Hi, I'm new to this forum but hoping that someone out there can offer me some advise. I have a beautiful cockerel, he is great with his girls and really looks after them but he hates people. Very aggressive and will attack for no apparent reason. He and the hens are completely free range so no one at the property is safe! Does anyone have any ideas how I can control this aggressiveness? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Aggressive cockerel - help!
- Thread starter DianeA
- Start date
foxy
Active member
Hello DianeA and welcome to the forum! 
99 99
I am sorry to hear that you have an aggressive cockerel, usually when they attack people it is simply because he sees you as a challenge, and his behaviour is very much that of a cockerel trying to dominate you. Unfortunately in my experience this never really has a happy ending, as once this behaviour develops it is very hard to stop. This sort of aggression classically arises this time year, when he has become more fertile and his girls are in lay. There are techniques I have heard of out there, but in reality it is very hard to change a birds territorial instinct when it becomes this extreme and aggressive to humans.
99 99 I am sorry to hear that you have an aggressive cockerel, usually when they attack people it is simply because he sees you as a challenge, and his behaviour is very much that of a cockerel trying to dominate you. Unfortunately in my experience this never really has a happy ending, as once this behaviour develops it is very hard to stop. This sort of aggression classically arises this time year, when he has become more fertile and his girls are in lay. There are techniques I have heard of out there, but in reality it is very hard to change a birds territorial instinct when it becomes this extreme and aggressive to humans.
Hi Diane A, and welcome. I'm sorry to hear about the problems with your cockerel. As Foxy says, once they develop that sort of behaviour its hard to change their mindset. You do need to think hard about what to do with him, as if he attacks someone who is not prepared, he can cause serious damage, for which you would be liable. Also, an attack would be very frightening, especially if a child was involved. There are various tactics people have tried, such as getting hold of him (how?) and holding him head downwards for several minutes, to impress your dominance on him, though even if you make him realise you are the boss, he may not think other people are also! I have heard of people going into the run holding a dustbin lid in front of them to protect themselves, but as he's free range this wouldn't be much off an option, would it? Also, not very relaxing.
Maybe he just doesn't know when he's well off. There are so many nice- natured birds out there, it makes you wonder whether you really want to keep one which is dangerous and frightening to people on your property.
Maybe he just doesn't know when he's well off. There are so many nice- natured birds out there, it makes you wonder whether you really want to keep one which is dangerous and frightening to people on your property.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Well there are advantages to such an aggressive bird DianeA. He will guard very well. To get a cockerel to guard well and be tame to you is quite difficult and needs a lot of handling early with restrained but occasional handling later. They get very aggressive quickly if not handled often enough. They need to know that you are top bird but will not be so intimidated as to accept degraded status from anyone else! So they will accept you are top but anyone else will have to fight them for second place. All ours are in that situation, so it can be done.
