When Roosters Attack!

Living on a farm, you'd think I'd get used to the surprises that pop up now & then. I can handle finding a dead possum in the yard or fighting off fire ants in the summer. I've learned to look for spiders before grabbing the next log for the fireplace. I've found snakes on the breezeway & skunks under my car. I've even encountered rabid skunks, but that's another hub which you can read here.

I've adjusted to just about everything, but when it involves my grandkids, it gets personal. That's the day I drop my rake & turn into GI Jane. And that's exactly what happened the day the rooster attacked my grandson.

Starting out like any other weekend visit, I picked Kason up at his Mom's, drove the 30 mile trip back home, and went outside to play with him. Now let me tell you, Kason is a little rascal himself. He'll pick up anything; including lizards, dead hawks, and bugs. He's always been a bit bold & tough. I put him on my horse when he was 6 months old he fell off when he was 2. Once, he dove off the barstool, smashing his tooth, which caused me great grief.

Kason is the class clown in Pre-K, bringing home endless 'frowny-faces' from being disruptive in class due to his relentless effort to make the other kids laugh. He'll talk your ears off, asking question after question. So meekness is not one of his attributes. That's why this particular incident kicked me into high gear, quick.

So here we are: me, my hubby Mike, and our renter, David, all standing outside minding our own business talking while Kason runs around the yard, as usual. The chickens are cage free, most of the time, so no big deal. Our 2 dogs, Blue, a Blue Lacey cow dog and Rosie, a tan Cur, were tugging on piece of rope while Kason chased them.

While we're all enjoying the pleasant Fall day, out of nowhere we hear a blood curtling scream. I look in the direction of the shriek and see, to my horror, Kason standing near the water trough by the fence surrounded by chickens. The Rhode Island Red rooster is leaping on him while he flails his arms and screams.

"Nonny..........!!!!!!", Kason screams.

My maternal instinct kicks in. I immediately run to his rescue while he, in turn, begins to run toward me. In his haste to make a quick getaway, with the rooster trailing him, Kason trips and falls flat on his stomach on the ground.

I'm seeing all this in slow motion: My grandson fell...... I continued to rush to his aid and watched as the Gargantuan rooster made his final strike...... He vaulted into the air, flapping his wings, then leaped onto my grandson's back!! Oh, in all humanity! The foreboding horror of it all! In one scoop I grabbed little Kason up into my grasp and ran away from the evil rooster, while he's sobbing in my arms.

In the meantime, Mike and David are laughing. How can they be lauging while my grandson gets attacked by a vicious rooster! It's not funny. I comforted and soothed Kason while the rooster continued strutting around the yard like nothing had happened. That made me mad!

Once my grandson had calmed down enough, I advanced toward the rooster to see if he'd attack me. He sidestepped away from me, the little chicken!! What a bully! So I lunged toward him and kicked at him. He ran away with his tail feathers in the air. Why, that little.....!

I walked back to where Mike, David, and Kason were standing. I continued to reassure my grandson that we wouldn't let the mean rooster hurt him again. I asked him, "What should we do with the rooster?"

Kason replied, "Have him for dinner!" Everyone laughed. Needless to say, my grandson was afraid to get any more than2 feet from me while the rooster was in the yard.

Soon after this incident, the devilish rooster began losing his feathers. Then, his Dominique counterpart began viciously attacking him for the control of the hens. Every day they went at it, jumping, leaping, spurring each other. The rooster began to look like a half roasted chicken dinner as the fighting continued, bloody, beaten and featherless. But he refused to give up control of the hens.

His aggression continued. The final straw came when he leaped at my husband. After a quick walk to the house and a resounding BOOM, the rooster was history. At last, there was peace in the chicken yard. And best of all, the Dominique rooster finally had control of the hens!!

Now, my grandson can safely play in the yard. The new rooster king has never shown any sign of aggression. All is quiet in the chicken yard. Thank goodness for happy endings!