Rooster Admitting Defeat?

[Backyard Dacks]

Does it look like this?
This is a rooster with his hackle feathers up.
(Not my pictures)
View attachment 2420682

Yes, it sure does.

It’s the equivalent of a dog cowering because he’s afraid.

That would make sense, but why does he not do it while he's hiding or on the run- only when I've got him?

 

[Ebony Rose]

As long as he's running, he thinks that he might win this one. Once he's cornered and there is no victory in sight for him, he displays his uncertainty and fear in this manner. Unless necessary to handle him during daylight hours, you might simply go into the coop at night to pick him up in a nice, calm fashion; might as well give him a thorough exam while you've got him, checking under his wings, around his vent, the scales of his legs and feet and the bottoms of his feet (wellness checkup). If you perform one of these wellness checkups on a weekly basis, and quit chasing him all over God's little creation, he may warm up to being handled by you. If you offer him treats in the daytime, while you're seated comfortably and have fifteen minutes or so (when you're not in a rush) You can possibly build more trust with him. In the beginning, your 'building a bond with treats' exercise may require that you toss the treats out to him, but as the weeks or months progress, you should eventually have him eating out of your hand.

 

[Backyard Dacks]

As long as he's running, he thinks that he might win this one. Once he's cornered and there is no victory in sight for him, he displays his uncertainty and fear in this manner. Unless necessary to handle him during daylight hours, you might simply go into the coop at night to pick him up in a nice, calm fashion; might as well give him a thorough exam while you've got him, checking under his wings, around his vent, the scales of his legs and feet and the bottoms of his feet (wellness checkup). If you perform one of these wellness checkups on a weekly basis, and quit chasing him all over God's little creation, he may warm up to being handled by you. If you offer him treats in the daytime, while you're seated comfortably and have fifteen minutes or so (when you're not in a rush) You can possibly build more trust with him. In the beginning, your 'building a bond with treats' exercise may require that you toss the treats out to him, but as the weeks or months progress, you should eventually have him eating out of your hand.

Thank you for the reply.
I understand that chasing is not the act of choice for handling chickens, and I definitely understand why he doesn't like me very much.
However, the current situation makes it hard for me to handle him in your prescribed fashion, although I would wish to do so. In fact, I am currently offering him for sale or trade, together with his wife on this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/trade-for-clean-legs-in-nyc-area.1428554/#post-23546289/

 

[aart]

Why are you chasing him?
Much easier to grab them off the roost after dark.

 

[swampfox440]

At one time I think they had a page for selling but haven't run across it since I have been back . I purchase some good birds from someone on this site years ago .

 

[aart]

At one time I think they had a page for selling but haven't run across it since I have been back . I purchase some good birds from someone on this site years ago .

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/#buy-sell-trade.67

 

[swampfox440]

Thank you ! @aart

 

[Backyard Dacks]

Why are you chasing him?
Much easier to grab them off the roost after dark.

I will often let them out to run around for a while and then have to put them back before dark.