Attacked from behind!

Last week as I was doing my am animal chores I was attacked from behind by our beautiful rooster Earl.

Here's the story:
I started out feeding Dean and Roz our rabbits. I gave them fresh water and added food to their feeders. I then walked over to the chicken coop. I saw Earl outside the coop, so I called Mick our dog over to stand guard. I've been attacked too many times by roosters to not be careful. I then ventured into the pen and collected the eggs under a hen who was setting. She was pretty upset, and let me know by pecking at my hand. This is not unsual behavior for a hen, and I either wear gloves or pull my hands into my coat sleeves while hunting for eggs. After finding an egg, Mick and I proceeded to the machine shed where the horse grain is.

As I was scooping horse feed up into the appropriate buckets, I noticed Earl had followed me and was watching me. Our barn cat Bart jumped off the hay a couple of times to chase him away. I was starting to wonder about Earl because 1) he doesn't usually go anywhere without the hens and 2) he was looking at me funny. Seriously, he was!! (gotta know chicken manuerisms) I kept a close eye on him and eventually he ventured back to check on his hens.

Meanwhile, as I was waiting for my horse food to soften I walked through the steer pen. The weather has been mild and we have been concerned about our animals getting sick.

I was still feeling uneasy about the rooster so I went to the coop to see if something was up or if I was imagining things. On my way I picked up a 1" piece of plastic piping - just in case. Mick, at this point had abandoned me to play with his dog friend Thumper who was down for a visit from my in-laws. Everything was fine in the coop, Earl was inside with his hens and I figured I was over reacting to his "looks."

The horses are pastured across the road and it's a long enough walk that I either take a wagon or cart to carry the grain. I still had the pipe in my hand, and was almost to the road when I was HIT from behind by the rooster. The SOB hunted me down and attacked me! I screamed and hit him with the pipe, two or three times. The dogs abandoned their play and came over to see what was happening. The rooster gave up his fight after the third blow and wandered away like someone who had spent too much time at the tavern. It seems one my blows was a hit to the head and he had to shake it off. I was quite proud that the dogs didn't go after him and kill him, because that was not my intention. My intention was to stop him from attacking me!

Luckily it was cold enough that I had on my snow pants. I could feel where he hit me and if I hadn't had the extra protection his talons would have done some damage to my leg. I was quite shook up. I finished chores and then went to find Earl. He was back in the shed, where the horse feed is, crowing. When he saw me he immediately came at me, but this time, Mick was there so he didn't attack.

Unfortunately, we had to get rid of Earl. For the protection of myself and the children he just couldn't be allowed to stay. He will be the last rooster I get. I've had mean roosters before, but never one that hunted me down and attacked me from behind. I now have a healthy fear of roosters, and will never trust one.

So dad, if you're reading this, PLEASE don't get any roosters in the spring. Only hens!