Rooster attacked for the first time

[BigBlueHen53]

My Rooster used to almost always attack our Feet, until we noticed he only attacked laced Shoes. Apparently he just hated Shoelaces.

Snakes! Snakes! Must kill the shoe vipers!

 

[arazla]

I'm one of those rooster advocate people, so I'm going to disagree with much of what everyone is advising. I have 6 roosters and have spent a lot of time observing, cuddling and learning about roosters.

The side dance is absolutely NOT always an act of aggression. In fact, often it is a warm and affectionate greeting. There are probably as many nuances in the side shuffle dance as their are rooster sounds for various levels of threat. For example, a more aggressive side step will look much like a bull pawing at the ground. They sort of pretend to pick things up as they keep looking up and inching towards you from side to side, while pawing on the ground. Often this energy can be dissipated if seen and recognized with a little reassuring words and slow movements. Then there's the drop winged side shuffle which is often used during courtship and typically conveys "Yay, there's my human, I am so happy to see you!" Keep in mind, this doesn't mean it won't be accompanied by a peck on the shoe, often also a sign of affection, just like a rooster sometimes does when he finds an absent hen. I think of it as sort of marking them in a friendly manner. There's a probably a reason we have the phrase "peck on the cheek." Then there's the cannonball run with fluffed up feathers, face down and forward. This is a mating charge and may result in a painful bite when the rooster tries to latch onto your skin. Some roosters are particularly attracted to bare skin, so it's best to wear long pants and boots if your rooster does this. An actual attack - is alway a jump and kick with feet in the air. The neck feathers will be flaired outward like a cobra. They may sometimes flap their wings first if they're feeling a little nervous around someone new or another rooster.

Keep in mind that roosters don't have hands and express a lot through their beaks. They are wild and emotional and even the most loving roosters may occasionally bite if they are attached to you, but suddenly feel upset, abandoned, or are trying to tell you something.

If it was a "weak attack," I suspect it may not have been an attack at all or he has no spurs. Is it possible he was simply pecking at your shoes or feeling frisky?

 

[GracePoultry]

I'm one of those rooster advocate people, so I'm going to disagree with much of what everyone is advising. I have 6 roosters and have spent a lot of time observing, cuddling and learning about roosters.

The side dance is absolutely NOT always an act of aggression. In fact, often it is a warm and affectionate greeting. There are probably as many nuances in the side shuffle dance as their are rooster sounds for various levels of threat. For example, a more aggressive side step will look much like a bull pawing at the ground. They sort of pretend to pick things up as they keep looking up and inching towards you from side to side, while pawing on the ground. Often this energy can be dissipated if seen and recognized with a little reassuring words and slow movements. Then there's the drop winged side shuffle which is often used during courtship and typically conveys "Yay, there's my human, I am so happy to see you!" Keep in mind, this doesn't mean it won't be accompanied by a peck on the shoe, often also a sign of affection, just like a rooster sometimes does when he finds an absent hen. I think of it as sort of marking them in a friendly manner. There's a probably a reason we have the phrase "peck on the cheek." Then there's the cannonball run with fluffed up feathers, face down and forward. This is a mating charge and may result in a painful bite when the rooster tries to latch onto your skin. Some roosters are particularly attracted to bare skin, so it's best to wear long pants and boots if your rooster does this. An actual attack - is alway a jump and kick with feet in the air. The neck feathers will be flaired outward like a cobra. They may sometimes flap their wings first if they're feeling a little nervous around someone new or another rooster.

Keep in mind that roosters don't have hands and express a lot through their beaks. They are wild and emotional and even the most loving roosters may occasionally bite if they are attached to you, but suddenly feel upset, abandoned, or are trying to tell you something.

If it was a "weak attack," I suspect it may not have been an attack at all or he has no spurs. Is it possible he was simply pecking at your shoes or feeling frisky?

