Why is my rooster acting so weird all of a sudden?

[Sonia Gawlas]

I have a rooster named lolek and ever since he has been a chick he’s always been a sweet cuddle bug. He was so friendly, me and my family joked about how he acts more like a hen than he does a roo. About 2-3 weeks ago when he first started molting, i noticed he started acting weird. He wouldn’t let me hug or hold or even touch him like he used to, he would just simply walk away or try to break free from my embrace. At first i thought maybe he was having an off day, but ever since then hes been nothing but distant and its almost as if he doesn’t recognize me anymore. This breaks my heart because he is my best buddy. I read online that roosters tend to change once they reach 5-6 months but hes more than a year old so I don’t understand why he wont approach me anymore. He’s fine otherwise, he eats, drinks, interacts with the other chickens, but he just wont let me love him anymore.

 

[ChickenLeg]

My wife is the same way, everything was fine for 5 or 6 months then after we hit 1 year shes been distant ever since... jk lol.. Hes just growing up

 

[LaFleche]

During molt, the pinfeathers break through the skin which is very painful for the birds and they avoid being touched, because this would increase the pain.

Chickens will even avoid being near each other, some hens hiding in the nestboxes for fear of contact.

So don't take this personally, and even more important: don't touch him as this will stress him during a time he is quite vulnerable..

 

[Wyorp Rock]

During molting, it can be painful for birds to be handled.
Hands off until he's feathered in. Once he's through molt, then see how he acts.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Agree, molting is not fun for chickens. We are also learning that molting takes longer than you think (we are also going through a first real molt with ours). My cuddly hen, Torchic, is just now starting to sit on my lap again after more than a month. Give him time and let him come to you when he is ready

 

[alevr]

I have a rooster named lolek and ever since he has been a chick he’s always been a sweet cuddle bug. He was so friendly, me and my family joked about how he acts more like a hen than he does a roo. About 2-3 weeks ago when he first started molting, i noticed he started acting weird. He wouldn’t let me hug or hold or even touch him like he used to, he would just simply walk away or try to break free from my embrace. At first i thought maybe he was having an off day, but ever since then hes been nothing but distant and its almost as if he doesn’t recognize me anymore. This breaks my heart because he is my best buddy. I read online that roosters tend to change once they reach 5-6 months but hes more than a year old so I don’t understand why he wont approach me anymore. He’s fine otherwise, he eats, drinks, interacts with the other chickens, but he just wont let me love him anymore.

Poor baby. Update on how he’s doing? Was it the molting that caused this?

 

[kindoz22]

I have a rooster named lolek and ever since he has been a chick he’s always been a sweet cuddle bug. He was so friendly, me and my family joked about how he acts more like a hen than he does a roo. About 2-3 weeks ago when he first started molting, i noticed he started acting weird. He wouldn’t let me hug or hold or even touch him like he used to, he would just simply walk away or try to break free from my embrace. At first i thought maybe he was having an off day, but ever since then hes been nothing but distant and its almost as if he doesn’t recognize me anymore. This breaks my heart because he is my best buddy. I read online that roosters tend to change once they reach 5-6 months but hes more than a year old so I don’t understand why he wont approach me anymore. He’s fine otherwise, he eats, drinks, interacts with the other chickens, but he just wont let me love him anymore.

Mine did the same thing now that he is done molting he wont let me pick him up but if I can catch him he is fine and he likes to attack some people I swear I think he does it because he thinks its funny because you can act like your gonna pick him up and he will run. Once I have him in my arms hes fine he will let me rock him like a baby