One way of showing your rooster that you're the boss is by handling them as often as possible. You should especially handle him whenever he attempts to attack you. Just pick him up and hold him snuggly against your body while holding his legs and wings securely so he doesn't get you with his claws or fly away.
Stand Your Ground
You want to establish yourself as the dominant member of the flock, and turning around and running away will only encourage the bird's behavior. Wearing your protective gear, face the chicken and stand tall. Try to make yourself as big as possible, flapping your arms and stomping your feet.
The first rooster to crow each morning is always the dominant male. Roosters then crow in order of seniority. Remove the dominant rooster and the second-in-command takes over the crowing order (and the flock).
So when your rooster begins to show signs of aggression, or starts to chase towards you, make him retreat, by walking boldly towards him. Another option is to grab a spray bottle or a hose (on a gentle setting), and to spray him when he tries to attack.
Many roosters have very individual personalities and enjoy attention from caretakers! If your rooster really likes you, he just might dance for you! Make sure your rooster and his hens have plenty of space of their own. Crowding a rooster may make him feel threatened and cause unwanted displays of aggression.
When you see the signs of an imminent attack, stand your ground and don't back off. If possible, take one step towards him, which tells him you're in the game and not backing down. Taking a step towards your aggressive rooster can also precipitate an attack, so be prepared.
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment and cover the bite with a clean bandage.
Chickens can recognise up to 100 faces
These faces included those of humans! Chickens even remember positive or negative experiences with the faces they recognise and pass that information on to members of their flocks.
A rooster often has his favorite girl, with whom he spends most of his time. She is not necessarily at the top of the pecking order, but he will treat her like a queen. It's possible that other hens might be envious of her role, because when the rooster is removed, his favorite hen is sometimes picked on by the others.
Chooks also tend to peck, chase and create a bit of a scene on the roost to establish and keep the position as top chicken. In the pecking order, you get the Alpha chicken which is the top chook, but you also get the beta which is second in command. There is a fine line between betas and alphas.
Aggression can manifest as pecking at the head and face or as pecking at and pulling feathers. Chickens have sharp and strong beaks that may lead to severe injuries. Reducing daylight in battery conditions, adding tryptophan to the food, and beak trimming can minimize aggression.
If your chicken suddenly lunges at you and attacks, you can be pretty sure that you have an angry bird, but aggression isn't always this obvious. A bird will often puff up their feathers and strut about in a threat display when they see a potential threat, as a way of warding it off.
It's natural for roosters to want to be the king of the flock. So they'll fight for their position and their favorite hens. Many times, rooster fights end in death. So it's important to attempt to stop the fight and separate the birds.
You will definitely be able to tell when a rooster is becoming too aggressive with the hens. If you notice that he is drawing blood or making the hens are distressed, it might be time to take steps to curb the rooster's aggressiveness. To start, you might want to consider clipping and rounding off the rooster's spurs.
Many chicken owners dread the possibility of one of their precious baby chicks growing up to be an aggressive rooster. However, not all roosters are cause for concern. Roosters can be fun, friendly, protective, and a great addition to any backyard flock!
Rooster favorites include banana, apple, berries, melons, peaches, plums and tomatoes. If he has loose stools after eating fruit, cut back on the amount you offer at one time.
The hen will crouch (dip her head and body) to indicate receptiveness to the male. The rooster will then mount the hen and grab her comb, neck feathers, or the skin on the back of her head or neck to help hold onto the hen's back.
Aggression typically becomes apparent in cockerels when they reach puberty, generally any time after four months old. Sexual maturity ushers in the full load of testosterone, which is a behavior game changer for some.
The most common reason is the wake up crow. This is simply their way of saying good morning and leading the flocks out to forage. However roosters can also crow to warn their flock or to announce a territorial boundary. Some roosters are noisy in the morning, whereas others can be noisier in the afternoon.
Breaking it up
To separate fighting roosters, covering them in water first is your best option. Grab a hose or bucket, and douse the birds. This should stun them enough that you can then reach in and grab one or the other by the legs without injury, though gloves are still highly recommended.