What's with the rooster dance??

[terrilhb]

Quote:
Oh my he is beautiful.

 

[theoldchick]

The wing dance is a dance of dominance. If you notice when a rooster does the dance to a hen she has the choice to either submit or get out of the way. The rooster's goal is not one of like or dislike. His goal is to prove he is the superior bird to his hens, other hens, and other rival roosters. His goal is to spread his genes throughout the flock. He's not out to make friends; he's out to get the job done.

When two dominant roosters dance around each other, one either submits by squatting or getting out of the way. To proceed in the same direction will result in a battle. There is much scuffling, comb grabbing, spurring and so forth until the weaker rooster bolts for safer territories. Roosters who do not wish to engage in battle maintain their personal space on the outer edges of the flock. As the flock increases in size such roosters may start their own harem and you will see lots of posturing, fighting and so forth. So long as you have enough space several flocks can live peacefully on your property.

Young roosters who challenge me are pinned to the ground and hens are allowed to view him in this position. Older roosters are booted in the chest if they challenge me, and I require all roosters to get out of my space when I walk through the flock. I don't let them mate with a hen in front of me. I'll knock them off the hen, and if he wants to fight I'll boot him in the chest. Roosters who repeatedly challenge me are culled. Roosters who try to attack me through the fence are culled. Roosters who come for me while I'm handling their hens are placed out of the way until I'm finished.

Of course there are genetic tendencies in certain breeds that should be bred out through careful culling. No need to keep an aggressive rooster, but never forget the purpose of the rooster is to protect the flock and spread his genetic material. Let a rooster be a rooster and never forget what those spurs are capable of.

 

[nelsonsflock]

Our rooster started the "rooster dance" and the first few times he came after us we did the same thing you did, pin him to the ground, not hurting him of course. In our training doing this was a way to show dominance and it's worked for us. Our rooster never grabbed onto us although once in a great while he would try the side-stepping routine and we would easily shove him away with the side of our foot...if he became too aggressive we would simply show him who's the alpha-bird again by pinning him down... he became quite friendly over his few years and we grew to love him (he passed away this last Spring due to a raccoon breaking into our fenced-chicken yard). We have a new rooster now and will do the same routine if necessary.

Good Luck to you!