What is my rooster doing?

[lilmarie84]

This is my first year having chickens and my flock is 17 weeks old today. I was just wanting to know what is my rooster doing when he walks and it looks like hes tip-toeing all of a sudden?

 

[sourland]

Is he lining his body up towards you and either pecking the ground or pointing his head towards the ground ?

 

[lilmarie84]

His back is usually facing me but his head is towards the ground

 

[sourland]

If he is side stepping while doing this, it is an aggressive move. Be prepared for him to progress to more aggression. If he comes at you and attempts to flog, force him to the ground and hold him there until he stops squirming. Do not allow him to get the upper hand.

 

[azygous]

What you are describing is likely "the dance". Sourland is doing you a service by pointing out you need to keep an eye on this cockerel. He's right at the age when hormones begin to flow. His attitudes about your role and his role in the flock are changing. This is the time when a cockerel starts to go bad or you manage to head it off by understanding what's happening.

Cockerels are somewhat like young dogs inasmuch as unstructured interaction with them can result in confusion and anxiety. It's important to establish your role in relationship to the cockerel and to the flock, and make it possible for him to grow into his role without becoming mistrustful of the humans in his life.

There are lots of great tutorials on BYC on how to handle and discipline a cockerel. Here's one with a wealth of information on rooster psychology. http://olychickenguy.blogspot.com/2010/07/002-how-to-stop-your-rooster-from.html

 

[lilmarie84]

Thank you for all the info guys

 

[lilmarie84]

One more thing I get that he is hormone raging teenager right now I have seen him trying to mount my girls and they haven't really be letting him my question is he managed to get completely on one of them it was only for like a second but is that a sign that she is getting ready to start laying

 

[azygous]

Yup!

 

[lilmarie84]

thank you they are 17 weeks today and I have been waiting on my 1st egg the
wait is killing me

 

[andreanar]

Your cockerel is sizing you up! They will scratch at the ground, pretend to peck at the ground but be watching you with one little eye, thinking shady thoughts in their little chicken brains about how and when to make their move! LOL
Early signs are staring at you, side stepping (dancing his war dance), running up behind you when your back is turned.