My sweet banty roo has turned into a little turd.

[Big C]

Our banty roos get a swift kick, then a stern lecture on how quickly they can be bbq'd, stewed, canned, etc.
Just establishing the ultimate pecking order...

 

[NicInNC]

I feel terrible now if he was trying to "court" me and not attack me! He hasn't done it again and he's actually about the only chicken that I can pick up without having to chase after.

BTW, he's between 6 and 7 months old.

 

[speckledhen]

Courting is treated the same as aggression here because often that will turn into attacking. Had it happen. You do not want him bringing you down to his level--that is entirely inappropriate for a rooster.

 

[chickensioux]

Anyone know what a hen is doing that wants to be held and when you bend down to pick her up, she bites the poo out of you? Not peck...bite. Pinches the skin and just hangs on. Then when you hold her, she's happy. What's up with that?

 

[Farm Frenzy]

When roosters do that "cute" little dance with the wing down, it's not really cute. He's trying to show you he's in charge. That's what he does to the hens to keep them in their place. It's a rooster dominance thing, and if yours is doing that to you, then he's trying to boss you around...don't let him. Nip that in the bud before he gets more violent.

 

[NicInNC]

Quote:
I did notice him do that to my two EE's today, but they looked at him like he was stupid and pecked him on the head!

 

[goobhen]

Speckledhen,
I have one 7 week old Brown Sex link roo & one Dominigue roo. The two roos are having "talks" on who is going to be the main roo. The dominique is a little sweetie. He doesn't charge me, just looks what I am doing from a safe distance. The brown star, is a little rat! He pecked my hand when I was giving the chickens some fruit. I have picked him up and held him...this method just doesn't seem to be working. I do not want to have to always carry something around with me everytime I have interactions with Sheldon or the other chickens. Do I cull him? Or will he accept me as his leader?

 

[speckledhen]

Well, sometimes they will fixate on just one person. It all depends on what you want to do. I wont rehome an aggressive rooster unless there is a disclosure of his habits and the new owner fully understands what they are getting. I just dont have the time to deal with that stuff here and much of the time, the methods do not work (though, they are certainly worth a try!) Hard to say. All you can do is try and decide what you are willing to put up with. Temperament is heritable. I just won't watch my back all the time.

 

[goobhen]

Speckledhen,
Thanks for your input. I feel the same way about my back! Sheldon is a pretty roo, fun to watch... but he is only 7 weeks old. His pecks and such do not hurt now, but when he's 8 pounds, no way. I have a friend who lets his free-range and he likes agressive roos, Sheldon may have to go to his house. I also agree, don't give your problems to someone else without disclousure, not the way I was taught to be, too old to change now! Theresa

 

[Silverduck]

I have bantams also, I have learned not to pet the roos, the ones I have petted and loved on as chicks turned out to be mean when they became adults. The roos I don't pet never have jumped on me. I have been able to rehome the ones that are mean, but, I always tell the new owners they are mean.