He hit me!!!!

[MaureenHall]

Basil has attacked me today - right in front of Pigletwillie too!!!!!! I was collecting the eggs from the Bluebelles coop and one of the girls was standing on the edge. I gave her a gentle nudge to move her off so she wouldn't get squashed and Basil just didn't like that at all . He jumped at me twice, the second time I was ready for him and whacked him with my hand and made him fall into the water bucket. I've now got a lovely couple of gashes on my legs If he does it again, I'm sorry to say he'll have to go cos I can't have the threat of him attacking any of my grandchildren when they go in the run to fuss the Wellies. Have to think of another "plan" for breeding "pretty back yard chickens"

[ginger ninger]

Naughty basil.... i think i'd be tempted to threaten him with the stew pot (i wouldn't put him in, but he dosen't know that) but, you can't have him pecking your grandchildren, it might give them a fear of chucks.
He'll probably not do it again, i wouldn't if i'd been waked round the head n knocked in to some water ..poor little lad... I'm sorry but i did have a giggle at that bit. xx

[HayleyB]

Oooh nasty little wotsit, I hope he doesn't try it again though but I wouldn't want CB in with a nasty bird

[shirlthegirl43]

Carry a child's plastic beach spade with you when you go in - handy for batting them without doing serious harm.

[di]

Sorry Maureen...I know how much you love him!
Must admit that although we were initially tempted to keep one boy for as long as we could get away with it,as they're growing up & showing their boyish ways,I don't think I'd be happy leaving the kiddies in a run with one!...if I'm totally honest I'd probably be a little scared myself!!!
Hope he mends his ways!xxx

[walldanzig]

I love cockerals my silkie one is a right so and so but I don't mind that he's just doing what they do

[MaureenHall]

He's been told in no uncertain terms that if that ever happens again, my friend Paul will come over and "do the deed" and he'll end up in my freezer! Much as I love him, I'm not going to put up with being wary of him. Ok, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt this time, I did push one of his girls out of the way and he possibly sees me as a threat to them so he was protecting them, but once more ...................................................... curtains!!! Cor, my legs are sore tonight

[Glutton4...]

I sympathise Aunty Mo. When my Sister and I were kids we were terrified of our Cockerel - he'd come at you feet first and shred your legs. I can remember the pain and the fear like it was yesterday.

He killed all 4 of his Hens, so was given away to someone with dozens of Hens, so I think that kept him busy, spiteful sod.

[Hashette]

Really sorry to hear it Mo. My friend who also raises hers had the same with Gregory Peck, and especially as she has two children under five, in the end she had no option and he ended up in the freezer

[Snadger]

Sorry about the legs Auntie Mo!

I rather like macho cockerels! BBQ'd is good!

A cockerel wouldn't be a cockerel if it was a wussie.............I would never let a bairn near a cockerel as they all become aggressive especially when protecting there laydees, or as in my case, protecting each other!

I have a gang of delinquent cockerels, I wouldn't let children near them, or swap them for the world!!!!!!

[bluemoon]

I like cockerels too. We've not had any problems with ours, but if they did become aggressive then, much as I love them, they'd have to go, I could cope with them being stroppy, but my grandson loves the chickens and I'd hate to have to keep him away from them because of one belligerent cockerel, though at the moment they just see him as a source of treats. It might just be because PW was there, a stranger making him feel a little threatened, then you pushed one of his girlies and sent him over the edge. Hope it's just that. Aren't they just like kids though, who never say anything embarrassing unless the entire committee of the local WI is within earshot. And dogs, the only time our dog ever did the.... you know....the THING..... with someone's leg.....was when OH's top boss called around with a message ( he'd obviously never heard of phones or delegating to minions), so it might just be Basil going for maximum embarrassment.

[MaureenHall]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there Bluemoon However, this week he's threatened me once and full on attack once so, unfortunately he's going to have to go I'm away on holiday next week (sod's law!!) and Becci and a friend are chook-sitting for me. I've told them that if Basil attacks them while I'm away, they've to clout him with the broom and get out quick, then ask friend's husband to take him away. I can't tell Becci he'll end up in the freezer, she'd never forgive me We're going to collect and keep to one side all the eggs from the Bluebelles and incubate them, then when I get back, during that week, Basil will definitely be going. I wouldn't pass him on to anyone else because of his bad temper, it's not fair on them. He certainly is a beautiful lad though.

I'll still have 1 cockerel though, Rowan's growing into a smasher and he seems more laid back and sociable than Basil. I wonder if it's because Rowan's a pure breed and Basil's a hybrid?

[ginger ninger]

Big Hug to you, that must have been a very hard decision to make, and so sad after loosing ladies earlier in the year, its such a shame , from what i've read your very fond of him, is there no way you could pop him in a place on his own and let him visit his lady's now and then??....Just a thought.

[tlck9]

I've been getting attached by one of my neighbours chucks, however I have found a solution:

the kiddies pink bucket...I'm not sure of its significance, but I show it to the hen and she absolutely runs in fear

(i'm not sure what the kids have done with the bucket to warrant that reaction, but they dont like it!

[MaureenHall]

from what i've read your very fond of him, is there no way you could pop him in a place on his own and let him visit his lady's now and then??....Just a thought.

Sounds a good idea but not feasible here for me, I've got 4 (well there will be in a couple of weeks!) runs and coops already . Besides, I'm now a bit nervous of him, what a wuss I am! and the thought of getting him out of 1 place and into another I don't think I could do on my own. No, he has to go Thanks anyway