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...

 

[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.

 

[greggooo]

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.

I could separate him if there are visitors, if that helps. I'm not gonna kill him, he helps protect the hens. He was ready to attack a hawk that dive bombed the other day. Just wonder if there's a way to show that someone isn't a threat.

 

[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.

 

[greggooo]

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.

They all act differently now since that hawk attack. It was their first experience with a predator. How do you nip that behavior in the bud? Is it how people are introduced to him?

 

[Tlmcq]

I'm not usually one to just send a bird to freezer camp, but an aggressive rooster is dangerous. I have 3 roosters that live in respect of one another and us. I have had aggressive ones that did not get to stay very long in this world. It can SOMETIMES be corrected, but there are way too many good roos that need homes to deal with a dangerous one.

 

[greggooo]

I'm not usually one to just send a bird to freezer camp, but an aggressive rooster is dangerous. I have 3 roosters that live in respect of one another and us. I have had aggressive ones that did not get to stay very long in this world. It can SOMETIMES be corrected, but there are way too many good roos that need homes to deal with a dangerous one.

This is the first time he's done this. He's still pretty young. Other than this, he's very friendly. He still lets us pick him up and closes his eyes when we do. Maybe, as someone said, it's because of the hawk attack the other day?

 

[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.

 

[Tlmcq]

Hopefully he is just shook up and on high alert. The flaring of head and neck feathers usually comes just prior to attack. When noticed It needs to be corrected before getting to the jumping and spurring. A startle or misdirection sometimes works, backing down or running away makes him the winner and promotes the behavior. There are a few different opinions on handling roosters. From pinning him as another dominate roo would do, smacking him back with single swift shot as he comes at you, just to snap him out of it or locking him up away from anyone he may try to assert his dominance toward. The big thing is not to freak out and back off or use your feet or legs to kick out or block as that just initiated a fight by simulating another roo kicking it's feet up. Just keep in mind that if this continues as he matures getting bigger harder Spurs and better technique a rooster can cause serious injury. Good luck and I hope he is just on edge from the hawk experience.

 

[Folly's place]

He's growing up and becoming who he wants to be, and it's NOT GOOD! Human aggression (man fighting) is not the same as 'protecting his flock', it's dangerous to every human he meets, and will escalate.
If he were mine, he'd be gone ASAP, before someone is injured.
He just had a very good day, successfully threatening and chasing a human. Next time it will be worse, and he can really cause injuries, especially to short people (children!).
Mary