Rooster acting weird...

[aBirdNerd]

Every morning when I come to open the chicken coop my rooster hops out and marches around me. I believe this is what they do to attract mates, he also follows me around and pecks me, hard. He also tries to jump on me, is there any way to get him to stop?

 

[Folly's place]

He's maturing, and doesn't respect your space, and will escalate his attacks unless you can redirect his behaviors, which works sometimes, but not always.
If you have small children, or visitors, he can't be around them at all, until this is resolved.
There are good articles about managing roosters on this site: @Beekissed, @BantyChooks , and @Shadrach 's come to mind. Also @centrarchid . Different points of view, different flock management styles, all useful.
When starting with chickens, it's often best to have only hens that first year, to gain experience, and have mature hens to help manage any future cockerels. He thinks he's hot stuff, and probably thinks that you are a flock member. YOU AREN'T!!! You are the giant who brings food, and it's not smart to attack the giant bringing food.
Mary

 

[Lovem all]

Makes sense. Sorry. I just see how my Ricky would take that as an exscuse to eat my face of as soon as we were finished but my Tally would run screaming lol

 

[HeatherKellyB]

He is about 7 months now, but he is usually very nice. Maybe in the morning he is just upset or hungry. He has been doing it for the past 2 weeks or maybe a month.

He is trying to dominate you. He is at that age where he is becoming mature. The sweet gentle cockerels oftentimes change around this age, as it's happened with a few of my cockerels (now roosters). You really have to show a certain confidence whenever you have cockerels. There are several articles on this site that are helpful and gives you some ideas to try. Some guys are just human aggressive and can't be rehabilitated, so keep that in mind. I would not trust this bird and encourage you to always keep an eye on him. Be very careful if any young children are around him. I wish you the best. There are some genuinely gentle guys and some aren't. Hopefully if you address this quickly, you may see good results, but don't be surprised if his behavior worsens, especially whenever Spring rolls around

 

[black_cat]

That will just reinforce in the rooster that you are a threat and will cause more aggressive behavior.

Ok! Sorry to misinform. I won't advise doing that anymore.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I do not agree with physically holding a rooster down. Or any animal for that matter. I think the idea came from people that used it to show dogs who the alpha was. But dogs do that to each other, and roosters do not.

I have one that does try to cause trouble, and if I don't give him a sign that I felt him after that, he usually is finished for the night. Just takes practice knowing when to expect a peck and not making any reaction. Then I pick him up and talk for a bit before I set him down.

 

[Aapomp831]

I do not agree with physically holding a rooster down. Or any animal for that matter. I think the idea came from people that used it to show dogs who the alpha was. But dogs do that to each other, and roosters do not.

I have one that does try to cause trouble, and if I don't give him a sign that I felt him after that, he usually is finished for the night. Just takes practice knowing when to expect a peck and not making any reaction. Then I pick him up and talk for a bit before I set him down.

Thank you. I was going to say the same thing; also no need to pet him either. He is interested In one thing and one thing only, and that is reproducing with every hen all day long. This is usually where someone has to butt in and talk about their tame lap rooster, but sorry in my opinion a lap rooster is a worthless rooster. You want him to have the air of confidence and bravado so he does his job correctly.... but just like a dog, he needs to know that you’re boss. Don’t let him circle you - hold your arms out like the “bigger cock” and walk at him until he gets out of your way. Sometimes I even make rooster noises at mine (who cares what the neighbors think lol). Don’t ever act like you’re intimidated, and petting him will just make him think you’re preening him like a submissive hen.

 

[Aapomp831]

He's trying to say he's the boss. Don't let him hurt you and don' show fear. Remember your big and in charge. Also if you want him tamer spending a minute holding and petting him each day can't hurt.

Petting a rooster is a bad idea. It’s best to just let a rooster be a rooster, and petting will confuse him into thinking he has won and you are now submissively preening him.

 

[Aapomp831]

When he walks out of the coop, try holding him down with both hands, chest to the ground, until he stops struggling. Do this every day and see if the problems slow down or stop.

That will just reinforce in the rooster that you are a threat and will cause more aggressive behavior.

 

[Shadrach]

Every morning when I come to open the chicken coop my rooster hops out and marches around me. I believe this is what they do to attract mates, he also follows me around and pecks me, hard. He also tries to jump on me, is there any way to get him to stop?

You write he only does this in the morning (?) It rather sounds like he sees you as one of his hens. This isn't necessarily bad. There is lots of room to work with a cockerel who behaves in such a manner. The pecking shouldn't be a problem as long as he's on the ground. Full aggressive intent would be shown by a full scale attack. You'll definitely know that should it happen.
Proper footwear and leg covering is important here. Usually, as they get older, the pecking stops; the trying to herd you by walking around you may not stop for a long time.
Essentially from what you describe he's attention seeking in part. That may also stop once he is more certain of his position in the flock. You don't mention how many or how old if any, hens you have.
You can ignore him, but if you do, you shouldn't show any aggression towards him. Don't try to move him away and walk around him. This won't stop him behaving in this manner but if done right it may ensure that his behaviour doesn't deteriorate. He is after all trying to be friendly by the sounds of it. He's just not quite sure how he should go about it.
Two of the roosters here have done this to me when they were maturing. The eldest, Cillin,is now the leader of his tribe and very rarely tries to herd me now. If i've been cleaning his wattles and comb, or handling him while he's on the ground, when I've finished whatever I was doing he will do a brief herding movement around me and then go about his business.
His son Treacle still tries to herd me in the mornings when I open the coop. He no longer pecks at my feet, or a hand if I put it at his head height but I do have to watch out for him getting under my feet until we've got to the place where he and the rest have breakfast.
I don't mind any of this; other people seem to see it as threatening in some way.
I would take notice of @Folly's place comment about cockerels and children and even other people. Imo one shouldn't let children anywhere near a cockerel if the keeper doesn't have extensive experience with chickens in general. Cockerels and roosters are not unpredictable if you know what to look for in their behaviour.
I think the most important point is to understand what is okay with hens is probably not going to be okay with roosters and cockerels. There is a whole further area of knowledge to be learn't if one is going to keep males.
I won't go on further except to suggest that you might gain some insight into why he does what he does and what signs to look for by reading this article. It's quite a long article and there is a lot of information in it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/