Do roosters react to the color red?

[Sheila]

We had seven roos and the two with the least desirable personalities went into the freezer. Of the five left, I've had no trouble until today. My three-year-old grandaughter went in the barn to visit a new calf, and one of the roos took a jump at the back of her snowsuit. My son said it has happened before.

She nearly always had on pink or red, and her snowsuit is red. We were wondering if the color set him off, thinking that is why roos have the prominent red combs--as a sign of dominance or something like that.

Any thoughts?

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Yes, they will react to certain colors, voices, movements, etc..

 

[Sheila]

I think there was too much going on too. They are used to having just one person in there, usually me, but sometimes my son or both of us, and they know us. There were three extra people, and a little more excitement than I think they could handle without reacting.

 

[lauralou]

My hens are afraid of me when I wear red. They run from me and make "alarm" calls. Thus I try to avoid wearing red around them. There's this one red rain parka in particular that terrifies them. I thought it was so cute when I got it, like Little Red Riding Hood.... Now it just hangs in the garage.

Since these are hens, they run. Maybe a rooster would attack?

 

[Sheila]

"Since these are hens, they run. Maybe a rooster would attack."

Probably for the same reason. Both the hens and roosters might perceive the big red human to be a big red rooster.

 

[fluffystuffs808]

Hi everyone!! Just wanted to add that I think red makes them go bonkers. I went into the coop with red pajama pants on and my rooster gave me a surprise kick in the leg. I was so shocked

I started laughing at him. He usually doesn't do that to me.

 

[Ariel301]

Red seems to have no effect on mine.

I don't know about chickens, but I know it has been proven that the story about bulls attacking things that are red (i.e. the cloth waved by a bullfighter) is a myth; bulls are not aggravated by any certain color.

It could be the small size of the child makes them see her as an easy target. I have a goat that is perfectly docile and submissive around adults, but she will attack children that are smaller than her. Also, if the girl acts afraid of the chickens, they will take advantage of her fear to boss her around.

 

[fordmommy]

Don't know about the "red" thing. But MY girls react to yellow. That's the color of their "treat" dish and they go nuts!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yes, red is on the list of things my roo will sound the alarm for.