aggressive baby cochin!

[chicken1234]

So I'm back into chickens. We went to a sale and I purchased two chicks. One a bantam cochin and the other a standard buff cochin? Both 2 months old. That is what I was told anyways. I've only had them two days but right out of the box the bantam is attacking me! At first I thought oh she is just hungry, oh she is just thirsty, oh she is just stressed, oh she is just protecting the other chick. Now I don't know what to think. I actually have to put a glove on my hand when I clean up droppings or put fresh food and water in cause she bites and bites hard! Even when I walk past she runs out against the cage looking at me. She is also bullying the other chick who can't seem to eat or drink when it wants. Help!

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

All I can think is maybe something hurts? Are the soles of her feet good looking? Anything in her eye, Anything like that? Maybe inspect her carefully for scaly leg mites, I bought 3 chicks from someone this year that had them and they were terrified and always acting scared and wild, after a few days I examined them better and realized they had leg mites, which is painful since it forces the leg scales to rise. after a few days of treatment they were mite free and became very friendly little chicks.
If you can't see anything wrong physically, maybe she's just scared in her new home and will calm down soon hopefully. She is a pretty little gal.

 

[aart]

but right out of the box the bantam is attacking me!

Might be why she was for sale.
I'd separate them, so the one can have some peace.
The aggressive might settle down with time and patient handling.
Might put on those gloves and hold her until she calms to being handled.

 

[JedJackson]

That's about the last breed I would expect aggressiveness from. It might be that she was treated poorly by her previous owner, maybe she just has a bad personality or some kind of mental problem. I agree with aart. Seperate her from the other and be patient (and careful!). She may even out in time.

 

[chicken1234]

Thank you so much for the replies, I feel foolish being nervous to open the cage because she is so small but the aggression is ridiculous. She charges at me biting over and over. I will separate them right now and look her over again. I examined her for parasites and leg mites when I got her home and didn't see anything. The seller assured me that it was a girl but I was starting to think maybe its a roo? So I am basically putting on a glove and ignoring the bites and going about my business, is that the right approach?

 

[tjo804]

Yes you are the head of the coop does what they want the others move out of the way. Were they housed together? Could be establishing pecking order. My LF Cochin are my biggest chickens, but they are at the bottom of the pecking ladder.

 

[JedJackson]

Thank you so much for the replies, I feel foolish being nervous to open the cage because she is so small but the aggression is ridiculous. She charges at me biting over and over. I will separate them right now and look her over again. I examined her for parasites and leg mites when I got her home and didn't see anything. The seller assured me that it was a girl but I was starting to think maybe its a roo? So I am basically putting on a glove and ignoring the bites and going about my business, is that the right approach?

It is a pullet for sure and that makes this case all the more confusing. It's highly abnormal behavior and you shouldn't feel foolish at all. I am kind of at a loss-- even the feistiest game hens I've owned never behaved like that. I really think it might be something mental with her. The big question is whether she grows out of it or not.

 

[chicken1234]

No I bought them from different people and what is strange too is that the other chick is larger! I'm hoping she settles they will be pretty much pets since there is only my husband and myself I don't need alot of eggs. She is eating and drinking well and her poop is solid and normal looking. I'm relieved its a girl I was worried because I can't have a rooster here (whiny neighbour even though we live in the country?!)

 

[JedJackson]

No I bought them from different people and what is strange too is that the other chick is larger! I'm hoping she settles they will be pretty much pets since there is only my husband and myself I don't need alot of eggs. She is eating and drinking well and her poop is solid and normal looking. I'm relieved its a girl I was worried because I can't have a rooster here (whiny neighbour even though we live in the country?!)

Cochins show their gender pretty early, especially the bantams. Size isn't always correlated with dominance, either, so I am not too surprised she can bully the larger one. In time, things could change. I really hope they do. I honestly don't know that I would want to raise the bird you've described, especially for a pet. But maybe once she settles down she'll calm down.

 

[aart]

So I am basically putting on a glove and ignoring the bites and going about my business, is that the right approach?

Try to be calm yourself, hard to do I know, but if you are anxious and nervous she will feel that and be scared too.
Yes, get her wings pinned against her body pronto,
that will greatly reduce her ability to keep struggling.
Just hold her football style and maybe cover her head lightly with your free gloved hand.
Let her calm down, talk softly.
Put her back in crate with both hands holding wings until her feet are settled on floor then slowly let go.
Repeat several times a day.
Part of it is probably she scared to death and who knows how she was treated before.
Come around the cage frequently too, be calm and confident, talk to her softly.
Maybe handle the other bird in the same way, so she get used to being handled and the hellion may learn by example.