That is a possibility he does do the dripped wing thing quite often. He does have spurs but he’s never really used them. He bit me once after this post but hasn’t really done anything other than that. But hopefully it’s because he’s attached to me like you said

 

[Altairsky]

An actual attack - is alway a jump and kick with feet in the air. The neck feathers will be flaired outward like a cobra.

What is your opinion on an actual attack without neck feathers flaired out?
My rooster is absolutely perfect in every other aspect, but I'm planning to have him for dinner this winter because he attacked me 2 times in a year.
What I fail to understand is that in his attacks, he never had his neck feathers out, and kicked really hard without using his spurs, so I was absolutely unscratched both times. He never bite.
He has enough spurs to pierce through boots if he wants.

 

[arazla]

That is a possibility he does do the dripped wing thing quite often. He does have spurs but he’s never really used them. He bit me once after this post but hasn’t really done anything other than that. But hopefully it’s because he’s attached to me like you said

That could be the case. My most cuddly rooster is the most bitey. He's extremely attached. If I'm away for a long time, like a whole day, or if he's been corralled somewhere else (as currently we have some of our roos in other places to give the girls a break) he shows his emotions by trying to give me a good bite. But then I just pick him up and pet him and he's quickly reassured. He loves to doze on my lap.

Roosters are aggressive and emotional creatures for a reason. So they can be good protectors. And just like lion taming, there are risks involved and patience required. But so much littler than lions and unlikely to kill anyone. However, I do think it's wise to keep little children and roosters separated unless there's someone strictly supervising.

 

[arazla]

What is your opinion on an actual attack without neck feathers flaired out?
My rooster is absolutely perfect in every other aspect, but I'm planning to have him for dinner this winter because he attacked me 2 times in a year.
What I fail to understand is that in his attacks, he never had his neck feathers out, and kicked really hard without using his spurs, so I was absolutely unscratched both times. He never bite.
He has enough spurs to pierce through boots if he wants.

Hmm, that's interesting. Do you have any video footage of this behavior?

Is there any chance he was trying to jump on your back? A couple of my roosters do like to jump on my back and ride around. It's what chicks naturally do with their mothers.

You can see two of my roosters on my back.

 

[Altairsky]

No, it only happened 3 times in almost 2 years, and there are no preattack clues so it's impossible to make a video of it.
But no, he doesn't want to ride around. Last time he missed and skidded on the ground for a couple of feet belly up with legs in the air.

 

[NagemTX]

My Rooster used to almost always attack our Feet, until we noticed he only attacked laced Shoes. Apparently he just hated Shoelaces.

I have a rooster that attacks close toed shoes only. If I ware filp flops there is no issues.

 

[arazla]

Hmm, that's interesting. Do you have any video footage of this behavior?

Is there any chance he was trying to jump on your back? A couple of my roosters do like to jump on my back and ride around. It's what chicks naturally do with their mothers.

No, it only happened 3 times in almost 2 years, and there are no preattack clues so it's impossible to make a video of it.
But no, he doesn't want to ride around. Last time he missed and skidded on the ground for a couple of feet belly up with legs in the air.

Okay, so when giving it more thought, I mispoke. There are a few different ways roosters may "attack" that don't always involve the cobra feathers. But they flair the neck feathers when they're REALLY amped up, scared or ready to fight. Like in this video:

However, in this video compilation with people stupidly allowing their children to run towards or antagonize roosters, you see that some of the roosters don't always flair their neck feathers. In some cases, they are more measured and are mostly trying to assert their authority or shoe the children away. It's more like a reprimand rather than a battle. Sometimes their neck feathers are flaired and sometimes not. Of course it can still be scary, especially to a child.

And finally, in this video demonstration, the rooster "attacks" this woman's sleeve with his beak and wings, although he doesn't see THE PERSON herself as an enemy. It's about the sleeve. She is attuned to the rooster and responds calmly so what happens next is reassurance and cuddling.

Also, I forgot to ask, how old is your rooster?

 

[Altairsky]

He's almost 2 yo