Rooster Personality Switch

[americanchicks]

Hey everyone!
So I have a 14 month old blue copper maran rooster Toby. He is such a good rooster. Never attacked a person, always shares his food with the ladies, a good lookout and his birthday is the day before mine.

I had gone camping for 3 days and was very happy to come back and see the chickens. Went in picked up Pheobe my fave hen and Toby came charging at me. I gave him a swift kick, he quickly backed off. He has never even gave me the evil eye let alone charge me. I could always pick up the girls, he would be watching but never was aggressive. Thinking it was just a fluke, I let it pass. Well now its been 4 days and he has been going at me every time I go i the pen. He has not gotten me yet, he is trying mostly when Im walking away or my back is turned. When he dose it I charge back at him and he leaves me alone. I tried giving treats he still took them from my hand but later that day he went at me again.

Today he went at me yet again. After standing my ground he started crowing like crazy even walking around scratching the ground. (not an expert on roo behavior but I believe that is an intimidating stance) I then went ahead and just caught him. I brought im inside the house just to see how he acted towards me. No aggression just wanted back outside, put him back and now he is keeping his distance from me.

Any advice on how to work with him? I dont want to have to keep my gaurd up every time I go in the pen. So far he has only charged me but I have two little kids and he is a big rooster. If he becomes a problem I will get rid of him but I rather try and get him back where he use to be.
Thanks everyone!

 

[so lucky]

It will be interesting to see how he acts toward other people. He might just be aggressive towards you, as his "rival" or he might be aggressive towards everyone, including your kids, the mailman, your grandma.
I think you did the right thing by picking him up and carrying him around. It was likely an emasculating move to him, on your part. He needs more of that, IMO.
There aren't any guarantees of how he will turn out, so prepare yourself, in case you have to let him go. (And before he goes for your child's face.)

 

[Fluffnut]

There is probably no way to get him back to being sweet; he's a rooster
However it might help to put your hand on his back and press him down, whenever he jumps at you. Hold him for a little bit 'til he calms down a little.

 

[aart]

Was someone else watching the birds while you were gone?
If so, did they have any issues with him?
His world changed for a few days, that can be all it takes to make him nervous of everything.
You coming back all of a sudden and picking up his girl might have tripped a trigger.

I'd just go slow with calm confidence.....don't give him a reason to attack, like picking up hens...short but frequent visits sometimes with treats sometimes not. Just let him get used to you again.

 

[IamRainey]

My Black Copper Marans was always a sweetie too. And flat out gorgeous. Then he turned into Attila the Hun.

We tried to assert our dominance. I was OK in the coop as long as I had a stick in my hand and never took my eyes off of him. But just maintaining the feeders and waterers became so stressful I had to start doing it at night by the light of a flashlight when the flock was up in the coop.

We put up with it as long as we could. Then we put him down. It was sad and traumatic but I think the hens are calmer and happier too. I know we are!

 

[americanchicks]

Thanks all for your advice! My habby was watching them and had no issues. The day after I posted this I asked my husband Cameron to go in to see what Toby would do. He gave no response to Cameron. Then Cameron picked him up and held him for about 7 min. Toby was calm no freaking out. Everyone got to pet him. Since then I have had no Issues. He has been avoiding me. Maybe being picked up put him back into place. Only time will tell.