Is silkie attacking me?

[Phillyndilly]

I honestly don’t get why he still attacks me the turkey only had to beat him up once and now he leaves him alone lol. I feel like I’m scarier than a turkey when I’m mad lol

 

[Shadrach]

This may very well be true for you but my rooster is DEFINITELY attacking me. He isn’t being nice, he doesn’t want to snuggle with my boot. And I highly doubt @BantamBabies wants to snuggle your daughter. Since posting this Rudy attacks me still. I’ve tried bopping him, now I grab him and carry him around. I’m trying the nice route. Staying still is an option because I usually won’t escalate the situation. But Rudy always sneak attacks me, if I see him looking at me crazy I will stop and say no.
Silkie Likely won’t do any harm. I know it’s hard to teach a child to stand up to him but running is obviously the worst thing. Some people say they are bad their first year when the hormones kick in but it’s up to you. I would say a stick for her but the problem with Chickens verse water fowl that I’ve noticed is if you wack them or push them away they come back at you. If you are in a “fight” if you stand still it’s just the pause before the charge. She’d prob have to chase and poke him or tap him and that’s a lot for an already fearful child to do.
I just started the hug method someone on here posted an article. So any time he attacks me I grab him hold him. First I say no! Then I pet him. I’m hatching chicks right now and if I get a friendly rooster he’s going to be out unless he changes his behavior. Being mean hasn’t helped so I’ll try this way, he deserves a chance. He just gets me mad that it’s always sneak attack and he startles me lol.

I have my reservations about children and roosters. There are always exceptions and a lot will depend on the supervising adult.
If one believes in there are just good roosters and bad roosters then no amount of 'training' is going to change a bad rooster. I take the view that there are reasons apart from the hormone changes that promote aggressive behviour in any creature and look to address those reasons.
As you rightly point out returned aggressive behaviour just leads to a circle of fighting which is very hard to break.

 

[BantamBabies]

Stand still. Let him do what he needs to do and be happy he loves you.
My mate Treacle. Not once has he tried to flog or spur me, but he does think I'm his hen and he does love a boot.
Try to bear in mind through the hysteria that we are talking about a creature that probably is no taller than your knee cap and weighs at maximum one tenth of your bodyweight.
View attachment 2049620

I wish he would snuggle again he used to be so nice. I’m just worried about my traumatized child.

 

[BantamBabies]

This may very well be true for you but my rooster is DEFINITELY attacking me. He isn’t being nice, he doesn’t want to snuggle with my boot. And I highly doubt @BantamBabies wants to snuggle your daughter. Since posting this Rudy attacks me still. I’ve tried bopping him, now I grab him and carry him around. I’m trying the nice route. Staying still is an option because I usually won’t escalate the situation. But Rudy always sneak attacks me, if I see him looking at me crazy I will stop and say no.
Silkie Likely won’t do any harm. I know it’s hard to teach a child to stand up to him but running is obviously the worst thing. Some people say they are bad their first year when the hormones kick in but it’s up to you. I would say a stick for her but the problem with Chickens verse water fowl that I’ve noticed is if you wack them or push them away they come back at you. If you are in a “fight” if you stand still it’s just the pause before the charge. She’d prob have to chase and poke him or tap him and that’s a lot for an already fearful child to do.
I just started the hug method someone on here posted an article. So any time he attacks me I grab him hold him. First I say no! Then I pet him. I’m hatching chicks right now and if I get a friendly rooster he’s going to be out unless he changes his behavior. Being mean hasn’t helped so I’ll try this way, he deserves a chance. He just gets me mad that it’s always sneak attack and he startles me lol.

Hmmm good things to think about. We do have 2 week old chicks he might be trying to protect and I will consider increasing our feeders and water. Perhaps there are other factor here.

 

[Shadrach]

I wish he would snuggle again he used to be so nice. I’m just worried about my traumatized child.

