Taming The Storm 10/13/23

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Weekend Homesteader

Meet Storm, my young Deathlayer rooster and a little fireball. I hatched him in April and he was a sweetheart ... he was a sweetheart up until his girls started laying.

One day, I went in his run with my granddaughter and he charged her. That was the start.

He's come at me about 4 times BUT in observing his behavior and when it happens, I see this as "protectiveness" and not "aggression." He's young, his hormones have kicked in and his behavior (which I closely watch) indicates he is learning his job. He's fine 90% of the time but if he feels his girls are threatened, he protects.

Today was probably our worst day. He came at me this morning when I opened the coop and again tonight when I was ready to put them to bed. There was NO excuse this morning except he was acting like an ass ... tonight, he went to bed but 2 girls were still out. When I went in to close the door, they were still out and he came out to protect them. I get that BUT it's unacceptable.

Previously, catching him was impossible, but now I set up a little pen inside the run (I'm integrating 2 hens into the flock) so catching him now is a breeze.

I caught him this morning and again tonight. No problem. Although, I guess I was yelling at him tonight, so much that my husband heard me and opened the window and yelled out if I was okay. LOL, yep, I was, but I guess I was loud in the process.

Our routine when this happens is that I pin him on his back on the ground and hold him there until he relaxes. I then pick him up with his head faced downward, like a football under my arm and carry him around.

Once I have him, he is calm. He doesn't fight back in any way and is as sweet as he was as a baby.

I will be the first to say that my experience with roosters is minimal. Horses, dogs, cats ... years of experience but roosters are new.

I figure if I can handle a 1200 lb horse, I can deal with an 8 lb (if that) rooster. In dealing with him, these are my thoughts:

No fear. I am not afraid of Storm. If I was afraid of him, he'd be gone.
Observing and understanding his behavior. He is young and protective, not aggressive.
Developing trust so he knows I won't hurt our girls and I know he will protect them.
Handling Storm as much as possible, making it a positive experience.
Always being prepared and on the offensive: very simple, have my arms and legs covered when I go in the room, maintain eye contact and exit the run when he is relaxed.

Every day may not be perfect but we are working on an understanding.

I worked hard to get this boy and am not giving up on him.

Tomorrow is another day.