We’ve been keeping the chickens in a small pen for several months now, one that we don’t need to go into, so this mostly hasn’t been an issue. However, when the chickens try hard enough, they can get out, and the rooster is the one most likely to do so. I recently had to beat him up a couple of times when he was out of the pen and posturing at me when I was walking by. The first time it took him awhile to concede, the second time he conceded much faster. I don’t enjoy beating on him with a stick, but I stop as soon as he backs off (runs away).

Any future roosters we get (if we decide to get or keep any) are going to be from breeds that are known for having gentle roosters. I don’t like being put in the position of having to defend myself, or put the rooster in his place by beating him up. As a previous poster noted, life is too short to deal with mean roosters.