Moody Roo

HeatherKellyB · Dec 2, 2020

How old is he?

Onechicktwochickthree · Dec 2, 2020

he's about 5 months old...so a baby.

HeatherKellyB · Dec 2, 2020

Onechicktwochickthree said:
he's about 5 months old...so a baby.

Sounds like his hormones could be kicking into overdrive. It's best to stay on top of this before it turns into some aggression. I'll tag some folks that always have some wonderful advice and they can better help you with knowing what's going on exactly as I'm only offering a guess. My experience isn't much so let's get the experts in here. I wish you the very best

@aart @Eggcessive @Folly's place @LaFleche @MysteryChicken @RoostersAreAwesome
@cmom

There are many others (aren't we incredibly lucky to have the luxury of picking the brains and getting advice from such knowledgeable folks?!?!) but we'll start here

RoostersAreAwesome · Dec 2, 2020

I’ve had old English game bantam cockerels do the same. Most grew out of it. I usually would catch them right after their offense and hold them firmly but gently to the ground until they stopped struggling. It also helps to make no sudden movements towards them with your shoes, so they don’t consider them a threat.

MysteryChicken · Dec 2, 2020

HeatherKellyB said:
Sounds like his hormones could be kicking into overdrive. It's best to stay on top of this before it turns into some aggression. I'll tag some folks that always have some wonderful advice and they can better help you with knowing what's going on exactly as I'm only offering a guess. My experience isn't much so let's get the experts in here. I wish you the very best

@aart @Eggcessive @Folly's place @LaFleche @MysteryChicken @RoostersAreAwesome
@cmom

There are many others (aren't we incredibly lucky to have the luxury of picking the brains and getting advice from such knowledgeable folks?!?!) but we'll start here

I know Seramas can have a tendency of being friendly, & playful.

Sounds like hormonal overload.

HeatherKellyB · Dec 2, 2020

My only Serama is a 4.5 month old pullet that doesn't have a flock unfortunately. She free ranges with my other birds but she doesn't belong to any of my flocks. She's a total sweetheart but about a week ago, I was trying to pick her up and she would back up so I would try to pick her up again. This went on twice in a row, then her teeny tiny hackles went up and she bit my finger, not hard at all. I was shocked but figured she feels like I am part of her "flock" and was disciplining me. I quickly but very gently picked her up and even more gently tapped her neck (seriously I just touched her in all honesty). I did look into Serama behavior after this as I didn't really know what to think until I had time to think everything through and settle on what I mentioned above. She's also starting to squat, her wattles and comb are growing and reddening, and her pelvis is opening up, so she's coming into lay and has hormones going crazy. Thankfully this breed doesn't tend to be overly aggressive at all. I wouldn't think it'd take much to get your little cockerel in the frame of mind that you're not a threat, but I would start addressing it sooner rather than later.

RoostersAreAwesome · Dec 2, 2020

HeatherKellyB said:
My only Serama is a 4.5 month old pullet that doesn't have a flock unfortunately. She free ranges with my other birds but she doesn't belong to any of my flocks. She's a total sweetheart but about a week ago, I was trying to pick her up and she would back up so I would try to pick her up again. This went on twice in a row, then her teeny tiny hackles went up and she bit my finger, not hard at all. I was shocked but figured she feels like I am part of her "flock" and was disciplining me. I quickly but very gently picked her up and even more gently tapped her neck (seriously I just touched her in all honesty). I did look into Serama behavior after this as I didn't really know what to think until I had time to think everything through and settle on what I mentioned above. She's also starting to squat, her wattles and comb are growing and reddening, and her pelvis is opening up, so she's coming into lay and has hormones going crazy. Thankfully this breed doesn't tend to be overly aggressive at all. I wouldn't think it'd take much to get your little cockerel in the frame of mind that you're not a threat, but I would start addressing it sooner rather than later.

I had a serama mix hen who would peck my fingers. She thought she was fierce, but it didn’t hurt. :lol:

Her name was Chesta because I thought she was a cockerel for the first half of her life, and that was before she started pecking me!

