What is my rooster doing?

[greggooo]

I had friends up today and introduced them to my chickens. My rooster wouldn't stop crowing at one of my friends, the woman in the video. Then looks like he's running at her. What's that about? Was she a threat? It was only her, and she had just finished giving them treats. Was he into her? Did he wants her to be his new hen? Didn't like her boots? Thank goodness his spurs are still tiny...

 

[sourland]

I think he is on full alert since the hawk attack. Part of that is good, but he can't be allowed to direct this behavior towards people.

 

[bobbi-j]

I would suggest reading this article on "rooster speak". It may help you teach him to behave respectfully to humans. Until you are sure he's got the lesson, though, I'd lock him up when visitors come by. An attack rooster may be helpful in fending off predators, but are a liability when they go after people.

I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything to him. If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant ones and subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation. There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down and giving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck. No holding him down and nothing else. That's a rooster on a hen maneuver, not rooster on rooster.

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate in this picture. You are getting dominated by your bird simply because you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to be walking when a dominant is in the area. What you never see is a dominant rooster getting attacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose. So far you are losing and not even challenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive. He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner. Some people never have to go on the offensive because their movements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked your husband. Most men move more decisively than do women and children and they rarely step around a bird, but walk through them.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all. His environment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language he understands. Because they are quick on their feet and can evade you, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that will lengthen your reach by 5 ft. really helps in this. Don't use a rake or broom because they are too clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when you don't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements and walk directly towards your rooster. Move him away from the feeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leaves the coop. The stick will help you guide him. Then...wait patiently while he gets his bird mind around what just happened. He will try to come back in the coop...let him. When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim it well. If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs and keep at it until he leaves the coop once again. Repeat this process until he is too wary to come back in the coop.

Feed your hens. When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack the wall by the pop door just as he tries to enter. If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stick either smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry. Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching your hens eat. Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him. Don't worry about the hens running and getting excited when this is happening...they will get over it. This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.

When the hens have had a good tucker....leave the coop and let him come back in. Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...top roosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock. You shouldn't either. Take your stick and startle him with a smack on the floor next to him when he is least expecting it...make that bird jump and RUN. Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder and trying to get out of your way. THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together. Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands. You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need to establish that when you move, he moves...away. When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster. If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop. Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate. They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space. If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him. At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door. If he feels the need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops. He doesn't get to crow while you are there. He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along. And it can be fun if you venture into it with the right attitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly. This can work on strange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn. You rule the coop...now act like it. Carrying is for babies...you have a full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby.

This was written by Beekissed - a long-time BYC member and someone who's judgement I trust. This is kind of how I raise my cockerels. I don't cuddle or coddle them. I make sure they know I'm the queen of the coop. I walk through them, I move them if I feel like it, and I never, ever give them any leeway. Last spring I had a cockerel who was pretty protective of his flock. One day I was trying to get a pullet into the run, and I nudged her with my foot. He came my way, gave me the stink eye, and when I looked him back in the eye and didn't back down, he suddenly found something very important to do on the other side of the run. Sadly, he ended up giving his life to save one of the hens. It would have been fun to see what kind of a rooster he would have turned out to be.

ETA - Please note that when Bee says to "smack him", she's advocating beating him with the switch. Just give him a good tap. It's not going to hurt him. Just startle him.

 

[chickens really]

I finally watched the video....She had her hands in pockets and tossed her hair, then turned her back to him and he attacked..Second clip she was nervous and turned her back to walk away...He attacked her again but really ran at her when she started yelling...He is a Rooster/Cockerel..Her behaviour was all wrong..Keep him confined when people come to visit..

 

[chickens really]

I don’t think your rooster liked your friends movements.

Exactly why people that do not know how to interact with livestock and especially males of certain species should stay away from them...

 

[bobbi-j]

What you are seeing is aggressive behavior that needs to be nipped in the bud right now before he escalates and hurts someone. How old is he? Does he do this to anyone else? If he were mine, he probably would end up in the freezer. I don't have time for that. If you choose to keep him and try to settle him down, you may want to consider keeping him locked up when you have visitors. Especially if you have young children that would come in contact with him. He could do some damage to a small child.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... My rooster wouldn't stop crowing at one of my friends, the woman in the video. Then looks like he's running at her. What's that about?... she had just finished giving them treats. Was he into her? Did he wants her to be his new hen? Didn't like her boots? Thank goodness his spurs are still tiny...

Roosters, in fact most male birds engage in feeding behavior. It is hard to say what's on a roosters' mind but I suspect that he sees your friend as a rival for the affection of your hens simply because she fed or doled out treats, which the rooster sees as his job.

 

[chickens really]

I never let my Birds out with inexperienced people...My Rooster has never been aggressive although I do not trust him either..Birds are excellent at reading people's posture and manners..I usually carry a white pail with water and a grey pail with feed...I carried an orange pail one day and my Rooster flogged the pail...Being he is young, hopefully it does not mean your Rooster is becoming aggressive...

 

[bobbi-j]

He's so busy reacting (badly!!) to a strange human, when he should be thinking about the hens and pullets, and non-human threats to them. His focus is totally off, and into the 'man-fighter' mode that is just wrong. Lots of excuses for his behavior, but he shouldn't care how she behaves, because she should be outside of his concerns. Mary

I agree with this. A "good rooster", in my opinion recognizes the difference between a human and a real threat. He keeps his distance, actually moving away from the humans who come into his territory. I know this is possible, because I have had several of them over the years. Keep the rooster, but I would suggest taking steps now to curb that aggression. Could be that he did sense fear or discomfort from your guest and did act upon that, but a good rooster would have not gone anywhere near her in the first place. In my opinion, attacking any human is not a "good job" on the rooster's part.

 

[sourland]

@bobbi-j has provided a good article by Beekissed. I generally agree with most of what Beekissed says, but I have found that subordination works on some roosters. Forcing them to the ground and holding them there firmly, repeating until they give up - scooping them up and carrying them around in a short handled fishing net - anything that takes their control away. You are bigger than him don't let him get away with any BS, and don't let him loose when children or strangers are around.