What is my Rooster trying to tell me?

[McChooky]

I understand why you’d think so - especially when I go back and look at that video in isolation. And perhaps I’m just being terribly naive! But truly, I get *zero* aggression vibes from him, ever.
He’s never so much as pecked me. I sit on the floor with him for about an hour a day and he’ll do his little wing dance and come and sit on my lap or preen my hair.

So to be fair to him, here’s some of that too:

Doing my hair -

https://imgur.com/I8yU6MP

Getting cozy -

https://imgur.com/oXUKrsz

Shoulder snuggles -

https://imgur.com/HhzEcLB

What’s kind of fascinating though is that if I didn’t *know* him, I’m sure I’d interpret the video the same way you did. I work with rescue birds a lot and I always find there are such tiny nuances in their behaviour and communication that can totally change the tone and meaning, and often they’re things that are difficult to verbalise to another human being.

Another example - this is him running to the gate to let me in, which he does every day.
It *could* seem aggressive, like he’s trying to stop me coming in - but his feathers are down, he’s doing his happy chatter sounds and ‘love wing’, and when I go in, all he wants is to hang out with me and have me scritch under his wings

https://imgur.com/7N7yeE9

(please excuse the ridiculous baby-talk and the fact that I apparently sound like a 13 year old girl! I’m nearly 40!)

Obviously, with him not even being 1 yet this could allllll still change very rapidly. I wont be letting him get so close to my face and squishy bits if I’m in any doubt!

Personally I would be very concerned if my rooster came running up to me like that because I know mine meant to attack me. The fact that yours does this routinely means you'd never see it coming if he did.

 

[jBabychickn]

I'm very curious about the pooping thing specifically, because all the rest have been answered (here or in articles) and make sense from a behavioral standpoint, except for the pooping. I personally haven't had a chicken that would not poop on me, but I have a friend who has a pet serama rooster who she claims never poops on people. He's an educational animal that gets handled by strangers (lots of kids, too) constantly, and I know she'd know best, so I always took her word for it. Then one day I attended one of her seminars and held him in my lap. He fell asleep on me and we snuggled for quite a while. I knew to let go of him if he was stirring, as he might be trying to tell me that he has to go (that's how she avoids him pooping on her). So when he woke up, I took my arms off of him and leaned back in my chair, giving him all the space he needed. He stood up, stretched, pooped on me and THEN hopped down! It was quite funny, because she'd just been telling the crowd about how he never poops on people. Ha! I guess there's a first time for everything. And I'm still confused about the pooping thing.

I have a Silkie Hen that when I’m holding her after awhile and she’s starts to give me signs that’s she’s ready to get down, she will immediately poop when I do put her down.

At first I thought I just got lucky, but it’s happened several times over now, so yeah… I’m starting to think that she doesn’t want to poop on me… ??? Hmmm?

 

[jBabychickn]

I understand why you’d think so - especially when I go back and look at that video in isolation. And perhaps I’m just being terribly naive! But truly, I get *zero* aggression vibes from him, ever.
He’s never so much as pecked me. I sit on the floor with him for about an hour a day and he’ll do his little wing dance and come and sit on my lap or preen my hair.

So to be fair to him, here’s some of that too:

Doing my hair -

https://imgur.com/I8yU6MP

Getting cozy -

https://imgur.com/oXUKrsz

Shoulder snuggles -

https://imgur.com/HhzEcLB

What’s kind of fascinating though is that if I didn’t *know* him, I’m sure I’d interpret the video the same way you did. I work with rescue birds a lot and I always find there are such tiny nuances in their behaviour and communication that can totally change the tone and meaning, and often they’re things that are difficult to verbalise to another human being.

Another example - this is him running to the gate to let me in, which he does every day.
It *could* seem aggressive, like he’s trying to stop me coming in - but his feathers are down, he’s doing his happy chatter sounds and ‘love wing’, and when I go in, all he wants is to hang out with me and have me scritch under his wings

https://imgur.com/7N7yeE9

(please excuse the ridiculous baby-talk and the fact that I apparently sound like a 13 year old girl! I’m nearly 40!)

