What to do with a rooster who wants to fight you

Mock fights are a type of play for chicks of both sexes.

Aggressive behaviour by males, towards each other and humans, starts at 4-6 months of age when cockerels start to mature and testosterone levels rise.

Never encourage fighting by teasing or taunting young poultry. Early experiences may programme a rooster’s response. If you’re raising roosters from chicks, treat them with respect and care, and handle them regularly in a calm, gentle manner so they form positive associations with your presence. However, be aware that even the most well-raised male can turn aggressive as he matures.

A cockerel, a teenager in the poultry world, will try to exert his dominance over you by running up behind you or chasing small children.

The best thing to do (if possible) is ignore him. Young males have no perception of your size or that you could kill them. Don’t retaliate or hit out with a boot or stick. Retaliation is seen as a threat and their behaviour will get worse as they mature.

Psychologically, if you’re facing an aggressive rooster, it’s best to do what a subordinate male would do, as quickly as possible. Turn sideways, then slowly and quietly move away. To a rooster, you’re communicating that you are lower in the pecking order. Next time you enter his space, if you immediately turn away, he should remember that and accept your ‘place’ in the pecking order.

Some experts argue the opposite, that you attack and dominate, and they will turn away from you, seeing you as the ‘alpha’.

But once you start confronting a dominant rooster, he’s learning to attack you every time he sees you. You’re not there for the other 23½ hours of the day when he is in charge, and his instincts tell him he must assert himself.

Genetics play a part in aggression. Old English Game were bred to be the fiercest and nastiest of all the poultry, towards their own kind and their keepers. Heavy breeds like Orpingtons were bred to be placid; if they do attack, it will at knee height as they cannot fly up. Smaller, light breeds like Leghorns can be feistier, and can fly up quite high, easily hitting you on the shoulder or head.

Leg spurs grow continually and are very sharp, easily slashing through skin.

There are always exceptions. Lots of people have sweet-tempered roosters that live in peace. But never assume that any rooster is completely harmless.

A rooster that becomes increasingly aggressive towards people is unlikely to change. It may be best for you and your flock to remove him, to prevent injuries.

He’s also passing on his aggressive nature, and if he’s too busy fighting, he’s not going to be mating so fertility will drop.

If you start confronting him... he’s learning to attack you every time he sees you