Rooster Psychology Help

[BlossomSilkies]

Our rooster (hatched here and offspring of 2 of my stock) seemed to be a real creep. So much so that I put him up for sale. No takers.

Actually now that I'm spending more time with him I think he may think I'm his girlfriend. Is this possible? He shows me food, picking it up and dropping it, does the side step for me, and then after all that attacks my feet.

I have been promptly picking him up when he goes for my feet and sitting with him. Seemed like the thing to do.

Chicken psychologists: What say you about this behavior?

 

[Den in Penn]

Definitely thinks your his hen. Any other signs of aggression other then pecking at your feet?

 

[En Plein Air Farms]

You'll know, when you get that tell-tale bald spot on your neck.

 

[janinepeters]

Yeah, it sounds like he thinks you're hot! Is picking him up helping to stop that behavior at all?

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Definitely thinks your his hen. Any other signs of aggression other then pecking at your feet?

No, that's it so far. Well, actually initially he would give me a good bite on the hand if I approached him from the front. He hasn't flogged me.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

You'll know, when you get that tell-tale bald spot on your neck.

That is just wrong!

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Yeah, it sounds like he thinks you're hot! Is picking him up helping to stop that behavior at all?

I'm, um, flattered???? lol! As far as helping to stop the behavior, not really yet. I guess my thought is that it's showing him that I'm the boss.

He is beautiful and the very first chick we hatched here. I'd love to keep him, so I hope his behavior improves.

 

[speckledhen]

It's inappropriate for him to dance at you. I don't allow that because it is often a precursor to actual aggression. It brings you down to the level of one of his hens and it ain't happening around this place. Mine don't do that, period.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

It's inappropriate for him to dance at you. I don't allow that because it is often a precursor to actual aggression. It brings you down to the level of one of his hens and it ain't happening around this place. Mine don't do that, period.

What do you suggest as far as changing the behavior?

 

[speckledhen]

The first thing I did when one danced at me like a hen was snatch him up quickly, yelled "NO!", surprised him (should have seen his eyes bug out, LOL) and carried him around like a ragdoll, showed him to the other rooster and all the hens, etc. However, mine was not programmed to be human-aggressive in the first place, so he never did it again, never bit or flogged me in his life, and he's going on 6 years old now. If it's already progressed to flogging, it may be too late.

Some people think it's cute for a rooster to do that. It's not. It's a lead-in to aggression 9 times out of 10.


I broke my ankle 3 years ago and the chickens didn't see me for weeks. When my rooster finally saw me, he ran to me, came skidding up and started to dance, then checked himself. He was just happy to see me, I guess, LOL. He looked horrified when he realized what he was doing, if a rooster can look horrified.