Irish man killed by chicken in vicious barnyard attack

NY Post ^ | Yaron Steinbuch

[Albion Wilde]

I once saw a pet parrot attack a man and tear a huge gash in his leg by clamping its curved and sharply pointed beak into the flesh and turning its head, tearing two deep fissures. I can only imagine what a rooster could do with claws as well as a beak.

[Jamestown1630]

It was a sort of ‘Dudley Do Right’ scenario, mixed with Zorro. He had a little hat and a cape.

He trained very well - learned to walk a tightrope and pull a little cart.

But I guess roosters just don’t like clothes.

[Paul R.]

I hold the rooster, head down, my wife cuts its throat and I have to hold it until it’s bled out and stops moving. (Usually you think it’s gone, then it makes a couple violent spasms B4 succumbing.)

Also usually, if you have enough hens, the rooster is less aggressive, ditto for multiple roosters (but then it seems like you have to have 50% the hens per rooster.) It varies a lot though by rooster, and some calm down a lot more once over 3 years old, than others. Some also seem to learn by getting a good kick or two not to mess with a human. Some never learn, but often get sneaky, waiting until one’s back is turned to attack.

Really, the key to managing most roosters is to make sure they know you are bigger and meaner than they are. That doesn’t mean abusing them, but it does mean reacting aggressively the instant an attack begins, keep your arms wide, and chase hard after the offender for a minute. Also do a few random “fake attacks” of your own & chase ‘em, once in a while. They usually get the message.

[Paul R.]

Even “ordinary” roosters often have nasty spurs.

[lee martell]

Birds instinctively know what a Pecking Order is all about.

[Paul R.]

I’ve never been more than a bit scratched by a rooster’s claws. They are just not that sharp. But, if you ever come across a dead hawk, say on a roadside — those are incredibly sharp talons. That’s how a 1 lb. hawk can kill a 10 lb. free range rooster. (Have had it happen.)

Now, that said...

If you have 20+ free range chickens scattered over an acre or so, and then call them to get some scraps, having them come rushing toward you all at once always feels, well, interesting. Esp. if you’ve watched that scene with the little raptors in Jurassic Park...

[Albion Wilde]

If you have 20+ free range chickens scattered over an acre or so, and then call them to get some scraps, having them come rushing toward you all at once always feels, well, interesting.

LOL!