Roosters are known for their aggressive behavior. If you’ve found yourself scared to go to the chicken coop because you’ve had some bad experiences with your rooster. You may be wondering, “why do roosters chase you?” Well, let’s take a look at some of the reasons that cause this behavior.
Why Do Roosters Chase You?
Roosters will chase people when they feel threatened, trying to protect their flock, keep you away from the hens, or you’re wearing the wrong colors. They are programmed by instinct to protect their flock from competing roosters and protect their hens and chicks from predators, even humans. Some breeds are more prone to aggressive human behavior than others.
When your chickens chase you, it’s usually because of food or other reasons. However, if your rooster is chasing you, it’s not cute, and you need to understand the reasons that cause the behaviors.
Here’s how to get your chickens to follow you.
Before we get into why roosters chase people, you need to understand how they are programmed.
Roosters Are The Protectors
Chickens and roosters are brave animals. According to this site, at one point in history, the rooster symbolized military valor. The crest represented a soldier’s helmet, and the spurs were the sword.
Roosters are the protectors of the flock. They will fight fiercely against other animals such as foxes, eagles, coyotes, etc., to protect their family.
This behavior can be a good thing if you’re looking to protect the hens.
However, it can be a negative thing once the rooster sees you as the predator. While it’s not common, it’s not unheard of for a rooster to chase or become aggressive towards the person that feeds and cares for them.
A rooster’s temperament will change with age and show his most aggressive behavior when he reaches one age.
If you’ve ever experienced your rooster chasing you, then you know it’s not fun. It can be scary, especially if it happens whenever you go near your backyard birds.
There are some things you can to stop your roosters from chasing you, but in this article, we’ll cover the reasons that lead to this behavior.
4 Reasons Roosters Chase People
The reasons will vary depending on the breed, but these are some of the most common reasons a rooster will chase a human.
#1 They Feel Threatened
Roosters don’t usually attack people, but they may feel threatened by humans once they reach puberty. If you pick up the hens and they are squawking or running away from you, the rooster may see you as a predator.
Therefore, whenever you get close to the hens, they will chase you to keep you away. If you want to get near his girls, make sure they are not nearby.
They might be chasing you because you’re getting too close to his favorite hens. If you’ve ever noticed your rooter hanging around one or two hens more than others, it means he’s picked his favorites.
It is completely normal behavior, and it’s known as pecking courting behavior. The downside is that they will feel compelled to protect their favorite hens and chase anyone or anything that comes too close.
#2 They’re Protecting the Hens and Chicks
In a nutshell, roosters are protectors, and it’s in their DNA. Their job is to keep the flock safe and will sound the alarm when danger is near. It is not uncommon for a protective rooster to approach or attack the predator. Some will even sacrifice their lives to protect the hens.
It’s why so many chicken keepers get a rooster to help keep their hens and chicks safe from predators. A rooster’s aggressive behavior only becomes a problem when you have one that shows aggressive behavior towards people.
Just like human males feel they need to protect their home, roosters have the same mentality.
#3 They Want to Fight
If your rooster attacks or starts chasing you all of a sudden, it could be that you scared them. Maybe you walked towards them with aggressive behavior that screamed, “I want to fight,” and didn’t even know it.
Never approach them directly. A direct approach can make your rooster raise its guard. You may notice their behavior change, and they may do a little dance or give off other signals that they feel threatened.
#4 You’re Wearing the Wrong Clothing
Some people in this chicken community say that the color red can cause a rooster to become aggressive and chase you. One chicken owner said their rooster always acts defensively when they wear bright-colored footwear or clothing.
Both people and animals tend to associate red with negative emotions because it is the same color as blood and fire. The color red brings out aggression in bulls, and it is uncertain if it does the same thing for chickens.
A chicken’s vision is different from ours and may view colors differently.
The next time your rooster chases you or acts aggressively, take a look at your clothing. If you’re wearing red or bright-colored clothes, it may be that you need to change clothes.
This is especially true if you notice your rooster pecks at your new pair of shoes, without attacking you. It could be a sign they don’t like them.
Opt for blue jeans and an old pair of boots. Leave your new clothing inside and stick with wearing the clothing you know doesn’t trigger your roos’ negative emotions.
What to Do About An Aggressive Rooster?
You need your rooster to see you as the alpha rooster. Once he sees you as the alpha, he will become a well-behaved member of the flock.
Here are the steps you take to get your rooster to stop chasing you. It will take some time. Eventually, you won’t have fear going outside to feed the chickens.
Conclusion
Roosters will chase humans when they feel threatened, see you as a predator, protect their hens, or feel defensive. Roosters don’t usually chase humans, but it can happen, depending on the breed.
Hopefully, this helps you understand why you’ve become the subject of being chased by your rooster.
If your rooster is chasing you, stay calm and don’t approach it. If you panic or start running towards the rooster, it will cause them to become more aggressive.
You’ve likely caused this behavior, even if you don’t realize it.
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