KellyJ74
Chirping
Out of a batch of 17 chicks, 2 are cockerels. One is a speckled sussex and the other is an australorp. there's a 2 1/2 week age difference between them. The speckled sussex is an absolute A-hole. The Australorp is so gentle with me and the other pullets... for now. I've read that most austalorps are generally pretty laid back. What I find funny is the two other australorp pullets are skittish and one of them seems to be trying to take the skin of my hand when I've got treats with how aggressive she is with pecking the food. But the cockerel, will slowly walk to me, check out what I've got in my hand and gently place a foot on my hand and softly nibble. I've also seen him come to the rescue of a 3 1/2 week old buckeye with wry neck when she was getting chased by the speckled sussex cockerel. The sussex is going to another home, but I'm really torn on keeping the australorp. Right now, at 4 1/2 weeks, he's the perfect guy.... however, I'm fully aware that can completely change in the next year. Are there things I can do to keep him from turning into a class-A jerk? Can you get an idea of how they'll be as adults at such a young age or do hormones just ruin them? This was him a week and a half ago.