Weird Rooster behaviour

[Ruksha]

Hi people!I have a question about my rooster.I used to have a rooster and a hen when I was little.One of the thing that I still found it strange to this day was the behaviour of my rooster.So basically my rooster,when I would be sitting he would come near me and do somewhat a 'mating dance' you can call it?He would walk around me sideways and bite me on my feet.I don't know if he was showing me aggression.I would like to hear different opinions.Thanks xx

 

[Alexandra33]

Yes, this is a display of aggression. He was challenging you.

Almost sounds as though you didn't react, which is a good response to his advances. "Ignored behavior tends to diminish." Believe it or not, this holds true for many roosters.

~Alex

 

[Wendy Case]

Hi people!I have a question about my rooster.I used to have a rooster and a hen when I was little.One of the thing that I still found it strange to this day was the behaviour of my rooster.So basically my rooster,when I would be sitting he would come near me and do somewhat a 'mating dance' you can call it?He would walk around me sideways and bite me on my feet.I don't know if he was showing me aggression.I would like to hear different opinions.Thanks xx

Yep! He wants to 'own' you.

Been there, done that!!
I'm sure others would be able to advise you, but I can't as he now sees me as a threat! I wasn't a BYC member at the time so didn't learn learn anything except his beak REALLY hurts!! Pick a rooster that has great breeding and above all, a great temperament!!
I now have two Breda Fowl roosters that are AMAZING!

 

[azygous]

The simple answer to your question is yes, your rooster was showing aggression toward you and trying to dominate you. If you ever have another rooster that does that, you need to reach down and immobilize him. Keep him under your control as long as he struggles. After her calms down and stops struggling, that's a signal that you have the upper hand, and you may release him.

The problem with not disciplining an aggressive roo is that he'll think he can dominate all humans and that can result in injuries from the roosters beak and spurs and talons.

After you see that the rooster is no longer being aggressive to you, it's a very good plan, as @Alexandra33 says, to ignore him.

 

[Alexandra33]

Disclaimer: everyone's experiences vary, mainly because roosters are individuals. What I stated above may not hold true in some cases.

However, after fighting aggression with aggression, I've learned a thing or two. Every cockerel who dared challenge me progressively became an unmanageable monster who flogged anything living, breathing. Though it's entirely possible this was in their genetic makeup, I find it too uncanny to be coincidence. 35+ roosters, all meaner than snakes? It's far more likely my technique failed miserably.

Last group of 14 cockerels was handled differently. Two decided it would be a bright idea to wing dance/flare hackles/bite my toes. Instead of giving them the gratification of reacting in desired fashion (thus fueling the fire), I either ignored, or scooped said boy up for kisses. Surprisingly, they gave up, and are now two of the very best roos imaginable. Coincidence? Maybe. But after the volume in which we flew through roosters without a gentleman in the bunch, I'm inclined to think otherwise. Just keep in mind, my way doesn't always work.....no method has a 100% success rate.

Best wishes for successful correction, however you may choose to go about it!

~Alex

 

[Ruksha]

Wow.Thank you all for your responses.I am thinking of buying chickens in the future and will apply what you have wrote when raising one. ))))

 

[Alexandra33]

Many warm welcomes to BYC, by the way!!!!

~Alex

 

[Wendy Case]

Disclaimer: everyone's experiences vary, mainly because roosters are individuals. What I stated above may not hold true in some cases.

However, after fighting aggression with aggression, I've learned a thing or two. Every cockerel who dared challenge me progressively became an unmanageable monster who flogged anything living, breathing. Though it's entirely possible this was in their genetic makeup, I find it too uncanny to be coincidence. 35+ roosters, all meaner than snakes? It's far more likely my technique failed miserably.

Last group of 14 cockerels was handled differently. Two decided it would be a bright idea to wing dance/flare hackles/bite my toes. Instead of giving them the gratification of reacting in desired fashion (thus fueling the fire), I either ignored, or scooped said boy up for kisses. Surprisingly, they gave up, and are now two of the very best roos imaginable. Coincidence? Maybe. But after the volume in which we flew through roosters without a gentleman in the bunch, I'm inclined to think otherwise. Just keep in mind, my way doesn't always work.....no method has a 100% success rate.