I wrote a rather long but detailed article about understanding your rooster.
My whole approach hinges on establishing trust and trying to learn, rather than demanding respect because I'm bigger and feed them.
Have a read. It may give you some ideas.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

 

[Waves]

@Phillyndilly
Ok, my silkie roo had never pecked me in attack mode, but all chickens i have (and had in the past) sometimes pecked at me. In particular, at my boots and trousers.
When i was a child i had a pair of trousers with lots of pois, and they literally loved to peck at the white pois. I thought it was because they confuse them with food, but now, others chickens peck my trousers (no more pois, no more food confusion.. )
I don't think it's an attack! All my hens have began to peck my trousers when a little more in confidence with me, and i think it's a way to familiarize (?)...Maybe to attract our attention or ask food? I don't know...
Sometimes i just sit in the coop with them and they begin to scratch and peck on my boots like there is soil, no my feet...
...interesting 3d. if he doesnt' hurt you, i think it isn't a problem (only pay attenction at your eyes), and i would try to observe him better to understand his behaviour Does he seemed angry when you saw him? I don't know how to describe an angry rooster...maybe this?

 

[Shadrach]

@Phillyndilly
Ok, my silkie roo had never pecked me in attack mode, but all chickens i have (and had in the past) sometimes pecked at me. In particular, at my boots and trousers.
When i was a child i had a pair of trousers with lots of pois, and they literally loved to peck at the white pois. I thought it was because they confuse them with food, but now, others chickens peck my trousers (no more pois, no more food confusion.. )
I don't think it's an attack! All my hens have began to peck my trousers when a little more in confidence with me, and i think it's a way to familiarize (?)...Maybe to attract our attention or ask food? I don't know...
Sometimes i just sit in the coop with them and they begin to scratch and peck on my boots like there is soil, no my feet...
...interesting 3d. if he doesnt' hurt you, i think it isn't a problem (only pay attenction at your eyes), and i would try to observe him better to understand his behaviour Does he seemed angry when you saw him? I don't know how to describe an angry rooster...maybe this?
View attachment 2049747

Strangely the hackle flash is generally reserved for other chickens.
Ime a rooster that is going to attack you doesn't give any warning unless you are very well tuned into their body language.
Love the picture btw. It reminds me of the roosters I have here; all seven of them.

 

[Waves]

Ime a rooster that is going to attack you doesn't give any warning unless you are very well tuned into their body language.

Mmmm...i meant after he pecked her, if he was angry after...
but i don't know... my silke roo had never been angry

Love the picture btw. It reminds me of the roosters I have here; all seven of them.

Unfortunately it isn't mine! i'd love to have that roos

 

[Phillyndilly]

Mmmm...i meant after he pecked her, if he was angry after...
but i don't know... my silke roo had never been angry



Unfortunately it isn't mine! i'd love to have that roos

Strangely the hackle flash is generally reserved for other chickens.
Ime a rooster that is going to attack you doesn't give any warning unless you are very well tuned into their body language.
Love the picture btw. It reminds me of the roosters I have here; all seven of them.

Yes he does the heckle flash to me if we are “fighting”. I’ve begun to get in tune with his body language and last time he was going to do it I knew.
I mean I don’t know if he’s asking for food or attention but he’s definitely attacking me which is a pretty strange way to ask for food.
He usually does it when I’m walking he’s done it once when I was putting the waterer down. It’s so stupid it’s not even when I’m doing anything to the girls. He did it once when I was chasing the turkey around with a stick ( she was full speed chasing one of the ducks ) so that one was actually funny lol.
I don’t believe he’s bad. I
Also he doesn’t peck he jumps at me. He does it to other people as well. When he did it to my fiancé he picked him up and I think he was trying to be nice and he gave him a bunch of pecks on the hand that even broke skin.

 

[Phillyndilly]

I wrote a rather long but detailed article about understanding your rooster.
My whole approach hinges on establishing trust and trying to learn, rather than demanding respect because I'm bigger and feed them.
Have a read. It may give you some ideas.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

I did read your article. I do like the part about grooming can I do this when I’m holding him. There’s no way he’ll let me do it when I’m not. I have tried to pet his comb he doesn’t seem to like it but maybe I’ll do the grooming. Also what would you suggest when he attacks me. I honestly just grab him by whatever I catch scoop him up and we walk until he calms down a little bit.