Normal rooster behavior?

[Mkhobs]

Hi all, me again! Trying to figure out what’s normal and what’s not. Had my adopted flock/rooster since January and he’s not tried to beef with me until a couple of days ago. First off, Rusty doesn’t like my husband AT ALL. He will try to fight most of the time, only barely ignoring him whilst free ranging…

He tried to throw hands when he saw me removing eggs (normal springtime behavior?) and I had to lightly punt him to get him off. Probably not the best move, so I assume bringing a trusty object would be more ideal.

Now that brings us to today. Rusty and his ladies were having a grand old time in the yard and I picked him up. Now, I’ve done this several times before and he was fine. Even falling asleep in my lap most recently. He was not happy about it today. Once I put him down he turned around and charged. Should I have held him longer? What am I missing? He just seem edgy recently.

I am considering rehoming only because I’m not trying to watch my back every time I’m outside. Not to mention, recent life events that cause me to frankly not want to fight a rooster when I want to hang with the chickens. He came with a lice infestation that I discovered after having him a couple of weeks (once I was able to handle him after he adjusted) that we are treating. Would rehoming still be an option when being upfront about the parasite issues? Obviously I’d like him to be clear of any health issues before rehoming but that may need to happen sooner than later. I really don’t want to cull him for the cards he was dealt. He is a good boy.

 

[cherrynberry]

Hi all, me again! Trying to figure out what’s normal and what’s not. Had my adopted flock/rooster since January and he’s not tried to beef with me until a couple of days ago. First off, Rusty doesn’t like my husband AT ALL. He will try to fight most of the time, only barely ignoring him whilst free ranging…

He tried to throw hands when he saw me removing eggs (normal springtime behavior?) and I had to lightly punt him to get him off. Probably not the best move, so I assume bringing a trusty object would be more ideal.

Now that brings us to today. Rusty and his ladies were having a grand old time in the yard and I picked him up. Now, I’ve done this several times before and he was fine. Even falling asleep in my lap most recently. He was not happy about it. Once I put him down he turned around and charged. Should I have held him longer? What am I missing? He just seem edgy recently.

I am considering rehoming only because I’m not trying to watch my back every time I’m outside. Not to mention, recent life events that cause me to frankly not want to fight a rooster when I want to hang with the chickens. He came with a lice infestation that I discovered after having him a couple of weeks (once I was able to handle him after he adjusted) that we are treating. Would rehoming still be an option when being upfront about the parasite issues? Obviously I’d like him to be clear of any health issues before rehoming but that may need to happen sooner than later. I really don’t want to cull him for the cards he was dealt. He is a good boy.

He is just a horny rooster. Not a keeper, IMO. If he were in my flock, he would be a soup chicken. IMHO, never rehome an aggressive rooster unless you know they know that they will eat him OR know exactly what they are getting. Aggressive males can lead to all kinds of problems. Its usually when they are hormonal and sexually mature that they start to show signs of aggression. Not ALL males will be aggressive, but some, as you know, are.

For lice, treat with permethrin dust and spray. Make sure to treat the whole flock, as it spreads.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Hi all, me again! Trying to figure out what’s normal and what’s not. Had my adopted flock/rooster since January and he’s not tried to beef with me until a couple of days ago. First off, Rusty doesn’t like my husband AT ALL. He will try to fight most of the time, only barely ignoring him whilst free ranging…

He tried to throw hands when he saw me removing eggs (normal springtime behavior?) and I had to lightly punt him to get him off. Probably not the best move, so I assume bringing a trusty object would be more ideal.

Now that brings us to today. Rusty and his ladies were having a grand old time in the yard and I picked him up. Now, I’ve done this several times before and he was fine. Even falling asleep in my lap most recently. He was not happy about it today. Once I put him down he turned around and charged. Should I have held him longer? What am I missing? He just seem edgy recently.

