[minibn]

Good evening

I have an aggressive bantum cockrel who leaps and attacks my legs hands and face, when i enter the run or the chicken coop. He has caused me some quite painful injuries to my hands and legs considering his size. He used to have a brother, although his brother flew out of the run and sadly the dogs saw him as a toy. Carl only started becoming aggressive after he lost his brother. They never used to fight either.

Does anyone have any suggestions of how to calm him down and to show him that i am not a threat? It makes handling my hens hard work. He is not the most approachable cockrel generally. I feel like he gets stressed out when i enter the run and he runs straight for me and follows my every move.

Any advice welcomed

Emily

[Ina]

When I read that subject, I thought - oh yes, I know that... But the bantam cockerel I know is only aggressive towards another, much bigger cockerel! On the other hand, bantams like roosting (and flying) quite high up; maybe your run etc doesn't give him the chance to do that? The bantams I know roost way above my head... At least twice my height.

[Bumblebear]

Our aggressive roos went in the pot. I think I read that they cant really be rehabilitated as they are doing what nature intended, protecting their ladies. 

[bloomer]

i know for cockrels they say you can grab them and hold there heads down till they submit, never tried it, personally i'd be thinking 'cock aux vin'

[deepinthewoods]

coq au vin. 
pin him down until he submits as above. or eat him until he submits.

[minibn]

Thank you for your replies. The run they are in is about 20m by 15m. He regularly flies out and in when he wants. Although i keep the dogs well away now. He doesn't bother with the two geese either. I think that's just the way he is. I think his father was quite an aggressive bird, although i don't know if that makes any difference. I think he suffers from tiny chicken syndrome   .

Regards

Emily

[Ina]

As to eating - my friend and her family think bantams taste rubbish... I don't know whether it's all bantams, or just the ones on her farm, but they won't eat them.

[minibn]

I wouldn't eat him, as much as he may not like me. I suppose he is just doing his job of protecting his girls.

Emily

[Ina]

In that case - wear chain mail gloves! 

[hughesy]

Cooking definitely stops them misbehaving.

[PetiteGalette]

OK! OK! it's not about protecting his females, etc., etc., it's about superiority! Take charge! YOU are the boss. When he comes at you ..............you kick him square, right in his chest and lift him off his feet -no, it is not unkind.... it is about letting him know YOU are the boss! It hurts nothing but his pride. You may have to do it twice (unusual) but it will let him know you are the BOSS!

[chrismahon]

I agree with PG. The technique is to place your foot under his chest and lift him off the ground. Perhaps picking him up and carrying him around for a while would help as well. Yes, great for keeping order and protecting the hens, because he will attack an intruder and give time for the hens to scatter (if they have somewhere to hide). But your welfare is important. You don't want him flying up and taking your eye out!


If you can't bring him under control it must be the pot.

[jaykay]

PG is right, it's about who's in charge. Kicking them in the chest though, if you don't get the timing and distance exactly right and make it a lift, not a blow, can do some serious damage.

I had a nasty Old English Pheasant Fowl. I used to find carrying him around under my arm, wrapped in a fleece or cardigan, while I was doing jobs about the yard made the point  As did the odd two gallons of water 

Fortunately, all five of my current cocks are gentlemen 

[aaronsundin]

Yes indeed , the quick punt in the chest worked for me . I have a rhode island red bantie cockerel who started attacking me , after a bleeding hand a swift kick was delivered . He avoided me for the rest of the day but came back at feeding time . The following days after he kept a wide birth from me and now is a perfect gentleman with me and all of his girls . I would go as far to say he seems like a completely different bird . I didn't feel good about doing it at the time but and sure glad I did . 

[in the hills]

Not had direct experience of this as all my cockerels are friendly lads and have to be as I have my own children and others come here to play as well. All my birds free range so I would personally have to dispatch an aggressive bird.


However, my father has a really aggressive wyandotte cockerel at the moment and is very fond of him so wouldn't dispatch. He finds that showing aggression back to him only winds him up and leads to more attacks. He picks him up and cuddles him and generally ignores his "threats". He spent time cuddling him at night and fed tit bits etc. George generally backs down now and dad is able to handle the hens etc. He has remained aggressive, however, towards strangers.


Just something else to try if the domination thing doesn't work and you don't wish to cull.


Good luck