Is it my fault the rooster doesn't like me?

[needageekette]

I have a 5 month old Brown Leghorn rooster named "Lester" that seems to have it out for me. At this point, he doesn't seem to have a problem with my husband - So, my husband thinks I am paranoid, however, I am the one he jumps at when I turn my back. Lester doesn't have spurs yet, however, I am starting to be very uncomfortable around him and am dreading the day he does have them. All the hens love him - following him everywhere.

If I try to explain to my husband that I am afraid and I can tell that "Lester" is posturing - my husband doesn't see his behavior as aggressive. Lester is the Alpha and we have 3 other roosters that are really nice to me and I am not afraid of them. We are newbies and still have a lot to learn. I am getting discouraged.

 

[Naser]

No it is not your fault. if you were mean to him he would be afraid of you and will not attack you he probably sees you as a rival or danger to his hens.
Try favourable treats and the rooster will see you as source of food not rival.
The other thing to try is water hose. that will make him afraid of you. if he gets sprayed with water few times he will not try to attack you.
I have a white leghorn rooster. at some point he started to attack me when I catch the hens. with treats and water jet, he stopped that completely.
Don't take roosters lightly, I heard of people injured and a man here said he nearly lost an eye.

 

[centrarchid]

Lester likely is intent on kicking your butt literally. The spurr issue can be dealt with although the wings and bill still can smart. You can swap him out or explore adjusting your behavior so he looses interest in you. The statement of being "uncomfortable" indicates you are doing something differently in response to Lester. You appear very good at reading his intent, possibly better than your husband, but unfortunately you are also giving an response that is not optimal.

Would you be willing to film your interactions with Lester and upload them to youtube or similar? If yes wear proper clothing so he does not cause actual harm. Then we may be able to walk you through changes in approach towards Lester that cause him to loose interest at least in you. Doing so might help others with this very common problem.

 

[needageekette]

Thank you so much for responding. I will video next time I am out - probably tomorrow morning when I let them out of the run. My husband use to hand the eggs to me to put them in my coat pocket. I stopped doing that because I thought maybe Lester might see me as the egg thief. I swear, I turned around one morning and there he was with his entourage - giving me the evil eye.

 

[needageekette]

And yes, I usually have treats and he seems happy to take them but quickly forgets that I am the giver of treats when they are gone

 

[centrarchid]

Odds are Lester and chickens in general do not look at treats as a bribe or payment for not attacking. Rather treats provide only a temporary distraction.

Try to make so Lester's vocalizations can be heard. Would be nice if interactions between he and your husband could also be recorded. I suspect Lester is more concerned with how you react than who you are but that will come out later.

 

[needageekette]

I just walked to met a neighbor at our fence and forgot about Lester for a minute and then I heard the 2 stomps behind me and when I turned around he was standing erect giving me the evil eye. He hasn't puffed out his hackle feathers at me. Mostly stomps and jumps at my back.

 

[needageekette]

 

[Naser]

If you can't change him, he can go to the pot. roosters are usually easy to replace.
As I said earlier, my white leghorn rooster used to attack me. he is fine now. following me for treats like every hen, well almost every hen, I have two new RIR POL pullets they are not following me yet.

 

[Feathyr]

(Please pardon any strange wording; I have a head cold and my brain is muddled.)
Roosters aren't the only ones who exhibit aggressive behavior; when I first starting raising chickens at the age of eight, our Production Red pullet made attacking me her life's goal. Kicking, throwing, and handling her more often didn't work - if anything, it encouraged her. She finally stopped after I hit her with a broom.

You need to prove that you're the boss. Give him a good hard kick or a swat; not enough to break anything, but to enforce your position as flock leader. Worst that can happen is that he doesn't change.