Interesting behavior

[Rick589]

I have two cockerels, both 5 months old and part of a six chicken flock ( I know, I know, the roo to hen ratio is way off and that is another issue being addressed). The Roos have been squaring off with one another from time to time and get into crowing competitions almost daily. They also tend to want to square off with us and try to take an occasional nip, an antic they do not win. Anyway, I’ve started to pick them up and hold them for awhile and have noticed them to be calming down. However, and to my point, I was surprised to see that when picking up one of the roosters the other one would come running to its aid with the intent of attacking me. It never actually did attack but it did come running up to us with intent. All of these chickens have been together since the very first day. I’m interested to hear any insight from you more seasoned owners. Thank You

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

I have two cockerels, both 5 months old and part of a six chicken flock ( I know, I know, the roo to hen ratio is way off and that is another issue being addressed). The Roos have been squaring off with one another from time to time and get into crowing competitions almost daily. They also tend to want to square off with us and try to take an occasional nip, an antic they do not win. Anyway, I’ve started to pick them up and hold them for awhile and have noticed them to be calming down. However, and to my point, I was surprised to see that when picking up one of the roosters the other one would come running to its aid with the intent of attacking me. It never actually did attack but it did come running up to us with intent. All of these chickens have been together since the very first day. I’m interested to hear any insight from you more seasoned owners. Thank You

Just protecting his friend, I’ve had the most docile rooster I own chase me out of my yard for picking up his friend

 

[aart]

Hard to say why they do that, but I've seen it too...rather one chicken attacking the one I picked up.

 

[K0k0shka]

Hard to say why they do that, but I've seen it too...rather one chicken attacking the one I picked up.

That's what I'm thinking, too - that one rooster was following the human not to protect the other rooster, but rather to try to attack him, taking advantage of his vulnerable position being restrained by the human. I've seen chickens do that. They take advantage of any vulnerability (from sickness and injury to being stuck and unable to escape). So if a chicken they have beef with is being held by a human, they'll take advantage and attack said chicken while it's easy pickings being restrained.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Huh. Kind of a "kick him while he's down" kind of a deal, eh? So honorable! (Not!)

 

[Altairsky]

I had 2 brother cockerels and one of them always seemed to come and attack the other when I picked him up. I got rid of that one.

 

[Rick589]

That's what I'm thinking, too - that one rooster was following the human not to protect the other rooster, but rather to try to attack him, taking advantage of his vulnerable position being restrained by the human. I've seen chickens do that. They take advantage of any vulnerability (from sickness and injury to being stuck and unable to escape). So if a chicken they have beef with is being held by a human, they'll take advantage and attack said chicken while it's easy pickings being restrained.

 

[Rick589]

I have to say that seems more likely than it coming to the others defense. The roo in questions appears to be the one with the bigger chip on its shoulder. Although I’m mulling the idea off getting rid of them both, didn’t want roosters anyway, I keep hesitating because of how young they are. I guess I’m hoping maturity will win out.

 

[K0k0shka]

Huh. Kind of a "kick him while he's down" kind of a deal, eh? So honorable! (Not!)

Chickens are mean creatures that play dirty. There’s nothing honorable about them

 

[K0k0shka]

I have to say that seems more likely than it coming to the others defense. The roo in questions appears to be the one with the bigger chip on its shoulder. Although I’m mulling the idea off getting rid of them both, didn’t want roosters anyway, I keep hesitating because of how young they are. I guess I’m hoping maturity will win out.

Roosters are more trouble than they are worth… unless you have a specific need for one… And whether they calm down with age is a crapshoot. I’d get rid of them both.