The two reasons for agression are defence and attack. Unless nigel warns you ( by standing tall and flapping his wings) and then you ignore this and do something which he sees as challenging then I would say that he is not being defensive. If you are nowhere near him or his hens, you havent supprised or threatened him or the girls then he is not deffending but attacking in order to drive any potential suitors away from his girls. Children often command less respect from animals and this can be due to the pitch and volume of their voises, erratic movements, eye level and appearing more submissive so this problem could continue. As a result he may be more likely to go for the children.

the pinning down technique will only work if you are in or can instigate a confrontational situation with him. The other important thing to remember is that this isnt a punishment its a demonstration of dominance and he must only be relesed when he submits. If you let go you must not turn away and if he comes at you again you need to pin his head down again by picnching the feathers at the back of his head. Dont be angry when you do this he dosent understand that he has offended you by attacking your children, be patient and dont give up until he turns away from you and when he does taking a swipe at a tail feather, following him, chasing him away and waving your arms will ensure that he knows that you won the right to his hens.

the problem with this aproach on cockerels however is not that they forget but rather that the male sexual drive is is stronger than that of females which means that he is programmed to continue to challenge the dominant male ( thats you) to achieve the right to mate with his hens. The other difficulty is that no sooner would you put him in his place than you would diapear and leave him to take up his dominant position with the hens again.

good luck with him.

Buffy.

[ambriel]

Just thought I'd give you all an update on Nigel, our Exchequer-cross cockeral with an attitude problem...

He's still very much in the land of the living but it's come close once or twice since.

He seems to have learned that I'm not to be trifled with and keeps a respectable distance from me, even when the hens are around my feet.

He has chased our eldest daughter and also my wife when she was letting the Kunes out one morning when I was laid-up ill in bed. In fact the wife came in swearing and demanding I shoot him there and then but I persuaded her to wait.

When she put the pigs to bed that same night she wore my hat and jacket and Nigel left her well alone, so it seems he recognises my clothing.

We're thinking of letting a neighbour have him. He's only a young lad but he has a much larger flock and is very much into his birds.

[doganjo]

We're thinking of letting a neighbour have him. He's only a young lad but he has a much larger flock and is very much into his birds.

I had the same problem with Jamie, my LS cockerel that I'd had along with his sisters from a few weeks old.  I got to the stage of him not coming near me after catching him, walking around for a bit doing things one handed with him tucked under my arm, facing him to me and shaking him then throwing him to the ground.  But he still chased my grandchildren, especially the 3 year old, and when a neighbour mentioned being on shift work and not getting sleep in the daytime that was the final straw.  He is now living with some black rock ladies in the country with adult children who he respects.  If your neighbour has children visiting don't let him go there either.  Advertise him on Gumtree or Adtrader.  Jamie wrote his own advert, attached three photos of himself and had three replies.

[benkt]

I'd had a bit of a problem with Dipper, our Speckledy cockerel. He had been living in a coop with low run attached. This meant that he was never out with me to have a go. When we moved him into his new run with some girls in the orchard, we had a few days of aggressive behaviour but after me winning the fights and pinning him down he has completely stopped. I'm not confident enough (yet) to let the toddlers in to the run whilst he's out but I no longer worry for myself!

[benkt]

Spoke too soon!
 
Dipper had a go at me again today for the first time in over a week. Its more amusing than dangerous but it'll be a long time before the kids go in the run with him...

[ambriel]

The neighbour's a bit young to have children - he's still at school

Actually, he has a lot of experience with poultry - far more than me - and the family has a lot more land to keep them on.

[doganjo]

The neighbour's a bit young to have children - he's still at school

Actually, he has a lot of experience with poultry - far more than me - and the family has a lot more land to keep them on.

This is actually what I said - "If your neighbour has children visiting".  I still would say the same.  If your neighbour is a youngster/teenager, then it is possible he will have young friends/cousins visiting.

[AengusOg]

Be careful FGS. I had a cock attack my foot once, and he drove a very long, sharp spur right through my (Hoggs) leather boot, and drew blood from my ankle.

With some breeds, the hens with chicks at foot can be more dangerous. Both my sons give my game fowl a wide berth, having been attacked by hens.

[doganjo]

With some breeds, the hens with chicks at foot can be more dangerous.

Three of my five dogs are the same - been attacked by hens so steer clear of them.  The other two  still chase them but they'll turn one day and then Bob and Belle will get their just deserts

[TheCaptain]

Rodders, my top RIR Cockeral is a fine looking bird but has become a bit of a problem, going from just attacking the Mother-in-law (she swears I trained him to do it) to chasing my son through the dog flap.  He squared up to me the other day and he is destined for the pot, unfortunately, as I just can't take the risk with my three young children.  He was fine for a while as when he started to attack the MIL I would get him first thing in the monring and parade him around in front of his girls which he really doesn't like!  Also, try and perfect the 'kick-lift', which doesn't hurt them but lifts them up and they don't like it!  Also try a bit of posturing like him - it's worked alright to a point!!!

[rbarlo32]

Holding the head down works on bad tempered ganders.

[Eggs, Chicks & Hens]

I have just had to get rid of my Light Sussex cockerel, he went for me the other day & drew blood at the back of my leg, & every time I went past his run he ran at the wire at me.I tried every thing with him, nothing worked. I took an instant dislike to him so he just had to go. A friend has taken him, he will live out his days free ranging. Just got a new one, hoping he's going to be ok with me, I keep going into his run & talking to him hoping were going to be friends

[DominicJ]

Does the Hosepipe work?
I have a very dominant Chiuahuah that was constantly trying to pick a fight with a collie next door.

He's not quite got why he gets hosepiped yet, so as soon as I pick it up to water the plants, he legs it, but he's being less agressive to next door.

Obviously with children there are different risks, but I'm not aware of anything that ignores being shot in the face with a hosepipe.

[doganjo]

I have just had to get rid of my Light Sussex cockerel, he went for me the other day & drew blood at the back of my leg, & every time I went past his run he ran at the wire at me.I tried every thing with him, nothing worked. I took an instant dislike to him so he just had to go. A friend has taken him, he will live out his days free ranging. Just got a new one, hoping he's going to be ok with me, I keep going into his run & talking to him hoping were going to be friends

Pick him up and walk around doing things with him under your arm.  The more he sees you as having control over him the less likely he  is to attack.  But if he has ladies he is duty bound to protect them from you or anyone else.  Some cockerels are worse than others.  My Jamie is a LS, also been rehomed, if I could find a nice quiet cockerel I'd have another one in a  minute.  Neighbour is on shifts so a  noisy one had to go regardless of him being aggressive.