Obviously, with him not even being 1 yet this could allllll still change very rapidly. I wont be letting him get so close to my face and squishy bits if I’m in any doubt!

I agree! — Perhaps at first I’d be weary of this and wonder if he’s moving towards aggression; but now after getting to know a Roo or two, I really think it’s territory possessiveness and not aggressiveness towards you as a human. I think, him as a rooster has an important job to uphold by proving constant protection of his flock. — So yeah, I would interpret this as excellent Roo behavior that you would definitely want to see in your boy as a flock guardian!

 

[Geena]

So yeah, I would interpret this as excellent Roo behavior that you would definitely want to see in your boy as a flock guardian!

Unfortunately what works well for them in their natural habitat does not go over so well in a suburban backyard. A lot of people don't know how to deal with such behavior and it becomes a safety issue, especially if they have children.

 

[Geena]

Personally I would be very concerned if my rooster came running up to me like that because I know mine meant to attack me. The fact that yours does this routinely means you'd never see it coming if he did.

That's true!
One thing I've noticed with every cockerel that later became aggressive is that they would always begin to track, follow and run up to me in the weeks leading up to the day they finally decided to challenge me. They usually give you plenty of warning signs first if you are paying attention.

 

[McChooky]

That's true!
One thing I've noticed with every cockerel that later became aggressive is that they would always begin to track, follow and run up to me in the weeks leading up to the day they finally decided to challenge me. They usually give you plenty of warning signs first if you are paying attention.

I've seen my hens run and get up on the perches in the run to get away from my rooster in the mornings when I opened the door (multiple times) Now I leave the coop door open so they're never trapped inside ( I have a predator proof coop & run or couldn't do that)
I added a camera today to see how he treats my hens in the run when I'm not around .A lot of people keep less than perfect roosters as long as they're good to their kids and hens.

 

[stargirl]

I agree,
Personally I dont think it makes a rooster "bad" to be aggressive- it's just them doing their job. I dislike seeing so many ending up hated, or abused.... I understand the problem people have, but still.

I totally agree! It’s understandable, but so sad.

I think it helps my mindset that I keep and rescue a lot of parrots. Hormonal parrots can be absolute demons, and do even more damage to you than an aggressive rooster on a bad day!

But parrots go in and out of hormonal seasons, so you get to see their personality with and without that influence. It’s helped me to understand that hormone driven behaviour is truly never personal, and there’s almost always a way to work with each other to find mutual respect.

 

[stargirl]

I hope he stays a good boy for you, he's very cute!

As long as he stays kind enough to remain in the flock, then I’m happy! I’d really hate to see him go.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I totally agree! It’s understandable, but so sad.

I think it helps my mindset that I keep and rescue a lot of parrots. Hormonal parrots can be absolute demons, and do even more damage to you than an aggressive rooster on a bad day!

But parrots go in and out of hormonal seasons, so you get to see their personality with and without that influence. It’s helped me to understand that hormone driven behaviour is truly never personal, and there’s almost always a way to work with each other to find mutual respect.

I would absolutely love to take in an aggressive rooster some day, give him a second chance at life, try different methods to train him out of it. If possible. Perhaps it'll work, perhaps often times it won't and the hormones will just be too strong- But I would LOVE to try anyway. There's always something to learn, even if I don't succeed

 

[stargirl]

That's true!
One thing I've noticed with every cockerel that later became aggressive is that they would always begin to track, follow and run up to me in the weeks leading up to the day they finally decided to challenge me. They usually give you plenty of warning signs first if you are paying attention.

That’s so interesting!
Eagley has done this for me his whole life, so it’s not really a new behaviour.
I think in his favour is the fact that he’s part of a big, multi-generational flock. Currently the older hens still keep him in line, as well as the little bantam Roo, so he knows he’s not at the top of any pecking order!
The bantam is very dominant but never human aggressive.

I’m always aware things could quickly change and I’d like to think I would see the early signs if he starts to shift towards aggression towards me. While he’s my first roo, I’m very experienced with birds in general - I rescue and handle a lot of wild birds and parrots. Parrots can turn hormonal and aggressive in the space of an hour if you handle them wrong, so I’m ready and armed for Eagley’s teenage strops!

Here’s my tame jackdaw, Bandit