How to Protect Yourself from an Attacking Rooster

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 28, 2021 Approved

A rooster that enters attack mode is simply protecting his empire. You can diminish the chances of full-blown combat by avoiding seemingly insignificant behaviors on your part that may agitate him. At some point, commit to ruling the roost yourself and training him to respect your presence.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Distracting the Rooster and Protecting Yourself

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Distract him with snacks. A fabled rooster-defense tactic with proven effectiveness, tossing out a bit of feed will likely distract your rooster with remarkable consistency. Handfuls of grain may actually be all the protection you need.^{[1]
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- One of the benefits of feeding your rooster is that this shows him that you are not another rooster. While you may think they’ve already figured this out, they probably haven’t.
- Essentially, feeding your rooster will help them recognize that you’re just the giant, uninteresting creature that occasionally feeds them – and, more importantly, not a threat.
- Do this repeatedly to both distract them and make them more comfortable with your presence. They’ll likely start calling the hens out to come to enjoy the spoils too.
2
Equip yourself with a rooster shield. If you simply need to get in and get out quickly, perhaps to grab eggs, bring yourself a shield. No need to visit the local armory – a shovel or even a large lid will do the trick.^{[2]
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- Protect yourself by holding your shield between you and the rooster. Never strike at the rooster.
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3
Dress for a beak and chicken-feet resistance. Wear leather gloves for protection, as well as long-sleeved shirts and pants when dealing with an aggressive rooster. Wear boots too, as roosters tend to be much shorter than humans and default towards fighting with their feet.^{[3]
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- Make sure your boots aren’t too floppy, as floppy boots may agitate roosters.

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Consider pinning your rooster instead. This won't hurt him, it will just scare him a little bit, and that is what you want. To pin him, you need to grab him, put him on the ground, and hold him down. He will panic a little but don't worry you aren't hurting him. Hold him down until he is calm and then let him go.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Avoiding Incitement of an Easily-Riled Rooster

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Move with haste. You shouldn't rely on avoiding your rooster as this is only a temporary solution to dealing with an aggressive animal. However, if you simply need to get in and out of the coop or chicken enclosure and don’t have time to do some rooster behavior-adjustment training, its fine to use some avoidance maneuvering. Move at a steady pace and give him a wide berth.^{[4]
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2
Don't incite him with any indications of aggression. Avoid walking directly towards the rooster. On the other hand, don’t obviously creep around him either, as a show of weakness may also provoke him. Avoid staring at him too. This is a classic, albeit unintended, act of aggression that has led to untold numbers of human-chicken battles.^{[5]
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Avoid other common mistakes that set roosters off. Summarily, if you’re simply trying to prevent human vs. rooster conflict, wear the appropriate clothing, give the rooster some space, and avoid doing anything to overtly challenge his monarchy. Roosters are quite literally looking for a challenge at all times. Don’t give them one, unless you’re ready to wrangle.
- If you’re carrying a bucket, don’t swing it around lackadaisically, as this may be perceived by your rooster as a call to arms.
- Don’t chase the hens. He will defend them to his last rooster tooth, or worse, may even get jealous if he thinks you’re flirting with one of his lovers.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Taking Charge of the Roost

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Recognize when he’s about to attack. Roosters will warn you that they’re coming for you by lowering their heads and initiating their war dance. Prior to this show of force, early warning signs include prolonged staring and running up on your from behind.^{[6]
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2
Take ownership of the coop. When a rooster attacks, you have a choice. You can run and forever be looked down upon by a multicolored bird with a jiggly throat, or you can send a message that it’s your yard, and it’s about time he acts right.^{[7]
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Research source} Immediately leap into action as soon as the rooster become visibly agitated by scooping him up with gloved hands and sleeved arms.
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Cuddle him into submission. Place him beneath one arm, with his wings held against his sides and his feet beneath him. You may need to use your other hand to hold both of his legs together at first.^{[8]
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Research source} Hold onto him for at least 15 minutes, not matter how angry, loud, and recalcitrant he becomes.
- When you're cuddling him you could give him treats and he will like it when you are around, and he will see you as mama hen (or daddy rooster) as the other method makes him see you as the dominant rooster.
4
Walk around while holding the rooster. Relax. Do whatever you had intended to do as though he wasn’t there. It make take him 30 minutes to fully calm down. Don’t put him down until he is settled.^{[9]
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- If he gets sassy as you set him down and begins squawking and kicking again, repeat the process until he walks off calmly when you set him down.
5
Be patient. You will likely have to repeat the process for weeks, as the rooster will not readily cede power to you and your less attractive feathering. Eventually, however, he’ll accept your gentle tutelage and resort to only bullying everyone else.^{[10]
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- If you have small children that interact with the flock, and you are unable to train your rooster to chill out around humans, consider getting rid of him.^{[11]
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Community Q&A

Question

It pecked my leg. Should I be concerned about infection?

Community Answer

No, not unless it went through the skin. In this case, see a doctor.
Question

How do I keep the neighbor's rooster from attacking me and my dog our yard?

Community Answer

Try to scare off the bird with a hose with not too much water pressure.
Question

What if I'm scared to go near the rooster?

Community Answer

Keep a stick or broom with you. If it comes at you, push it back with the stick. Do not hit the rooster, as this could cause injury; just use it to hold him back.