hasnett Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 hi everyone, One of our girls has turned out to be a he!! he's gorgeous and really protects the other girls BUT he won't allow any of us in the garden! My 2 year old is now terrified of him and won't go into the garden. I stand up to him but he's really aggressive jumping at me plumping his feathers - he looks like something from jurasic park! i read somewhere on th forum (but can't find it now) that you pick them up and bend there neck so that his head points to the floor eventually he'll learn not to do it. what do i do about my daughter? What can we do - i really don't want to get rid of him. Any thoughts greatly appreciated! sxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 personally been as you have a 2 year old child I'd say rehome the cockerel. it's not worth the risk of anything happening to the child there is someone on another forum that rehomes cockrels but they're in Nuneaton others members might have other ideas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I have a friend who had real success with "tough love"... every time she went into the garden she took her her wellies and gardening gloves, grabbed the nasty fella and cuddled him up for 30 mins. She'd restrain him and then get the kids to come pet him. it took about 2 weeks and many cuddles, but eventually he learned to ignore the family. She combined it with a good stomping dance and big side step when she first entered, and a squalk (I so would have loved to have seen that)!!! Sounds like a lot of work but I know I'd do it as I love my boys and I know it doesn't always work - some fellas are just naturally very good guardians of their flocks, bless em what breed is he, just out of interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I have no advice, having never had a cockerel but I can understand your concerns. My Grandad kept hens and cockerels when my mum was young and she was forever being chased by the cockerels. I hope you manage to sort something out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 with squishy my huge black brahma cockerel ive noticed that when I walk in, he doesnt bat an eyelind- im guessing because im the daily bearer of food. But if any other member of my family walks in the run he goes mad! Perhaps if everyone regularly feeds him then he will get used to everyone and will stop being so agressive. Ive also found that a sharp kick in the bum has helped on perticularly aggressive days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted September 17, 2010 Author Share Posted September 17, 2010 i've tried the cuddling technique and he's better with me than everyone else, he's a bantham aracuna so only a wee thing! i'll try the cuddling/feeding for another couple of weeks and if he doesn't calm down he'll have to go - sadly sxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joza2210 Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I had the same problem with a polish cockerel ... He was that bad that he took a chunk out of my granddads hand ! We tried everything ... Holding him down to the floor and squirting him with water and none of it worked ... In the end we had to get rid of him ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 We have a Polish Cockerel who went through an aggresive phase with a neighbour who looked after them from time to time. We discovered she was frightened of him ( fair enough!) and so she adopted a very aggressive tone of voice, and armed herself with a brush and sprayed him with water to pre-empt any attack. He automatically reacted back agggressively and so it went on escalating. We then persuaded her to change her tone of voice and use a more softly softly approach with corn to distract. He then associated her with goodies not aggression. We also noticed he only became aggressive if he thought his girls were threatened by us in any way - just getting between him and them was enough sometimes as his eyesight is not good! And we used the carrying around approach too. Anyway, we seem to have sorted it - and mutual respect reigns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Interesting things cockerels. I only have experience of one who has been hand reared and loves to be cuddled to the extent of being needy. He does have his moments though if he thinks his women are in danger especially with strangers, and when the food, is to his mind, not being put down quick enough.I pick him up out of harms way and he calms down straight away. I would go down the cuddles and treats route. Trouble is with a little one who won't be able to be in charge of him he will be unpredictable. Good luck with him. Keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted November 30, 2010 Author Share Posted November 30, 2010 Cockerel update! He's getting worse...he won't even let me open the run door now to change the water/give treats. Every morning he attacks me! We are going to keep him until the summer though - still hoping age will tame him! I've tried the cuddling technique and it definitely works better than trying to be more dominant than him. Its such a shame as the girls will really miss him if he left and the neighbours! luckily our neighbours love his crowing! (it makes them think they are in the country,..tee hee!) George has also taught one of the girls how to escape!! Our neighbour has a ginger kitten that sends George into a frenzy when she enters the garden - the other girls have never been too disturbed by cats but Georges reaction has started to get them worried. We found lady in next doors garden at the weekend.... A human enters the garden and George turns into Rambo- a cat and he runs a mile x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Cockerels can be very aggressive, especially after their first year. Given that you have a small child, I think you'd be well advised to rehome him. Is there a local city farm or similar that might have him? You could try finding him a new billet via the **Omlet Marketplace**. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Hi i thought cockerals got worse as they got older im waiting to see what my iittle bantam teddy will be like hes really tame and quiet at the moment but if he gets nasty he will either go to a new home or may get a date with a broomstick leanne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 A human enters the garden and George turns into Rambo- a cat and he runs a mile x Perhaps you should carry a cat with you when you go to change the water etc!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raina Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 A human enters the garden and George turns into Rambo- a cat and he runs a mile x Perhaps you should carry a cat with you when you go to change the water etc!!! Lay a little egg for me just made me LOL I had aggressive male chicks. well... 3/4 of the males were aggressive (Hiro and the only Female Chick were quite Friendly).The grey/blue chick though was the worst. He would attack me all the time it got to the point i had to wear thick gloves everytime i had to change their food/water and as the weeks went by they got even more nastier.He even got loose once and attacked our Bedlington Terrier.It was scary at the time but now we laugh about it as Claire (They grey chick) was Tiny next to Bedley,Yet he was on his back being beaten up.I would say if he's getting worse Re-home him as he could get loose one day and could hurt you or your child.(My mum got attacked my a Cockerel when she was 4 and she's still got scars now) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I'd rehome or cull him - you can't take any chances with a small child in the family. I've been attacked by an aggressive cockerel before and they can be vicious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I'm in the rehome camp as well. We had a lovely cockerel who was very protective. Gradually his behaviour changed from being protective to being downright aggressive. He ripped DH's leather gloves and badly bruised his hand. At first, it was mildly amusing that this small bird could take on a full grown man... but it got silly. And then he started attacking me. I thought I was getting the better of him, having tried having stand-offs, and tiring him out...but one day he actually made me lose my balance, and he ripped through my jeans and my leg. I still have the scars. We found him a new home. I felt really horrible for giving up on him, but then we kwopt one of our home hatched biys who is a real sweetie and a gentleman. It makes such a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Sounds like naughty George needs to meet his maker. If you (and your wonderful neighbours) are keen on a cockerel why don't you get one of another breed. I've heard that larger breed cockerels are not as viscious and that the bantam cockerels can be like bulls - the smaller the more agressive. Saying that, however, my Silkie cockerel is just sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I had to re-home my aggressive boy, he attacked me and went for my little boy. He was a very good looking cockerel and full of character, but got nasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