HeatherKellyB · Dec 2, 2020

RoostersAreAwesome said:
I had a serama mix hen who would peck my fingers. She thought she was fierce, but it didn’t hurt. Her name was Chesta because I thought she was a cockerel for the first half of her life, and that was before she started pecking me!

She sounds like a sassy little lady! My Marionette, is a little sassy pants too. I truly believe she is spoiled rotten, if that's possible. I can't be in her range of sight without her flying over to perch on my head or shoulder. Serama's are definitely awesome little characters. I thought that my pullet was a cockerel for the first month. She was just so confident and so proud. I guess that's just a breed trait

Onechicktwochickthree · Dec 2, 2020

HeatherKellyB said:
Sounds like his hormones could be kicking into overdrive. It's best to stay on top of this before it turns into some aggression. I'll tag some folks that always have some wonderful advice and they can better help you with knowing what's going on exactly as I'm only offering a guess. My experience isn't much so let's get the experts in here. I wish you the very best

@aart @Eggcessive @Folly's place @LaFleche @MysteryChicken @RoostersAreAwesome
@cmom

There are many others (aren't we incredibly lucky to have the luxury of picking the brains and getting advice from such knowledgeable folks?!?!) but we'll start here

Thank you, he's scared of my big girls but is a twat on the bum too much or enough to knock it off, ? Last time I tapped him away/way too nicely and he yelped like a sad kitten and he followed me around the yard. It's only as I let him out after the incident he's started to do this but he comes to me when I bring food out, and avoids the big girls. Always. He comes over let's me fuss him, i can even pick him up but when it comes to letting him out of his coop he nips. I tapped his bum and he yelped like a kitten and bolted and then followed me to the food pen. /My back door

I want to nip it in the bud if it can be because if he gets aggressive I will have to rehome him, I don't want to do that at all. But he's so scared if my other chickens, it makes me wonder if he's moody or protective or something else as when I let him out his silkie the same age as him he protects the world and I'm thinking maybe it's protective and male hormones going by what you are saying. What's the best way to stop this if anyone can help, thank you.

Onechicktwochickthree · Dec 2, 2020

In about 5 hours maximum, I'll be letting my flock loose, I'll take my camera and record to catch it he does it again maybe then people can see what I mean and if it's normal I'll find put from here xx

Thank you

Onechicktwochickthree · Dec 2, 2020

Onechicktwochickthree said:
In about 5 hours maximum, I'll be letting my flock loose, I'll take my camera and record to catch it he does it again maybe then people can see what I mean and if it's normal I'll find put from here xx

Thank you

Excuse my typos my phone is dying I had to type fast

HeatherKellyB · Dec 2, 2020

I have a lot of roosters and cockerels (way too many actually) and I've found, the little ones especially, tend to be more likely to show dominant behavior right after being let out in the mornings. I have 2 that free range every morning (my cockerels and roosters don't live or free range with my girls) will both stomp around me and my silkie has started to lightly peck my leg or shoe. This is the extreme side to his dominating behavior. The other guy is a bantam cochin and he will stomp (aka dance) at my feet and sometimes over my feet, but that's all he does. The bantams aren't as dangerous as large fowl, but it's best to get a handle on any dominating behavior before it turns to aggression. With the little ones, I normally pick them up immediately and quickly touch/lightly peck/tap with the tip of your finger on the back of their heads or neck and then put them back down on the ground without any affectionate behavior from you. Then again, it's probably best to take the advice from others because I have completely failed with my aggressive big guys <3

Onechicktwochickthree · Dec 2, 2020

HeatherKellyB said:
She sounds like a sassy little lady! My Marionette, is a little sassy pants too. I truly believe she is spoiled rotten, if that's possible. I can't be in her range of sight without her flying over to perch on my head or shoulder. Serama's are definitely awesome little characters

MysteryChicken said:

I know Seramas can have a tendency of being friendly, & playful.

Sounds like hormonal overload.

Click to expand...

