What you call "communication" I call training. Another form of training, but training none the less. When training we simply communicate with our animals by telling them what we expect of them. Whether it is teaching them that a peck means getting pecked or that a peck means getting squirted. Training is training, either way, whatever you choose to call it.
My chickens know what I expect of them. I also know what they expect of me. I expect that they don't peck at me, court me, or act agressive toward me. In return they expect that I let them be while they are setting on their eggs and all the other chicken quirks.
Also, I was in no way "Flattered" when my roo tried to breed me and dug his sharp beak into my bare legs. I also was not flattered when my dominant hen raised her hackles at me and pecked me so hard it drew blood.
I now nip these chicken "Flatteries" in the butt before they have a chance to turn into more agressive behaviors. A rooster courting me like i'm a hen gets squirted so that he learns I'm not a hen before he tries to breed me. a hen that pecks me or raises her hackles gets squirted so she learns I'm not a part of the pecking order and she won't ever try to peck at me.
Nowadays I run a youth program and have young children around my animals, so the ones who require "agression training/communication" are culled from my flock.
