Rooster behavior signs

[cjbuk]

I have a 1.5 yr. old Olive Egger rooster named Pip. He never has attacked me , but recently I was showing him he has freshwater by putting my hand by waterer & he went to peck my hand. Also did it when I went to pick up a food tray. He is gentle when he eats out of my hand though, more gentle at taking food then the crazy hens at times, especially if it’s a good treat. He does come into the coop to check on his ladies (I have 13 hens)if they are squawking when I’m cleaning & just looks at me & leaves. Questions: some of his behavior signs: he kicks bedding when at my feet( not all the time), when I talk to him & I ask him a question .. he shakes his head like saying NO. Yes... I do talk to my chickens. Otherwise he doesn’t bother me & minds his own business when I am in the coop with them, talking with the ladies, daily cleaning collecting eggs & holding the ladies. I was reading a thread about Roosters ... holding them when they act aggressive . Do you think I should do that with the signs he has given me these last few days? Any feedback will be much appreciated. Maybe he is getting cabin fever, no free ranging with the snow . They do have a pretty nice coop with a long run that is roofed & has plastic on the sides for the winter. Plenty of toys & a chicken jungle gym to play on. When I clean I open all doors & they do go outside the door, but don’t like the snow that much. Do you think this is the start of something ?

 

[sourland]

Just keep an eye on him, and if the behavior escalates convince him that it is unacceptable.

 

[aart]

Do you think I should do that with the signs he has given me these last few days?

No.
Holding them is not the answer anyway, I just walk thru mine once in a while to remind him.

 

[Trevorusn]

Pecking at your finger is not exactly something to worry about, especially near food or water, both my fellas and ladies do it. If you make the ladies cluck and all does is check on things than leave you be, that is pretty good. If he isn't charging you at a time like that, than he may not be as aggressive as you fear. As for the head shaking, he looks like he has a good size comb and pendulous wattles. That seems to be something larger combed/wattled males do that shorter combed ones do not. It could be signaling to the ladies, or just a general display behavior, but there was a thread on here not too long ago asking about this very behavior.