He's a fantastic boy, be as cheeky but friendly and young, but I told him..you sort it out or I knock you out true but I won't. He's great. How do I fix this overload and keep him calm and friendly. X
Sadly my boy is definitely a male

Onechicktwochickthree · Dec 2, 2020

HeatherKellyB said:
I have a lot of roosters and cockerels (way too many actually) and I've found, the little ones especially, tend to be more likely to show dominant behavior right after being let out in the mornings. I have 2 that free range every morning (my cockerels and roosters don't live or free range with my girls) will both stomp around me and my silkie has started to lightly peck my leg or shoe. This is the extreme side to his dominating behavior. The other guy is a bantam cochin and he will stomp (aka dance) at my feet and sometimes over my feet, but that's all he does. The bantams aren't as dangerous as large fowl, but it's best to get a handle on any dominating behavior before it turns to aggression. With the little ones, I normally pick them up immediately and quickly touch/lightly peck/tap with the tip of your finger on the back of their heads or neck and then put them back down on the ground without any affectionate behavior from you. Then again, it's probably best to take the advice from others because I have completely failed with my aggressive big guys <3

Thank you.

My boy is the only male in my flock and all my others are large fowl other than my silkie who he hatched with and has stayed with. We kept them separate for so long but he would get so distressed and wake them up (My older large girls), I after a month let them mingle, the big girls take the p...a lot and he gave up trying with them. But my big girl red babies him. I can't feed roo if big girls are about as they're greedy and snatch it all but they're so friendly with him and red won't even go to her coop if he's talking. So I have to chase them away to let the boys eat-

He's so sweet not ally and I'm wonder if it's me doing wrong or something else.

HeatherKellyB · Dec 2, 2020

Onechicktwochickthree said:
Thank you.

My boy is the only male in my flock and all my others are large fowl other than my silkie who he hatched with and has stayed with. We kept them separate for so long but he would get so distressed and wake them up (My older large girls), I after a month let them mingle, the big girls take the p...a lot and he gave up trying with them. But my big girl red babies him. I can't feed roo if big girls are about as they're greedy and snatch it all but they're so friendly with him and red won't even go to her coop if he's talking. So I have to chase them away to let the boys eat-

He's so sweet not ally and I'm wonder if it's me doing wrong or something else.

Each bird has their very own personality and that determines their temperament. In my honest opinion, you haven't done anything wrong, at all. He is who he is. If I had more experience with Seramas, I could help more because this could be nothing to worry about. Maybe if you posted your concerns on the Breed Specific "Serama" thread, people with cockerels that are this tiny will know how to help.
You're doing amazing. It's obvious that you care and that really makes a huge difference.

Onechicktwochickthree · Dec 2, 2020

HeatherKellyB said:
I have a lot of roosters and cockerels (way too many actually) and I've found, the little ones especially, tend to be more likely to show dominant behavior right after being let out in the mornings. I have 2 that free range every morning (my cockerels and roosters don't live or free range with my girls) will both stomp around me and my silkie has started to lightly peck my leg or shoe. This is the extreme side to his dominating behavior. The other guy is a bantam cochin and he will stomp (aka dance) at my feet and sometimes over my feet, but that's all he does. The bantams aren't as dangerous as large fowl, but it's best to get a handle on any dominating behavior before it turns to aggression. With the little ones, I normally pick them up immediately and quickly touch/lightly peck/tap with the tip of your finger on the back of their heads or neck and then put them back down on the ground without any affectionate behavior from you. Then again, it's probably best to take the advice from others because I have completely failed with my aggressive big guys <3

HeatherKellyB said:
Each bird has their very own personality and that determines their temperament. In my honest opinion, you haven't done anything wrong, at all. He is who he is. If I had more experience with Seramas, I could help more because this could be nothing to worry about. Maybe if you posted your concerns on the Breed Specific "Serama" thread, people with cockerels that are this tiny will know how to help.
You're doing amazing. It's obvious that you care and that really makes a huge difference.