I am considering rehoming only because I’m not trying to watch my back every time I’m outside. Not to mention, recent life events that cause me to frankly not want to fight a rooster when I want to hang with the chickens. He came with a lice infestation that I discovered after having him a couple of weeks (once I was able to handle him after he adjusted) that we are treating. Would rehoming still be an option when being upfront about the parasite issues? Obviously I’d like him to be clear of any health issues before rehoming but that may need to happen sooner than later. I really don’t want to cull him for the cards he was dealt. He is a good boy.

I would hold him longer or hold him his chest to the ground till he stops squirming then let him go it shows him your the boss

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with Cherrynberry - I would cull him. How you do it is up to you, either supper, or a rose bush or another place.

He is being aggressive, and he is already attacking your husband, why would you keep him? He is giving warnings as loud as he can, that he is becoming aggressive.

You have given him good care, there is nothing about a quick end that one needs to feel guilty about, if you ask me, he was dealt pretty good cards, but is not working out.

Mrs K

 

[McChooky]

The only thing an aggressive rooster is good for is breeding hens & making life miserable.

 

[Callender Girl]

My young Cochin Bantam rooster, who is nearly one year old now, is s-l-o-w-l-y learning that it is a bad idea to come at me. Because he is so small and because I am still always wearing my chore boots in the late winter days, his attacks aren't scary or even painful. However, there will come a day when the weather gets warm, and the boots will stay in the house.

He won't charge if I am looking at him but waits for me to turn around. I try not to turn my back on him. Every time he attacks, I quickly pick him up, wings pinned to his sides, and carry him with me for a while.

Billy Boy hangs out with the hens from his coop, does his job of "tidbitting" -- letting them eat first when there are treats -- and is a beautiful boy. He's pretty good at his job of being a rooster. While he likes to romance the hens, he is easily dissuaded from giving his attentions to girls who show him they are not interested.

I have rehomed a more aggressive rooster, but I believe there is hope for Billy Boy and me to have a decent relationship.

Good luck with your boy. BTW, the rooster I rehomed went to live with my avian veterinarian who has a rooster flock. Last I knew, Pauly was doing fine there, and he wasn't at all missed here.

 

[McChooky]

Did your rooster get re-homed or did you decide to keep him? Hoping he worked out. Thanks! Update appreciated!

 

[Callender Girl]

Billy Boy is still here -- and he's still a sneaky little jerk. As long as I don't turn my back on him, everything is fine.

But, we're still spending too much time with me carrying him around. To be fair to him, my full-sized Cochin girls all seem to like standing on my back when I bend down or repeatedly pecking at my boots and clothes when they want my attention or more food. Sometimes, their pecking gets pretty intense, but I'm not thinking of rehoming them.

Maybe he thinks it's acceptable behavior to be disrespectful to the human? Maybe he's just hard-wired to be overly protective of the girls? Many of the attacks have been when I'm in the coop to fill feeders or check for eggs.

And, the attacks aren't really terribly violent or prolonged. He just runs up, pecks quickly and leaves. Probably because he knows I am going to immediately pick him up and carry him around for a while. He doesn't really hate me; when he sees me outside, he will come up and literally eat out of my hand.

Will I keep him? Yeah. He's still taking care of his girls, which is his job. When all of the birds are loose (including ducks and geese), he always hangs out with the girls from his coop, watching over them. Unlike the little boy I rehomed, Billy Boy has never shown any aggression toward visitors, just me.

At least he's really small, so it's not like being attacked by an angry full-sized rooster (which would be Sir Henry the Loud, my Iowa Blue rooster -- who has NEVER shown any aggression to me). Okay, I'm an apologist for his bad behavior, but in his own head, I think Billy Boy's just trying to do his job.

Maybe if I feed him enough grapes and remember to scout out his location every time he's loose, we can have a workable truce, even if we never become good friends. I have no intention of giving up on him. I am more stubborn than he is!

 

[McChooky]

Most roosters think the hens abd eggs are worth fighting for.That's where we come in.lol