Is my rooster becoming too comfortable with me?

[chickenlittle21]

I have a cockerel named Thunder and he is about 18 weeks old. He is a black australorp and he loves being held, petted, and eating treats out of my hand. The thing is I feel he is getting too comfortable with me. When I walk into the coop he sometimes walks up to me and stares at me like hes waiting for something. What if he becomes aggressive if I don't give him the attention he wants or just because he feels comfortable enough to? Hes big too, and is already growing spurs. I might just be worried over nothing but I just wanted to ask.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Folly's place]

Time will tell!
I don't make pets out of my cockerels, wanting them to focus on the flock, and not me. It's a choice, and works great here. There are a number of (especially newer) folks who, like you, want a pet rooster. Will he continue to be nice, or turn into a disrespectful jerk? Let us know how it goes!
If you act confident, that would be best. He'll read your body language and know if you are nervous or fearful.
Mary

 

[NatJ]

If he's standing where you need to walk: does he move out of the way? Or do you go around him? It's probably better for his little birdie mind if he moves out of your way. No need to make a big deal of being "tough," just don't let him push you around.

 

[chickenlittle21]

If he's standing where you need to walk: does he move out of the way?

He never really stands in my way, he most of the time stands beside me. It sorta feels like hes trying to say to me "are you my mother? Well if you are you can give me attention and then be a respected member of my flock." I know that's a stretch but...

 

[Hidrainja4]

Chickens all come up to me because I might have something to feed them. My Cockerels 2 give me a look. But it is not aggression. They get out of my way. What are signs of dominance and aggression,1. Coming at you with both feet. 2. expecting you to get out of the way. 3. mating in front of your feet.
"What if he becomes aggressive if I don't give him the attention he wants or just because he feels comfortable enough to? "
Pick him up and hold him out so he cant get you with his spurs and hold him for about fifteen twenty minutes in front of the hens. You are dominating him. he will start avoiding you. Why ? seriously why? Do people want a rooster to go against his purpose and nature to be a cuddle toy? I am serious , I don't understand.

 

[PetitePlume]

Our roostet was super friendly with us and still did a good job with his ladies. He ran to me for treats, then would cluck to call thehens and empty my hand andd give it to the hens.
One day he attacked me ( I started butchering the meat birds and I keep meat birs and layers together during the day) when I picked up a meat bird. So I put her down and caught the rooster and "pecked" on the back of his head with my fingers. That was the end of it. From then on I could do what I needed to do and my daughters ( 5 and 3 at the time) could go as they pleased also. So long story short to say that I think it is a good thing to let me know he is below you in the pecking order...

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

He never really stands in my way, he most of the time stands beside me. It sorta feels like hes trying to say to me "are you my mother? Well if you are you can give me attention and then be a respected member of my flock." I know that's a stretch but...

If he lowers one of his shoulders while staring at you, flares his hackles, or wing shuffles towards you after picking at the ground right in front of you, then he might be starting to get aggressive. If not, then I don’t see why you should do anything differently.

 

[Sonya9]

Hes big too, and is already growing spurs. I might just be worried over nothing but I just wanted to ask.

Are you worried because he seems so big? You will get used to his size and then he won't seem so large. I think you are worrying over nothing.

If you focus on it you may over-react to something harmless and possibly create a problem that wasn't there before, kwim?

 

[chickenlittle21]

Are you worried because he seems so big?

No

 

[Mrs. K]

New people often times do not recognize the cues that a cockerel is giving out before the attack. That is why it seems like it is coming out of nowhere. The OP might be picking up on those cues, but not sure what they mean. The second mistake inexperienced people to roosters make, is making excuses for the roosters behavior, thinking that they did something wrong that upset the rooster.

Be aware of you rooster. Do know that darlings can become nightmares. Have a plan B if it doesn't work out. It can happen.

If you are picking up on some vibes, be extra careful, especially if you have children.

mrs K