Why does my roo chase my son?

[Jennyhaschicks]

My son is four. He doesn't bother the chickens anymore than a typical 4 year old. He is not rough or mean to them.
For the past few days my roo follows him around when he sees him. The roo does not lay off either. My son is getting really scared and cries when he does this. I don't know if the roo is trying to scare him off since he is shorter than us or what. The roo did bite me yesterday when he was outside walking around. I didn't think I scared him, but I walked up and tried to pick him up. He got me in the hand. I have no idea if he was trying to be aggressive towards me since my BRs (7 weeks old) will get scared and bite or peck at me too.
Do you think he has it out for Oliver? I have not let the roo get too close to find out what will happen. Maybe he knows Oliver is scared of him and is pushing him around?

 

[Katy]

If this is a mature roo with spurs you need to keep him away from your son. A roo can do some major damage with his spurs...especially on a small child.

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

I'm sorry. He is not even 10 weeks old. I meant to put that in my post.
Yes, if he was older he wouldn't be allowed to chase my son around. He would be a goner. I just haven't figured out why he is so fixed on following him.

 

[jessica117]

My son is too four. We don't have problems with our roos (they're all cochins and about as viscous as a firefly

) but we do have problems with our african goose. She appears to see him as competition for our attention because she thinks she's one of my kids too. It also doesn't help that he runs screaming every time she comes close. We have had other kids slightly bigger over to visit and as long as they don't act afraid, she has left them alone. I am still working on getting my son to stand up to her. I think that is going to be the only way to break her. As far as she's concerned, he's below her on the pecking order and is going to keep it that way. We have started keeping her cooped up while our son is out playing in the yard, unless DH and I are both around to referee.

I don't know if this will help at all, but that's been my experience.

Jess

 

[Katy]

I'd watch him as he gets older...this is a habit you don't want him getting into.

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

Jessica my son gets scared and runs too. I wonder if the roo is getting a charge out of this and keeps doing it. It's working. I wish I knew more about the behavior of chickens. I wonder if I picked him up and moved him away when he does this if he would get the hint. I don't want this to become a habit like katy said. I told my son to stand up to him, but he's really not interested in that idea.

 

[Wildsky]

My roo likes to wait till the kids backs are turned and he'll jump!
I only have a little bantam roo - but he scares the kids more than anything, then we have to chase him down and hold him and make a big fuss of him (make the roo embarassed) it has worked to a certain degree, but I still escort the kids around the yard if he's out and about.

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

Hmm wildsky.. So I should take him and hold him down to show him who the boss is?

 

[crtrlovr]

It sounds like even at around 10 wks. your cockerel is starting to realize his "roo-ness" and assert himself a bit, and since he can't dominate you or bigger kids, he takes advantage of your little guy's size (and fear). When your roo does this, make sure he knows he is NOT the alpha at your place. Pick him up and carry him around a while, whether he likes it or not. Make sure he knows YOU are the boss, and he is to submit to you, and that means leaving your son alone. Hope you get it straightened out. I had a few issues w/ my adult RIR getting too aggressive with some of the younger chicks (both pullets and a couple of young cockerels) and I did this with him. It took a few times, but now all I have to do is point at him and say, "Sarge!" and he'll stop in his tracks (most of the time)

 

[Nuggetsowner:)]

I think your roo is trying to show that he is dominate. I think you need to teach him where he sits in your pecking order (holding him down or pick him up and carry him)
This may not help your son however because the roo will then see you as the dominate one but probably will continue to have the same attitude as before toward your son. Watch him carefully and do what you feel is best but having had this same experience (except my son was a bit older) The roo ended up attacking my son while he was filling the waterer and giving my son a nice deep gash above the eye. The roo was rehomed in our case.

Good luck!!!