13 Day Old Chick With MAJOR Attitude Problem

[AmyJane725]

Hey guys,

I have a little white cochin bantam chick. He'll be 2 weeks old tomorrow. I never really thought I'd be considering culling a perfectly healthy little baby, but this one has a major attitude problem.

Not only does he jump all over his flockmates, but when I reach my hand into the pen he comes up and stands as tall as he can, presses his chest to my hand and pecks the top of it. Also jumps up and tries to flog it. Now, I've had one other chick in the past that did this, but this one took it to a new level this morning. He literally jumped up onto my hand and started "biting" it, and then looked like he was trying to either mate my hand or poop on it. Either way, I wasn't having it so I shook him off.

For the last day or so I've been trying the technique where you hold them down on the ground and give a "peck" to establish dominance. It seems to be working a little. Probably needs more time, but I digress.

What do y'all think I should do? Should I just cull him before he gets to be a bigger problem? I mean, he'll be like 2 lbs fully grown, so not like he could do any major damage, but his behavior at such a young age is disturbing. Plus I don't need him hurting any of his smaller flockmates.

Thanks for any input.

 

[AmyJane725]

Anybody? It doesn't even have to be good advice, lol. I'd just like to hear gut reactions from people.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Got a video of his behavior?

 

[AmyJane725]

Got a video of his behavior?

No. I can try to get one though.

 

[Kale Chips]

I don't have any actual advice other than the fact that I find your situation quite interesting. I too will watch to see who pipes up. Because on one hand it would be a real shame to kill a perfectly healthy chick. On the other, it would also be a shame if that mean chick started hurting others and grew up to be a roo for the soup pot anyhow.

 

[AmyJane725]

The fight seems to have gone out of him for the moment. I think it's about time for their afternoon nap. I'll try again in a few hours.

 

[AmyJane725]

I don't have any actual advice other than the fact that I find your situation quite interesting. I too will watch to see who pipes up. Because on one hand it would be a real shame to kill a perfectly healthy chick. On the other, it would also be a shame if that mean chick started hurting others and grew up to be a roo for the soup pot anyhow.

I know it. I can't really stand the idea of killing him. I don't think I have it in me. I have more bantam chicks coming on Friday though, and all I need is him attacking them. He's gonna get separated at the very least if he keeps this up. If he's this aggressive as a chick I can only imagine how he'll be as a cock and a roo.

 

[noregerts]

That's pretty weird from such a young chick. I'd wait and see what happens unless he starts hurting his mates. I haven't a clue why he's doing it, sorry.

 

[BullChick]

I’ve had two nasty little ones. Turned out they were overcompensating for being smaller than the LF. Regardless, I won’t have bantam roosters again as long as I have LF.
It’s kinda funny when they attack, but it eventually went too far, and I had to kill them.


I did have one nice bantam boy.

 

[AmyJane725]

I’ve had two nasty little ones. Turned out they were overcompensating for being smaller than the LF. Regardless, I won’t have bantam roosters again as long as I have LF.
It’s kinda funny when they attack, but it eventually went too far, and I had to kill them.


I did have one nice bantam boy.

I've had plenty of bantam boys that weren't any better or worse than the other chicks, but interestingly enough it's only ever been these two white bantam cochins that literally attack me. I've had 3 other white bantam cochins that were fine.