Young roosters challanging me?

[Folly's place]

I'm not a fan of any displays that focus on me. The boy should be concentrating on making nice with the ladies, and watching out for predators instead.
Mary

 

[llombardo]

Mine is just over 5 months. He has a serious expression, but is pretty mellow. He is good with the girls and has yet to even pull a feather out and they accept him, so they must like him.

Today the 4 younger ones(still integrating) got stuck in a corner. I went to move them and they were screaming. Such drama queens, really. I heard a baba bawk and he was right there. He did not come at me, but was concerned. I stood up and stood over him and said in a stern voice--knock it off and he left. He watched me from a distance as I moved the other screaming drama queens. I continued to walk past him and he moved out of my way. He has no issues when I handle the older girls, but they don't scream euther. He knows his name and understands leave it. As we do the integration, some days he wants to mate the younger ones and some days he is in keep the peace mode. I use leave it if he even walks towards the young girls and he backs off.

 

[CannedMonster]

Just now he was relentlessly chasing one of my bantam pullets.
That is something I have a problem with.
I know that to them there’s no difference but I don’t want my LF roos breeding my bantam hens.
I’ll be able to put the bantams in a separate fenced off area but not for a while.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

someone said wing flapping and sideways is ok. What is the wing flapping about? I've seen mine do it but it's when I'm in the other side of the fence.

From my observations standing sideways and flapping the wings is a way of them breaking any tension and showing submission. I see it when a rooster higher up in the rooster order comes near a subordinate. The subordinate turns to his side and flaps his wings, and usually walks away. The dominant rooster generally doesn't chase the subordinate, but sometimes does.

I also see roosters doing it when they see me. To me it means " you are above me, and I'm no threat". I think it's similar to a bow or salute in humans, but I could be wrong.

 

[Folly's place]

I'll have to watch for this; mine generally are in 'neutral', and walk away instead.
Mary

 

[CannedMonster]

From my observations standing sideways and flapping the wings is a way of them breaking any tension and showing submission. I see it when a rooster higher up in the rooster order comes near a subordinate. The subordinate turns to his side and flaps his wings, and usually walks away. The dominant rooster generally doesn't chase the subordinate, but sometimes does.

I also see roosters doing it when they see me. To me it means " you are above me, and I'm no threat". I think it's similar to a bow or salute in humans, but I could be wrong.

I often wondered about the flapping wings thing.
My former rooster who was very sweet would do it.
I really want to understand their “language” so I can respond correctly.

 

[llombardo]

The first thing I thought when mine did it was it was almost like a form of stretching for chickens. Just the impression I got, but now I have to pay closer attention to it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I often wondered about the flapping wings thing.
My former rooster who was very sweet would do it.
I really want to understand their “language” so I can respond correctly.

I keep a bunch of roosters that have room to get away from each other so I can observe some pretty natural behaviors, especially between roosters.

I like watching behaviors and trying to figure out the purpose of behaviors. It also helps that I don't make pets out of mine, though some still are very friendly. I can quietly stand or sit and watch their interactions. My chickens are free to be chickens and do chicken things as they please.

Chickens have a complex language that is both vocal and visual. If you watch them long enough you will start to see the subtle signs and postures that go on between them.

 

[CannedMonster]

I keep a bunch of roosters that have room to get away from each other so I can observe some pretty natural behaviors, especially between roosters.

I like watching behaviors and trying to figure out the purpose of behaviors. It also helps that I don't make pets out of mine, though some still are very friendly. I can quietly stand or sit and watch their interactions. My chickens are free to be chickens and do chicken things as they please.

Chickens have a complex language that is both vocal and visual. If you watch them long enough you will start to see the subtle signs and postures that go on between them.

What does the “stare down” mean?
When they stand head to head, frozen in place, and kind of stare.
My chicks would do it and the new ones are starting to.
My older birds will do it when they walk around the chicks pen too.
And also to my dog.
He acts like it’s a challenge and will usually turn away.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What does the “stare down” mean?
When they stand head to head, frozen in place, and kind of stare.
My chicks would do it and the new ones are starting to.
My older birds will do it when they walk around the chicks pen too.
And also to my dog.
He acts like it’s a challenge and will usually turn away.

Staring is a challenge. The first to look away is the loser. Sometimes the staring solves it, other times it turns to chasing, sparing, or outright fighting. I see it more in young birds establishing the pecking order, but also in roosters fighting for dominance and crabby older hens. Broody hens will often get challenged a lot when they get off the nest.