Rooster Attacks Only Legs?

[Mylanvy]

Hello,

We recently took in a 6 month old Housman rooster maybe 2-3 weeks ago and he has it out for our legs. He will attack and peck our toes and legs like they are personally offending him. The weird thing is, if I squat down or sit on the ground he will graze and hang out like we are buddies, I can pick him up with no issue and he will even eat out of my hand! But once I put him down and stand up he’s attacking me like I’m out to get him. Everyday since we got him we’ve held him, pinned him to the ground, and flapped our arms like we ourselves are roosters. He will go out of his way to come flying across the yard to get him but if I pick him up he’s just chilling. Any advice?

 

[sourland]

Human aggressive behavior at 6 months old? It will escalate. I would eat or get rid of him especially if their are kids in the equation.

 

[ChicNmom]

Is he in with other chickens?

It sounds like he is intimidated by your size when you stand up.
I had one that would go after my toes until he was about a year old. I assumed it was he attraction of nail polish and toe rings. I named him Nibbles but I also never felt like he was trying to kill me.

 

[Mylanvy]

Is he in with other chickens?

It sounds like he is intimidated by your size when you stand up.
I had one that would go after my toes until he was about a year old. I assumed it was he attraction of nail polish and toe rings. I named him Nibbles but I also never felt like he was trying to kill me.

He’s with 7 hens, 3 which are 1.5 years old maybe and the other 6 are the same age as him, but none were raised with him. He’s the new kids on the block.
I wonder if maybe he can’t see us when we are standing because of his crest

 

[Mylanvy]

Human aggressive behavior at 6 months old? It will escalate. I would eat or get rid of him especially if their are kids in the equation.

No kids, the worst he does of maybe pull on jeans and peck shoes. I am really hoping to try and mellow him out before attempting to rehome him

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with Sour land, this will get worse not better. I think that training done BEFORE aggression sometimes helps. They really do not have a large brain to be trained. And they have huge testicles.

Training after aggression starts, tends to be the people change their ways. They wear clothing that can take the attack, they are constantly aware of where he is, and what he is doing.

Most roosters that are aggressive - take advantage of the situation. One day your hands will be full, or you are wearing shorts and run down to the coop quick for something and he gets you.

It is your call, they are your chickens, but I do not expect him to chill.

 

[ChicNmom]

@Mylanvy




Do you feel like he is really trying to attack you?

I have hens that pull on my pants and peck at my feet. They think I'm walking food.

My first rooster turned aggressive around 4 years old. I never realized how useful martial arts could be when defending against a rooster. LOL He and I did come to an agreement until he started being nasty to a couple of hens.

If I had sat on the ground he would have continued the attack and I knew he was trying to hurt me.

Could you trim his crest a little and see if that makes a difference? I think that's an interesting observation that maybe he's just not sure it you.

 

[Leatherworker]

Hello,

We recently took in a 6 month old Housman rooster maybe 2-3 weeks ago and he has it out for our legs. He will attack and peck our toes and legs like they are personally offending him. The weird thing is, if I squat down or sit on the ground he will graze and hang out like we are buddies, I can pick him up with no issue and he will even eat out of my hand! But once I put him down and stand up he’s attacking me like I’m out to get him. Everyday since we got him we’ve held him, pinned him to the ground, and flapped our arms like we ourselves are roosters. He will go out of his way to come flying across the yard to get him but if I pick him up he’s just chilling. Any advice?

I have heard from some people who have a lot of roosters, that your clothing can effect some of them. They can be afraid of some shoes and or pants. When they changed their pants the rooster was fine. Her previous pair was loose and floppy, so she changed to tighter ones. I would give it a try. I think we sometimes don't try and figure out the problem. If hes not aggressive when your down closer to him, he is threaten by something. If you like him, I would try to figure it out. I think we sometimes just jump to the conclusion he has to go in the freezer. There is something triggering him, IMO. He's very young, give him a chance to figure out what to do with his hormones and other things that seems threatening to him.