In a heartbreaking incident that took place a year ago, a man from Killahornia, Ireland, lost his life after being viciously attacked by an “aggressive” Brahma chicken residing on his property.
The incident, reported by The Irish Examiner, has highlighted the importance of understanding animal behavior and ensuring safety around them.
Let us delve into the details of this horrific tragedy and its aftermath, underscoring the need for awareness and vigilance when interacting with animals, no matter how harmless they appear.
The Incident That Killed A Man
On April 28, 2022, Jasper Kraus was tragically attacked by an aggressive Brahma chicken, as revealed in a recent inquest.
His tenant, Corey O’Keeffe, was present during the attack and witnessed the horrifying ordeal.
He heard Kraus screaming in pain and saw blood spurting from his leg, with a significant wound on his calf.
Realizing the severity of the situation, O’Keeffe acted quickly, calling emergency services, tending to Kraus’s wounds, and providing CPR support for 25 minutes until medical help arrived.
During the harrowing incident, Kraus mentioned the word “rooster” while drifting in and out of consciousness, indicating the cause of the attack.
Despite all efforts to save him, Kraus was found lying on his kitchen floor in a pool of blood, with a wound on the back of his legs.
Authorities and paramedics promptly attended to the situation, but tragically, their resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
The American breed of chicken known as Brahma was identified as the aggressor in this heartbreaking episode.
Lethal Cardiac Arrhythmia
Dr. Ramadan Shatwan, who participated in the inquest, revealed that Kraus’s cause of death was due to cardiac arrhythmia.
Although his face was covered in dry blood, no cuts were on it.
The tragic incident highlighted the importance of being aware of pre-existing health conditions, as Kraus was already in remission from cancer, had previously suffered from renal failure, and was on a significant amount of medication at the time.
Kraus’s daughter, Virginia Guinan, shared her perspective during the inquest, stating that the family knew her father’s heart condition.
He was also suffering from depression as his dog had recently died.
This Rooster Showed Several Signs of Aggression
The Brahma chicken, known to be aggressive before, was suspected of causing the attack.
His daughter, Virginia Guinan, recalled witnessing the chicken with blood on its claws right after the attack, leading her to believe that the animal was responsible.
Kraus had taken in this rooster because it was so aggressive.
It also attacked his granddaughter, Virginia Guinan’s daughter.
They knew the rooster was problematic but never suspected the animal could cause something so horrific as this.
What Are The Most Aggressive Chicken Breeds?
We have a complete guide on the most aggressive chicken breeds that goes into much more detail than I will in this section.
But here are the highlights.
Please note that not every individual chicken from these breeds is dangerous, and not every breed that isn’t on this list is safe.
Every individual is different, so it’s important to keep an eye on every chicken’s personality.
The most dangerous chicken breeds:
- Brahma Chickens
- Cornish Chickens
- Dorking Chickens
- Lakenvelder Chickens
- Wyandotte Chickens
- American Game Chickens
- Old English Game Chickens
- Malay Chickens
- Asil Chickens
- Oriental Game Chickens
- Shamo Chickens
- Modern Game Chickens
- Saipan Jungle Fowl
- Red Jungle Fowl
- Sumatra Chickens
- Thai Game Chickens
- Rhode Island Red Chickens
- Leghorn Chickens
- Buckeye Chickens
- Faverolle Chickens
- Cubalaya Chickens
The Bottomline: Please Be Careful with Your Livestock
The tragic incident involving Jasper Kraus and the aggressive Brahma chicken is a stark reminder of the need for animal behavior awareness and safety precautions when interacting with pets or animals kept on our properties.
While chickens may appear small and harmless, they can become aggressive and pose risks, especially when they feel threatened, provoked, entitled, or territorial.
They are especially dangerous around small children, the sick, and the elderly.
Their spurs are sharp, and they are incredibly talented at using them for destruction.
If you don’t need a rooster to protect your flock and you aren’t interested in raising chicks, consider forgo having a rooster.
There are pros and cons to keeping a rooster; sometimes, they aren’t worth the risk.
Even though rooster attacks are generally not deadly, they are incredibly painful and can lead to an infection, scarring, or a well-deserved fear of chickens.
Please build an appropriate enclosure for aggressive animals so they cannot hurt you, your family, or anyone who visits your property.
Don’t allow aggressive animals to reproduce because those behaviors will often be inherited by their offspring.
And, of course, the best solution for an unnecessarily mean animal is to cull it.
We have a comprehensive guide to training aggressive roosters to be more docile.
You may also be interested in Everything You Need to Know About Eating Roosters.
Understanding the importance of responsible animal care and vigilance can help prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, ensuring the safety and well-being of both humans and animals alike.
Let us learn from this heartbreaking event and promote a culture of compassion and safety.
We hope something like this never happens again.
