11 week old Buff Orpington pulling feathers from other chicks

[Shanusa]

My 11 week old Orpington (most likely a roo, hasn't crowed yet) is an absolute jerk. I got Orpingtons hearing that even the roos were calm and docile, but this is the meanest chick I've ever had. They are now in a coop at night and free ranging for most of the day. Our flock is 13 hens (15 months old) and 13 11 week olds (2 definite roos, and then this one. 10 are definitely female). We moved the young ones in with the big girls 4 weeks ago (in an enclosed part of the coop and then a separate run during the day) and finally moved them all together a week ago. Everything is going pretty well, but this one

is just mean - he goes up to the other young ones and bites and pulls out feathers with no provocation. And he has been more assertive/aggressive from the get go. Do I just have a jerk who will never get along with others or would solitary confinement for 2, 3 days maybe help?

 

[nuthatched]

Chop home he's likely trying to figure out how to mate.

 

[chooki]

I am no expert on this .. but .. put him in the same run as older girls and let your 15 months old hens to teach him some manners?

 

[RojoMarz]

@Shanusa - OT question.Do you know what breed this pullets is?

I have a pullet that is an unknown breed and yours is somewhat similar. This is a pic of mine from April, when she was about 3 weeks old.

 

[Shanusa]

She is a Starlight Green Easter Egger. When she was a little chick, she was chipmunk patterned. However, we have another starlight that was a buff chick and is now orange and white. Yours does have a similar feather pattern to mine when she was that age.

 

[Perris]

Do I just have a jerk who will never get along with others or would solitary confinement for 2, 3 days maybe help?

neither. He's a teenager, raging hormones, clueless, reckless etc. He will grow out of it, but it will take some months not days. Put him in with the 15 month old hens for socialisation training.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

View attachment 4142539

You didn’t ask specifically, but he’s a he. Pointed hackle feathers, and that crown! My BO is almost 21 weeks and squatting (ready to lay), and her comb and wattles are nowhere near as developed as this guy’s.

I agree with the others - send this rude and randy teenager to the aunties and let them whump some manners into him.

 

[RojoMarz]

She is a Starlight Green Easter Egger. When she was a little chick, she was chipmunk patterned. However, we have another starlight that was a buff chick and is now orange and white. Yours does have a similar feather pattern to mine when she was that age.

Thanks. I figured she was an Egger of some time. Here she is today...approx 11 weeks old.

 

[Mrs. K]

Are you planning on keeping all of the roosters?

Really, you have 3 cockerels, I would think he just made the first cut out of the flock. Even if you want multiple roosters, I would not keep a rotten rooster. I like a peaceful flock. If this is your first year, I would cull all the roosters, unless you get a a really really nice one.

IMO - 3 weeks olds is not enough older to do anything for cockerel training. At 15 weeks, they won't be laying, and are not full sized.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Are you planning on keeping all of the roosters?

Really, you have 3 cockerels, I would think he just made the first cut out of the flock. Even if you want multiple roosters, I would not keep a rotten rooster. I like a peaceful flock. If this is your first year, I would cull all the roosters, unless you get a a really really nice one.

IMO - 3 weeks olds is not enough older to do anything for cockerel training. At 15 weeks, they won't be laying, and are not full sized.

Isn't there also a group of older hens? I thought 15 months... I sort of lost track of how many were how old.