Best wishes for successful correction, however you may choose to go about it!

~Alex

Alex I totally agree with you! My aggressive one is only ten months old. I would make a fuss of both him and the pullet when I got them both (from the same place) at the age of five months. Both are cream legbars. I was given them with the understanding that the breeder would have five eggs the first year fertilized that is. Then one day it was like someone had flicked a switch and he came at me all feathers, beak, spurs and talons. It was his beak that made contact and the only way I could stop him was to kick him away as I backed out of the run!! I added more pullets and hens. Still no joy. I carried a corn broom, which he sometimes respects! I can catch him up with hubby's help (as stress free as possible) and put petroleum jelly on his comb and wattles and he's a real gentleman! Same if I hug it out. But the girls will delegate him to the roost BELOW them for several nights.
He never bothers with my hubby, EVER! I know he's doing his job, I understand that, and he's excellent with his ladies. It didn't pay to ward him off with the broom. The breeder told me to keep the eggs!!! Clearly it was genetics in his mind as he butchered the rest of his cockerals with the same breeding. I learned a LOT during this time. That cockeral and his ladies will forever be in a run... And my hubby's!
I'm looking forward to my new cockerals and chicks uniting by June, free ranging and being a total joy!
Whilst Rodger and his ladies watch!! I still don't know if it was genetics or me. But I DO know I've been given a second chance to do it right. I really appreciate your post.

 

[deedledumpling1]

Well after reading this thread I may be beyond help. I hope not.

I have a LARGE BS Ameraucana. He is a beauty and I believe does his job well with the 4 hens in my flock. However when he started coming at me (single female, no expecially brave), I started going in with a piece of cardboard in front of me. That just didn't help at all. Now I use a soft red plastic leaf rake which someone suggested. He still tried to go around it and get me. I do not strike him or attack him with it. I tried just going in and standing and he will turn around but if I move he comes at me and got my leg pretty good! I also have an EE hen who has never laid and they are 1.5 yrs old. There is one other EE'er and she does well. The hen that doesn't lay almost acts like my rooster! She is very dominant, pushes others away from the food, goes up to roost before the Roo, etc. I am so tempted to give them both away! I have 4 new babies in the basement and don't even want to thing about how they will integrate with this Roo and dominant EE that doesn't lay.

I realize reading this much of my Roo problems are probably done by me. He is just so big at like 2 ft tall, I cannot just reach down and hold him to the ground.

Suggestions would be most welcome. thanks

 

[Wendy Case]

Well after reading this thread I may be beyond help. I hope not.

I have a LARGE BS Ameraucana. He is a beauty and I believe does his job well with the 4 hens in my flock. However when he started coming at me (single female, no expecially brave), I started going in with a piece of cardboard in front of me. That just didn't help at all. Now I use a soft red plastic leaf rake which someone suggested. He still tried to go around it and get me. I do not strike him or attack him with it. I tried just going in and standing and he will turn around but if I move he comes at me and got my leg pretty good! I also have an EE hen who has never laid and they are 1.5 yrs old. There is one other EE'er and she does well. The hen that doesn't lay almost acts like my rooster! She is very dominant, pushes others away from the food, goes up to roost before the Roo, etc. I am so tempted to give them both away! I have 4 new babies in the basement and don't even want to thing about how they will integrate with this Roo and dominant EE that doesn't lay.

I realize reading this much of my Roo problems are probably done by me. He is just so big at like 2 ft tall, I cannot just reach down and hold him to the ground.

Suggestions would be most welcome. thanks

That's a tough one! I know mine personally is doing an absolutely wonderful job protecting and looking after the girls. But he'll never free range. I'd never be able to turn my back on him and I'll never trust him. The four hens and he have a 100sq.ft coop with 160sq.ft run. More than ample, so I don't feel guilty. So now we are building a second coop and run for my very docile, drama free cockerals and their own flock of up and coming pullets.
My husband came into the established coop with me last night... Clearly he's not a threat as he's never been attacked. He also lets them out into the run every morning!! No problem.
If I was on my own, I'm sure my nemesis would be in freezer camp right now.
Good luck. I really hope it works out for you. But yours is a huge rooster I wouldn't like to take on. But that's me. I'm no spring chicken and I'm disabled and can't get out the attacks so fast!