advice please 8wk old roo fighting

[qldchook]

Hi, If a chick (8 wks old) that you know is a rooster seriously fights with another chick, say for an hour or more, does it mean the chick that he is fighting with is also DEFINATELY a roo? Does that make sense? So, does he know before I do? Or would he also choose to show his dominance to a hen chick?? Any experience or input appreciated

 

[mandelyn]

Typically, yes. Usually a pullet chick will bicker back, but not engage in an actual fight. But it depends on if it was running from the other, and turning to face the mean one periodically, or if it was more real and it was head bobbing and chest bumping right back like another male would.

You'll want to watch them closely, if they keep it up they'll need separated. Increasing the available space helps keep the peace.

 

[janinepeters]

It may also depend on breed. I have no personal experience with game breeds, but have read that even the females can be quite combative when very young.

 

[qldchook]

Typically, yes. Usually a pullet chick will bicker back, but not engage in an actual fight. But it depends on if it was running from the other, and turning to face the mean one periodically, or if it was more real and it was head bobbing and chest bumping right back like another male would.

You'll want to watch them closely, if they keep it up they'll need separated. Increasing the available space helps keep the peace.

It may also depend on breed. I have no personal experience with game breeds, but have read that even the females can be quite combative when very young.

Thank you both. The aggressive one is an aracauna x cochin, all others are cochin so we may have the answer there.They are free range during the day with their mum so space is not a problem. He seems to dominate one & then everything settles down & he moves onto the next but he was fighting one yesterday that I was almost sure was a hen (but I could be wrong) He is not drawing blood or anything but I imagine it is very stressful for the underdog. I work from home so can watch very closely. Thank you.

 

[Matthew3590]

I raise game cocks and at very young ages the Cockerals fight for a long time but it seems to be more of practicing than actual I hate you fighting. They will fight for 45 minutes every morning and every evening and as soon as they fill like it is done they will eat bugs next to each other and they will always roost next to each other. And if a hen decides to roost in between the roos it gets ugly fast.

 

[qldchook]

Your right because now it seems like everyone is fighting! If I judge by the fighting, seems like I have a large percentage of cockerals!

 

[centrarchid]

I raise American Games. Cockerels fight at time they are weaned, again when first adult feathers start coming in, and again when first full adult feathers are all in place. First round seems to be precipitated by hen weaning chicks. Seconds rounds seem to be associated with weather that is particulalry pleasant like after a hot or extreme cold spell. Chicks can damage each other severly during any of these bouts. Presence of cock tends to suppress such fightin in younger birds. Somehow my dog can break of fights better than anyone.

Even you can distinguish sexes based on sex if you listen to voices closely. I can ID cockerels in brooder at 2 weeks based upon their alarm cackle. Cockerels produce a much deeper sound and stand taller than pullets. Otherwise pull pants down or look closely at feathering. With some breeds color differences become evident by 4 weeks. By eight weeks first differences actuall feather shape can be noted.

 

[janinepeters]

Even you can distinguish sexes based on sex if you listen to voices closely. I can ID cockerels in brooder at 2 weeks based upon their alarm cackle. Cockerels produce a much deeper sound and stand taller than pullets. .

Interesting!! I've had the sense that male bantam brahma chicks have a deeper, more rattle like alarm calls than the females, but never knew if that was real or just my imagination....

 

[centrarchid]

Interesting!! I've had the sense that male bantam brahma chicks have a deeper, more rattle like alarm calls than the females, but never knew if that was real or just my imagination....

I chalked it up to my imagination as well at first in thinking birds were either deep voiced or not. American Dominiques with sexed linked differences at hatch enabled determination that differences were related to gender.

 

[qldchook]

You have all been so helpful, I really did not expect this from cochins (admitedly with a tiny swipe of the tar brush). And you are correct, they are getting more independent although very much still with hen & it is cold nites & great days. So in summary, during these stages, will the cockerals ONLY attack eack other? Will they leave ALL pullets alone? I really hope to keep these guys, they are just pets really. Is it possible they would all settle down? I do have 3 pens so I could rotate but I thought it would be unwise to seperate at this stage as once they do these bouts, that particular pair seems to know where they stand. Would that be correct? The only tiny blood drawn has been if one grabs anothers eyelid. I do worry about stress though? I may need to continue picking your brains if things deteriorate further.Gosh, I don't think I could handle the stress of game birds if this is what cochins are doing!