We have a silkie rooster that is very nice to myself, my daughter, and my husband, but is constantly challenging my 5 year old son. My son loves our chickens and hand feeds them treats and even holds them frequently. However, since the rooster it about 7 months old he jumps up and scratches my sons hands, legs, and back. If my son tries to grab him or get him to stop the rooster gets worse! If my husband or I go out with him the rooster is much better, but will usually get him at least once when we have our backs turned. The rooster almost never comes straight at him...it is always a "sneak" attack when my son is not looking at him. If we pick the rooster up and put him in my sons lap he relaxes and lets my son pet him but if he is free-ranging it is a different story. Is there anything we can do to stop this behavior? If not, unfortunately, we will likely have to rehome him as it really upsets him that the rooster goes after him, regardless of what he does or doesn't do. My son loves our chickens and willingly helps with all the choirs involving them. He interacts with the chickens daily and is getting pretty scratched up.
Thank you in advance!
Thank you in advance!