Rooster behavior

[Taniagirly]

Hi everyone, I have a pet rooster named Ricky that I adopted as a day old chick (his mother rejected him). He is 10 weeks old and we take him everywhere, even on holidays.

He is very tame and friendly with everyone once he has met them a couple of times, and being hand raised he enjoys a cuddle or just to perch on our shoulders or sit with us on the sofa. He only crows when he wakes up or when the a delivery guy is at the front door (unlike my dog who doesn’t notice). I know every action and sound and what it means, as I spend all day with him.

The problem is that tonight he started acting funny. He was following me around the kitchen acting like he wanted something but nothing seemed to be what he wanted, not even his favorite (banana). He was really out of sorts. Not really sure what I’m asking here but he seemed discontent. He was pecking my sons arm earlier (he pecks a little when he’s hungry) and my son growled at him for it. I’m worried that he will start to turn aggressive if this continues. Am I just being paranoid or is there something we can do to keep him happy?

 

[Aapomp831]

Probably wants to be outside where he can forage and have some females. It’s not natural for any chicken to be in the house, and it’s certainly not sanitary. I would get him some girlfriends and put him outside where he belong

 

[Taniagirly]

Probably wants to be outside where he can forage and have some females. It’s not natural for any chicken to be in the house, and it’s certainly not sanitary. I would get him some girlfriends and put him outside where he belong

He’s outside foraging all day, but he does stick to the immediate area around the house, hasn’t ventured around the other acres. He just follows me in when it gets dark (door is open so he can go out again anytime). I keep him in overnight as there are wild cats in my area (and also don’t won’t to disturb my neighbors when he wakes). I was afraid to get him some girlfriends before he has fully matured, is it not a problem?

 

[Aapomp831]

He’s outside foraging all day, but he does stick to the immediate area around the house, hasn’t ventured around the other acres. He just follows me in when it gets dark (door is open so he can go out again anytime). I keep him in overnight as there are wild cats in my area (and also don’t won’t to disturb my neighbors when he wakes). I was afraid to get him some girlfriends before he has fully matured, is it not a problem?

It’s not a problem! I actually think it would be better to get him a girlfriend or two now; when he’s sexually mature he may be so excited to see them he may go a little crazy with some rough mating lol. A few pullets / hens that are a little older, will teach him how to be a proper gentleman and for lack of a better term, teach him how to be a gentle lover . Of course proper integration will be key, but I would do this sooner than later. Just my opinion - and I’m sure you don’t want a chicken in your house! He’s super cute though. Not his fault his mama rejected him, but it does happens often.

 

[Shadrach]

Hi everyone, I have a pet rooster named Ricky that I adopted as a day old chick (his mother rejected him). He is 10 weeks old and we take him everywhere, even on holidays.

He is very tame and friendly with everyone once he has met them a couple of times, and being hand raised he enjoys a cuddle or just to perch on our shoulders or sit with us on the sofa. He only crows when he wakes up or when the a delivery guy is at the front door (unlike my dog who doesn’t notice). I know every action and sound and what it means, as I spend all day with him.

The problem is that tonight he started acting funny. He was following me around the kitchen acting like he wanted something but nothing seemed to be what he wanted, not even his favorite (banana). He was really out of sorts. Not really sure what I’m asking here but he seemed discontent. He was pecking my sons arm earlier (he pecks a little when he’s hungry) and my son growled at him for it. I’m worried that he will start to turn aggressive if this continues. Am I just being paranoid or is there something we can do to keep him happy?

At 10 weeks old he has probably worked out he should be thinking about sex.
If he's a single rooster without any hens then you will do.

 

[Callender Girl]

True, it's not natural or sanitary for a chicken to be living in the house. However, the same is true for any bird, but people keep parrots, budgies, cockatoos and cockatiels indoors.

Ideally, my Dottie would be an outdoor chicken, and like your rooster, she spends her days outdoors (weather permitting) and her nights inside the house. My efforts to integrate her into an outdoor flock failed repeatedly. She gets along with her own "flock" of me, the dog and the cat.

I don't know that much about roosters; I only have one and he, thankfully, lives outdoors. But, if I were to GUESS, I think Shadrach is right.

 

[Taniagirly]

It’s not a problem! I actually think it would be better to get him a girlfriend or two now; when he’s sexually mature he may be so excited to see them he may go a little crazy with some rough mating lol. A few pullets / hens that are a little older, will teach him how to be a proper gentleman and for lack of a better term, teach him how to be a gentle lover . Of course proper integration will be key, but I would do this sooner than later. Just my opinion - and I’m sure you don’t want a chicken in your house! He’s super cute though. Not his fault his mama rejected him, but it does happens often.

I had considered getting him some older girlfriends, mostly because it was quite a demanding time while he was young. I’m just scared of being overrun with chickens like my brother was he had about a hundred on his property and he could never find all their eggs. I was hoping for a more manageable arrangement haha.

 

[Taniagirly]

At 10 weeks old he has probably worked out he should be thinking about sex.
If he's a single rooster without any hens then you will do.

Oh no How will I know if that’s what’s on his mind? We are his flock I guess, he’s never too far away but doesn’t usually act ‘hungry’ when he’s not hungry. I figured he still just saw me as his mum since he’s always thought I was.

 

[Taniagirly]

True, it's not natural or sanitary for a chicken to be living in the house. However, the same is true for any bird, but people keep parrots, budgies, cockatoos and cockatiels indoors.

Ideally, my Dottie would be an outdoor chicken, and like your rooster, she spends her days outdoors (weather permitting) and her nights inside the house. My efforts to integrate her into an outdoor flock failed repeatedly. She gets along with her own "flock" of me, the dog and the cat.

I don't know that much about roosters; I only have one and he, thankfully, lives outdoors. But, if I were to GUESS, I think Shadrach is right.

This is the first time I’ve hand reared a chick, previous ones just stayed outside and I never noticed any funny behavior. It’s possibly because he’s my little buddy that I am noticing the small things. Am worried that he won’t adjust to real chickens but I also don’t want him thinking I’m his girlfriend haha. My mum had a very tame chicken once, sweet little thing that did the same as yours, got on well with cat and dog.

 

[SulkyBantam]

He wants hens.
When my house roo's lonely because his hen's broody he follows me demandingly too.
In fact, I would get him some hens before he fully matures.
Older hens will do well.