Thank you so much
I tried to find a Serama page but I couldn't work it out. I went to the chicken breed page and it took me an hour to find that! Please forward me advice where to contact or who if you can xx and thank you again for replying

Folly's place · Dec 2, 2020

He's small, but still doesn't need to be a twit. Pecking at you could be 'spoiled baby' behavior, but still, don't allow it. You could try pecking him back, fast, 'peckpeckpeck', hard enough to be irritating, but not harmful. That works with pullets who are overbearing, maybe not with a cockerel who's too big for his britches, so to speak.
Carry something, like your feed bucket, or a stick, and walk right through him. Happens that he's in the way, bump him out of your path, 'accidently'. He should be paying attention to his flockmates, not to you!
@Beekissed , @BantyChooks , and @Shadrach all have good articles here about rooster behavior, worth reading.
A cockerel or rooster who actually is in attack mode, however small he is, just isn't worth keeping, or breeding, and is dangerous. And stupid! Attacking the giant who brings food is really dumb!
Mary

Onechicktwochickthree · Dec 3, 2020

Folly's place said:
He's small, but still doesn't need to be a twit. Pecking at you could be 'spoiled baby' behavior, but still, don't allow it. You could try pecking him back, fast, 'peckpeckpeck', hard enough to be irritating, but not harmful. That works with pullets who are overbearing, maybe not with a cockerel who's too big for his britches, so to speak.
Carry something, like your feed bucket, or a stick, and walk right through him. Happens that he's in the way, bump him out of your path, 'accidently'. He should be paying attention to his flockmates, not to you!
@Beekissed , @BantyChooks , and @Shadrach all have good articles here about rooster behavior, worth reading.
A cockerel or rooster who actually is in attack mode, however small he is, just isn't worth keeping, or breeding, and is dangerous. And stupid! Attacking the giant who brings food is really dumb!
Mary

Thank you I appreciate the reply. And advice. In fairness my chickens are quite dumb often.

Let him out today he waltzed passed me like a saint, came over for some food, basically acted like his old self. Brushed passed my leg, no harm done. Fortunately I don't plan on breeding anything! I only kept him because out of a batch of over 12 eggs he was the only one that hatched so I have a soft spot for him. I was hoping he was a female but alas beggars can't be choosers as they say.

My cats go near he's fine, my kids have been too he just leaves them be and usually runs away. I couldn't understand why he started on me

I'm keeping my eyes on him and taking in all advice and suggestions.

Another sad thought is nobody near me would take him on, nobody likes cockerals as pretty as he is and I couldn't cull him. He's not spoilt, I mean I treat him nice and feed him well and I only pick him up if I have to, usually to move him from my mean girl or to put him in a safe area at times. If anything my big girls are spoiled rotten . They get all the food before he gets the chance and I've many a time stood there and said tough tata, I'm not your mother if you want it go eat it I'm not babysitting you

Last time he pecked my foot I as I call it twatted him and he sounded like a kitten crying, I didn't hurt him but as I say I tapped his butt. He trotted off and was nice as anything after. I'm not sure if whatever it is can be stopped or if it's just a mood/temper that will stick. One if my girls has pecked my foot before and she's the friendliest ever, I use her to introduce any other chicks to as she's so friendly and eager to see new ones, and she got a "peck" back or again a twat as I call it. Always my feet. I am wondering as I use flats with just a strap that maybe they get confused, as she's only ever done it when expecting breakfast. I'm going to try socks for the rest of the week and see if it changes. Usually the boy wakes as it's getting light nut recently there us no light so maybe, I can assume, he can't see my foot isn't food.

I have no idea but I'm hoping to find out. He only ever does it once and then that's it. I've known of cockerals chasing people around even the small ones but he honestly never does , after the one peck he legs it when I bollock him and threaten to cook him (don't think that bits relevant) but has friendly as anything after.

casportpony · Dec 8, 2020

This is the article section. In the future, may I suggest that start a thread in the forum section instead?
Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying

Onechicktwochickthree · Dec 10, 2020

Thank you!

Moody Roo

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