Was it aggressive behavior?

[gretamae]

I was just out with the chickens, crouched down and feeding raisins to the girls when my rooster (one year old orpington) puffed up and did a little sideways dance at me. I decided to chase him around for a while, just in case he was trying to show me he's the boss. Was he? He's never been aggressive with me before.

 

[ShadowRooster]

Haha, roos do that to the hens somtimes .. Im not sure why but its not aggressive at all.

 

[gretamae]

Aww now I feel bad! He's out there crowing his heart out though, so I think he's over the embarassment of being chased around the yard.

 

[chickenaddictntn]

I've got one that does the love dance around me also but I let him know that I'll not the girl 4 him

 

[Olive Hill]

It's not necessarily "aggressive" in and of itself but it is a show of dominance which can lead to aggressive behavior if not nipped in the bud. Many people mistake that particular dance for a "love" dance or "romance" because they see roosters doing it to hens just before mating, but it is not. Roosters will also do it to another rooster if he's challenging him and trying to establish dominance, mostly commonly when meeting a new rooster for the first time, but can also happen between two roos that have grown up together. It in no way shape or form is meant to display love or romance, it's a communicator of dominance and dominance only. You did the right thing by immediately chasing him off. If you had not or even worse had moved away from him he would have interpreted that to mean you accepted his dominance.

 

[sourland]

Olive Hill has what I feel is the correct interpretation of his actions. Don't allow them to escalate. Don't second guess yourself. You did the right thing to nip it in the bud.

 

[terrilhb]

I agree with Olive Hill. I have 3 roosters. They are generally well behaved with me. But sometimes they try and I have to put them in their place. I also see my roo's bumping their chests against each other. All to do with dominance. Don't let him win with you Oh and

 

[journey11]

Sounds like he tried to put the moves on you.

 

[gretamae]

Thank you, everyone!