Quote:
You're going about this the wrong way. He has no desire to mate with you, only to dominate. This is blunt, but true: you cannot get rid of this problem, only manage it, at best. And even that can be difficult to do. Obviously the choice is yours, but I'd make careful choices if kids are involved, especially if the rooster is in the house. Everyone's in each other's space and there's no limits.
You also have to understand that unlike the average outside-rooster, you're all living together in one big 'coop' in a chicken's eyes. A large part of why this may have started is because Ethel already thinks you're below him in the pecking order (why he dances around you and bites) and is now treating you like another chicken that must be put in their place because you're threatening his status, much like a dog with dominance issues. Although this happens to outside roosters too, I'd put a large amount of money on the contributing factor being that you are all under the same roof and Ethal feels violated and challenged more than usual. (Though honestly, this was a time-bomb waiting to explode. Roosters may 'become' aggressive, but obviously they would have eventually or not at all.)
You can't pity him or baby him. That will make the issue worse. Unfortunately, it sounds as if you're attached (very much if the bird actually lives in the house!) so care management will be difficult. This issue will get worse unless you attempt to contain it. Even then, these are now habits, hormones, and instincts that are running him. I had my own 'Ethel' once: Black Silkie, too. He was a dear when he was young until maturity began to set in. Then he started to dance around me and then biting. After that, an experience it sounds like you have not had the chance to deal with yet: came the lunging and full-on attacks. That is what you're in for. I'd think long and hard about your values here. Vicious roosters are either a losing battle or a battle that goes nowhere. I have yet to get rid of a bad rooster's bad habits when I run into a mean one. That particular Silkie I mentioned became too much for me. I no longer had the patience, as everything I tried failed. Kids are at risk. I *am* a kid and was an even younger kid when I dealt with this bird. And I can tell you that once the spurs went flying, I adorned thick boots and long pants every day, because otherwise my legs would get cut up. It was too much.
As far as what to do about this, do a search for aggressive roosters. Most decent advisors will say something about subduing the rooster and carrying him around until he submits. I wish you luck. And be careful. Out of every aggressive rooster I ever had, my Silkie packed the biggest punch.