you are part of the pecking order and that can be a problem

Having a human as part of the pecking order doesn’t tend to be a problem if you have only hens, but a rooster can view their human carer or carers as a direct challenge. There are three ways to try to manage it: • wear protection (thick gloves, safety glasses), grab the rooster and hold it down when it comes after you;

• act submissive by putting your head down and backing away quietly at the very first challenge – if a rooster doesn’t think you’re a threat to him, he will often then leave you alone as he views you as lower in the pecking order;

• cull him – roosters soon learn to attack any threat such as a stick or raised boot and the thick dew claws on their legs can inflict a lot of damage.