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Separating out a 4 week old aggressive chick

post #1 of 9
Thread Starter 

Not sure if this should be in this forum or "Managing your Flock."

I got 3 GBJ (The Monsters) at the beginning of the month. A week later 3 BO's and 3 EE's (The Babies).  We didn't put them together b/c they were 2 weeks apart in age AND SO much bigger than the babies.  We would introduce them here or there, but only for short times, and always supervised.

I noticed the tail feathers were not as full on one of our GBJ's (Leela.)  The other two kept getting longer and longer feathers, but Leela's stayed short.  We've figured out that Oreo, the biggest GBJ, has been pulling them out!

Due to my allergies, the chicks had to go outside. I found a GIANT dog crate on Craigslist and used hardwire cloth to make it safe for the birds.  We put them ALL together last night.  We had separated Oreo out for the last two days and thought that maybe she'd calm down. Nope.  My husband noticed today that she had hearded the OB's and EE's into a corner away from the food, and every time they tried to go for it, she would peak at them.  So he took her out and put her in this rabbit cage we have.  The other two GBJ's don't pick on the Babies, but they don't really mix with them much.  Maybe that will just take time.

I just don't know what to do with Oreo.  I know that chickens are social, so I don't want to make her crazy by keeping her away from the others, but clearly she can't play nice.  I noticed the tail feathers on Ryan (GBJ) are kinda scraggly and not as full as Oreo's.  I think Oreo was pulling her tail feathers too, just not as much as Leela's. 

Oreo is only about 4 weeks old, so I'm really at a loss as to what to do with her. 

And I'm only saying "Her" because there's a 90% chance they all are hens.  Maybe Oreo's a roo?? IDK.  Too early to tell.  Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

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~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

Reply
post #2 of 9

How much space do your chickens have?  Feather picking and pulling is frequently a result of inadequate space and boredom.  Pecking and chasing during integration of new birds is a routine happening - provide alternate drinking and watering places.

Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
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Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
post #3 of 9
Thread Starter 

Now they have a lot of space.  Oreo even had plenty in my previous set up, and she's the only one showing this kind of aggression.  The other two were eating with the Babies just fine yesterday  after Oreo was taken out.

~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

Reply

~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

Reply
post #4 of 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by risadawn View Post

Now they have a lot of space.  Oreo even had plenty in my previous set up, and she's the only one showing this kind of aggression.  The other two were eating with the Babies just fine yesterday  after Oreo was taken out.


How long were they socialized together before you mixed them? Can you get a roll of poultry netting and make a little fence just outside of (but alongside) your run for Oreo to hang out in so that s/he can be outside with the others but not get at them-- maybe after a week or two s/he wont be so aggressive...

I tried putting one of my Biggies in with my 15 little ones(outside in their run)  and s/he freaked out immediately and tried to attack them, but I think s/he was just scared... So I can relate....

post #5 of 9
Thread Starter 

My husband tried putting the cage she's in next to the brooder the others or in, but he said Oreo was just going bezerk trying to get INTO the other cage.  When I got home I took her out to pet her and stuff and she jumped out of my hands and ran over to the brooder and was peaking at it trying to get in.  She would only calm down if she couldn't hear or see them anymore.  Maybe if we left her next to them longer she'd calm down, but I'm afraid she'll hurt herself before she stops.  But she's been with Leela and Ryan since we picked her up from the feed store and has been terrorizing them this whole time.  So IDK....

~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

Reply

~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

Reply
post #6 of 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by risadawn View Post

My husband tried putting the cage she's in next to the brooder the others or in, but he said Oreo was just going bezerk trying to get INTO the other cage.  When I got home I took her out to pet her and stuff and she jumped out of my hands and ran over to the brooder and was peaking at it trying to get in.  She would only calm down if she couldn't hear or see them anymore.  Maybe if we left her next to them longer she'd calm down, but I'm afraid she'll hurt herself before she stops.  But she's been with Leela and Ryan since we picked her up from the feed store and has been terrorizing them this whole time.  So IDK....

Sorry for the time lapse in reply (was at work)--  I did not think about that, Bully as s/he is s/he is missing its Flock, they are flock animals...So I guess its solitary for the naughty bird, poor thing....

post #7 of 9
Thread Starter 

We've had Oreo separated since Monday night now.  S/he is a MUCH calmer bird!  Still think it's too early to put her with the others, but s/he is MUCH better now. We'll give it a couple more days, then see what happens.  The others are getting a long just fine.

~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

Reply

~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

Reply
post #8 of 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by risadawn View Post

We've had Oreo separated since Monday night now.  S/he is a MUCH calmer bird!  Still think it's too early to put her with the others, but s/he is MUCH better now. We'll give it a couple more days, then see what happens.  The others are getting a long just fine.

Hang in there risadawn-- I am very interested in how this resolves-- I think I might have a similar situation evolving-- I have been having my 2 groups hanging out in the run seperated by a screen and am noticing one of the 6 week olds staring at (thru the wire) and pecking at the little (2week old) chicks while the other 3 mostly ignore them.... The chicks havent been getting outside consistently which I dont think is helping....

post #9 of 9
Thread Starter 

Well, Oreo has certainly calmed down.  She has no problem coming out of her cage an me holding her.  The others totally freak out. I think that has more to do with my husband and I are the only socialization she's getting while the others have each other.  I was thinking of putting her back in with the others, but they've all grown so much that they don't have enough room in the brooder for all 9.  Hoping to get the coup and run built by next week so we can put them out there.  I can't believe how fast they've grown!!

~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

Reply

~Risa

Semi newbie, but these are the first we're raising on our own and I don't have the expert in the next office to run to this time!

3 Giant Black Jerseys, 3 Americaunas and 3 Buff Orpingtons, and an old Siamese/ Tortie kitty. 

They're starting to lay! (Jan 2013)



 

Reply
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