Help Me! Hen or Roo?

[RoostersAreAwesome]

He's not being cuddly, he's testing to see how much he can get away with with the 'top chicken' (you), nicey treatment will enforce that behavior.
Chickens have a stiff hierarchy, the nicer you're treated the higher on the ladder you are.

This is definitely not a rule. I’ve had plenty of friendly roosters/cockerels who were just that, friendly.

Also, I would not smack or boot a cockerel. That is much more likely to make him aggressive than being nice to him.

 

[nuthatched]

This is definitely not a rule. I’ve had plenty of friendly roosters/cockerels who were just that, friendly.

Also, I would not smack or boot a cockerel. That is much more likely to make him aggressive than being nice to him.

I didn't intend for it to be a rule , but as this is the ops first experience, it's best to not sugar coat the very possible reality of a jerk cockerel.
By boot I mean scoot, and no, a soft smack to correct already learned negative behavior such as climbing on or riding op *when he attempts this behavior* will not likely make him any more aggressive than letting him think he's top dog.
But you've had more roosters than I have, do I'd imagine your experience is more varied.