Random Rooster Questions/chicken psychology

[aart]

I agree that male scent may be different than female, and I was also wondering if the boy who smells is active with the ladies? Could it be a function of increased sperm production if mating a lot?

Testosterone levels.

 

[MROO]

I read fear of the SBD (Silent But Deadly) for it is real. Suck it up and live a little.

nope, Nope, NOPE! But you go right ahead ... and let us all know how it goes!

 

[Kris5902]

I will admit the boy I’ve noticed it on the strongest is my somewhat oversexed leghorn cross... he’s also very active at harassing all the penned boys. I usually pick him up when he’s showing the other Roosters how handsome he is (he’s a tease). Sometimes when he gets too focused on another Rooster I’ll pick him up and relocate him a hundred feet or so away, distract him by spreading some treats for him to show his girls. He seriously spends 3/4 of his time showing off at all the other pens and the first thing he does every morning is run to every other pen in turns looking for another Boy to challenge. He also has a “thing” for other white chickens I’ve noticed, and tries to woo them more than anyone else.

It’s got to be a testosterone thing

@tn_artist I am also aware of the different smells my chickens get into, they have a few different smelling dust bathing spots, in some decomposing wood from a fir tree, the dry spot under the trailer, and the damp dirt in another spot all have distinct smells, none unpleasant. They also have an underlying natural “chicken” smell. NOT Farts! Or poop... but the feathers and actual chicken smell like... chickens. Kind of like that general “horse smell”. This is more musky and pungent... not a nice smell, but also not a bad one (male goats are definitely a bad one, so perhaps that was a poor example)

 

[Kris5902]

I would concentrate sniffing efforts on the cotton at base of tail. Beware the chicken farts are frequent and strong smelling. What I am picking up with a 4 year old cock does not come across as musty. Need to compare cock and hen sniffing back and forth for proper comparison. Real truth will be if you can distinguish gender based on smell alone.

Musky in a perfume like way, not musty as in an old unused way. I may have mistyped, and just wanted to clarify

 

[Kris5902]

My DD's Herman, a blue splash Silkie, HATES me! I know and understand why, but that doesn't make him any easier to be around. Herman came out of his shipping box cold and pasty-butted. Guess who had the job of treating the poor little guy? His was the most persistent case I've ever treated, and he was touch-and-go for almost three weeks. And for almost three weeks, every time I picked that poor little baby up, I hurt him. Anyone who says chickens don't remember hasn't dealt with a bird like Herman. He adores every other creature on the planet. He chirps and warbles to DD and her friends. He even tidbits her and does the "Don't You Think I'm Sexy?" rooster dance for her. Me? Not so much. I get semi-friendly overtures only as long as the treats hold out. Once there's nothing in it for him ... the little bugger sneak attacks me. If DD wasn't so attached, and he wasn't so good with everyone else, he'd have been gone two years ago.
So yes ... chickens can have it in for a specific person. Something about that particular young lady likely triggers the memory of a bad experience, and she's paying the price!

Sorry that Herman’s out to get you, and I’m glad with your help he was able to make a recovery, even if it was traumatic for him. That’s what I’m thinking I’ve got going on too. I know she was constantly reaching into the brooder and “handling” them as chicks whenever she was left unsupervised.

a rooster can sense when someone is scared of them. if your Girl is nervous around this rooster and shows it in subtle ways, your rooster will pick up on that and single her out to intimidate. i dont doubt other children ( or adults) will be next. sounds like he is young and needs watching around others.
i know horses are the same way, they will misbehave and pull all kinds of shenanigans with an inexperienced rider, but put someone with knowledge and authority in the saddle and they straighten right up and perform beautifully.
good luck with your roosters.

Dogs are like that too, I’ve noticed. (“They can smell your fear”) He’s a full year old and incredibly laid back. He barely went through any “obnoxious cockerel stage”. He’s great with pretty much everything and everyone except the angle grinder, “her” and bicycles (go figure?). The initial reaction was before she started to show any fear. Now she does, and he certainly picks up on that too. It seems more defensive than an attempt to intimidate in a dominance fashion. He’s doing the “best defense is a good offense” thing at her, I think.

I do have a (different) “problem” rooster, so know what to watch for. This Boy, though, has been solid and good at Roostering pretty much since day 1, he shows no signs of aggression towards people (children or otherwise) except this one girl. All in all, I ‘think’ (hope) I’ve got the rooster behavior thing going ok from a handling standpoint. I’ll make sure to continue exposing him to children to watch for signs of any aggression.

It’s more a “weird things I’ve noticed” question than a “help my roosters are out of control” situation. I promise. It’s not a worrisome reaction, more an “interesting” one. How much can chickens remember with their tiny little brains? And for how long?

 

[tn_artist]

Sorry that Herman’s out to get you, and I’m glad with your help he was able to make a recovery, even if it was traumatic for him. That’s what I’m thinking I’ve got going on too. I know she was constantly reaching into the brooder and “handling” them as chicks whenever she was left unsupervised.



Dogs are like that too, I’ve noticed. (“They can smell your fear”) He’s a full year old and incredibly laid back. He barely went through any “obnoxious cockerel stage”. He’s great with pretty much everything and everyone except the angle grinder, “her” and bicycles (go figure?). The initial reaction was before she started to show any fear. Now she does, and he certainly picks up on that too. It seems more defensive than an attempt to intimidate in a dominance fashion. He’s doing the “best defense is a good offense” thing at her, I think.

I do have a (different) “problem” rooster, so know what to watch for. This Boy, though, has been solid and good at Roostering pretty much since day 1, he shows no signs of aggression towards people (children or otherwise) except this one girl. All in all, I ‘think’ (hope) I’ve got the rooster behavior thing going ok from a handling standpoint. I’ll make sure to continue exposing him to children to watch for signs of any aggression.

It’s more a “weird things I’ve noticed” question than a “help my roosters are out of control” situation. I promise. It’s not a worrisome reaction, more an “interesting” one. How much can chickens remember with their tiny little brains? And for how long?

It amazes me how much they can remember about some things. On the other hand, most of mine cant remember how to get back in the pen.

 

[Chickassan]

I sniffed my boys.
Yeah, they legit have man stink the hens don't have.
I have no idea what the normal bouquet of rooster musk should be like but I do know man stink.
The boys almost have an onion aroma, sort of arm pitish.
They have BO.
Myth confirmed, roosters mortified.

 

[MROO]

I sniffed my boys.
Yeah, they legit have man stink the hens don't have.
I have no idea what the normal bouquet of rooster musk should be like but I do know man stink.
The boys almost have an onion aroma, sort of arm pitish.
They have BO.
Myth confirmed, roosters mortified.

A braver soul than I, for sure!

 

[aart]

I sniffed my boys.
Yeah, they legit have man stink the hens don't have.
I have no idea what the normal bouquet of rooster musk should be like but I do know man stink.
The boys almost have an onion aroma, sort of arm pitish.
They have BO.
Myth confirmed, roosters mortified.

Great!!....Thanks, now I don't have to.

 

[Chickassan]

A braver soul than I, for sure!

That sounds so much nicer than what iv'e been calling what I did.

Great!!....Thanks, now I don't have to.

I can add dirty rooster sniffer to my resume at long last.