Great! You really didn't need the two of them.

Hmm. Roto-Rooster is only getting more aggressive rather than less. I usually do the early morning feeding of all the critters in my robe and barefeet (then return to the couch and my coffee). That will clearly need to change. When I entered the chicken yard this morning to open their side window, the rooster side stomped me while keeping his hens inside the coop (not sure how he does that). I stomped back at him, yelled and waved my arms around, but was both barefoot and bare-legged so we just had a bit of an unresolved stand-off, eyeballing each other. I plan to don my rubber boots and canvas pants tomorrow morning when making my morning appearance so I can be more aggressively pro-active. He's a young rooster (4.5 months) and has only recently been jumping the hens, so I'm hoping he is going through a teenage phase of some sort (rushing testosterone??)

You need to stop his behavior immediately or he will only get worse. This is why I hate roosters.

I agree with Rita. If you need to catch him other than at roosting time, a fish landing net works well.

This morning when I went into the yard, the rooster again rushed me. I aggressively fended him off with an old broom, kind of sweeping him aside and hollering at him, stomping my feet. He didn't much like that and kind of strutted away in a snit. After opening the coop side window and freshening their outside water, I purposely turned my back to him and casually left the yard. Lesson 1.

I hope he catches on.

This is Avery. He learned the hard way who is boss in one day. Very aggressive chicken. I used to have to take something with me in the coop everyday to feed and water and clean because you never knew when he would decide to attack. He got me a few times. I got him when he was about 6 months old just getting his spurs. I have scars from him and he would go for your eyes. When I first got him he was not aggressive in fact I carried him around like a puppy dog then I got other chickens and he got less attention and he either got jealous or it was because I didn't carry him around everyday. So if you can get him used to be handled do not slack on it. Anyways he got mean real mean. Had to carry a PVC pipe with me and wack him if he came at me one time he came and me and wouldn't stop full attack mode not backing down. So we sparred and he got wracked really hard and went down and I thought I killed him I went running crying and screaming into the house telling my husband that I killed Avery. He was like well we will have chicken for dinner and a peaceful mornings from now on, no big deal. I went back out intending to throw away Avery I couldn't eat him, I loved him even though we sparred cause I remember when I used to carry him around like a puppy and its my fault he's dead. I pick him up stroking him sobbing and he starts coming to, I tell him I'm sorry but I had to defend myself and he can't do that to me I am only doing my part in helping take care of the girls. I know he didn't understand the words but he does understand the PVC pipe or long stick. Anyone that goes into the coop with a long pipe or stick can safely feed and water the chickens as he will go to back of the run. Hard lesson learned. I did get rid of Avery due to his crowing and the fact we are now raising pure English Orpingtons and silkies. Not a recommended method.

Welcome Penney, and thanks for the story and photo - handsome fellah. I went in to the yard today for my monthly cleaning (first Saturday) and as soon as I opened the gate, Roto-Rooster skeedaddled to the far corner. Yay! I was carrying my clean-out rake and fully intended to terrorize him again if need be. I went about my business, mucking out the old, spreading new, cleaning water/feed containers, closed up shop, then purposely strode toward Roto shaking my rake at him. Just so he would remember. He skittered away a second time (yay again). He does not yet have spurs, and I plan to go inside the yard daily - I previously wasn't, I'm not much into hands-on with the chickens. He's a very good looking rooster and very protective of his ladies. I'd rather not put him on the spit.

If he is a problem, use the head - down training. It really works. Also the spurs can be partially removed by twisting the horny part off with pliers. (It helps preserve the hens' feathers.) I never have to threaten my roosters with violence; they understand the pecking order.

I heard, but never tried it, that if you take a hot baked potato out of the oven and place it on the sprus that it kills it and it will fall off. Like I said I have never tried it.

All our dogs/cats have always deferred to my husband, who is clearly top dog (and also not much of a pet-guy, which they clearly sense, and stay out of his way). I'm way more of a softie, and often have to work for top dog rank. Since Gary has nothing to do with the chickens, I'll have to keep after the rooster. So far, so good. I'll do the head-down if need be, but so far he's keeping his distance from me. And getting rid of part of the spurs also sounds appealing - both for myself and the hens. I can likely get Gary to do that for me when the spurs come in. They are just little nubbins so far.

Tom, cross posted - interesting idea with the hot potato. Maybe someone else can confirm or deny that?

I never tried it. Seems a little awkward to be holding an angry rooster and a hot potato at the same time.

I suppose it's much like the effect of a dehorning iron on a calf or goat.

Yeah, except they have insulated handles, and the calf is in a head gate.

What is the heads down method? Wish we would have known that about removing the spurs, our poor girls' backs were raw.

To assert your authority over a disrespectful rooster, you catch him (off the roost at bedtime is easiest), hold him under your arm and with the other hand push his head down until it is lower than his body and hold it there a minute or so. If it pops up when you let it go push it down again. Repeat until he holds it down on his own. You may need to do this on a couple of occasions, but it teaches lasting respect.

Such good information. If we get any roosters again I will be better prepared.

Just found this picture of BB attacking my son.