He's giving me the evil eye!

[Wishiwasafarmer]

Hey everybody,
We got the chickens for the fun of it and for fresh eggs but ended up with more roosters than hens.

One guy is a four month old Minorca rooster that is behaving strangely, well to me anyway. I never had chickens before and hatched these guys from eggs so I don't know what to expect.
This particular rooster has recently started scaring me. When I get near him (actually he now comes toward me) he turns sideways and does this little foot stamping dance while giving me the evil eye. I think he is about to attack! I now carry a stick just in case. Is this normal? Is he about to attack? Is carrying a stick going to make him (or the other chickens) even meaner? The kids really love all the chickens but I'm worried for their safety around the roosters. Are they dangerous?

Me and the kids are a little attached to all of them, but the wife would bar-b-q him in a minute if I give the go-ahead.

What do you think???

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

The 'roo dance' means he's trying to dominate you and he' treating you like one of his hens. You have to stop this behavior before it progresses. Pick him up and carry him around. Then put him on the ground and wait for HIM to walk away, don't EVER turn your back on him. In chicken language, that would be you submitting and giving up. Wait for him to do that. When he walks away, you walk away.

If you let this continue, he will probably attack you. And that isn't fun.

 

[Portia]

Is he kind of going in a loose circle with one wing hanging down toward the ground? If so, he's doing his mating dance and he thinks you are one good lookin' hen

 

[westexcruzer]

Yeah, I think he's going to get you eventually. My wife read to whack them on the tail with your stick and they might decide you're not another rooster. You will want to watch the kiddos though, they can get hurt. My roo is mean as all get out, he might go to the grill when I can get a replacement. Jake

 

[AHappychick]

yep mating dance for sure, but the evil eye is a good indication that he may get nasty later I agree with ThePolishPrincess dont let him think he is boss. I would pick him up everyday and pet him and make him realize that you are not so bad.

I had an EE that gave me the evil eye, I did not hold him or deal with it at the time, and should have. One day I went in to count the toes of one of my bantams and he attacked my head!

I found him a good home after that but not until I chased him around the garage with a motorycle helmet on and caught him and held him until he calmed a bit.

By the time I sold him he was nicer but going to a real farm as the main roo so they were not very concerned about what he had done to me

 

[Jenski]

Picking him up is excellent advice, and it is what several very experienced rooster folks on this forum recommend. I have done this as well with my lads, and I have found that simply and calmly enforcing my own will keeps the peace without getting anyone hurt. Smart roos understand pecking order, and if you enforce it early (while they're still smaller) and consistently, they usually remember it pretty well.

Good luck!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. Try and correct it now or start heating up the barbeque.

 

[Wishiwasafarmer]

Thanks everyone -

I'll try to reform this guy if I can, wish me luck. Better yet- wish him luck, he needs it more than me!

 

[007Dawn]

LOL he thinks you are his hen! I know it scares you but it is so cute and funny!

 

[westexcruzer]

Quote:
I tried this with Ricky and it is great advice. We have been avoiding him and watching our backs. After reading this he came after me 3 days ago in the coop. I closed the run door and ran him into a corner, caught him and carried him around under my arm. I even turned him over and babied him, much to his humiliation. When I put him down he ran as fast as he could and didn't even crow that evening. He is still behaving but I am prepared to use this treatment again until he figures it out. Thank you so much, Jake