Aggressive Chick - 2 Weeks Old!

[CannedMonster]

My brown NN chick is starting to be very aggressive with me.
It approaches my hand boldly without fear and cocks it’s head and bites me!
A two week old!!
I’m very surprised by this.
Any advice on how to teach the chick respect without hurting it would be appreciated.
I’m pretty sure it’s a cockerel just based on behavior alone.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would poke and chase it around until it stops being so forward, or at least make plans to butcher if the behavior continues into adolescence. A chick that bold will be problems if it's a rooster. It still will be an annoying behavior if it's a pullet.

 

[CannedMonster]

I would poke and chase it around until it stops being so forward, or at least make plans to butcher if the behavior continues into adolescence. A chick that bold will be problems if it's a rooster. It still will be an annoying behavior if it's a pullet.

Yes I agree completely.
The plan is freezer camp for any cockerels as I got these as a straight run.
Four out of the six are larger and much bolder. They love to jump and chest bump, etc.
They’re also getting combs already.
I’m okay if I get at least two pullets out of the six.
I just hope this brown one will learn some kind of manners so we can live with it until butcher day.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yes I agree completely.
The plan is freezer camp for any cockerels as I got these as a straight run.
Four out of the six are larger and much bolder. They love to jump and chest bump, etc.
They’re also getting combs already.
I’m okay if I get at least two pullets out of the six.
I just hope this brown one will learn some kind of manners so we can live with it until butcher day.

I had a pair of Turkey poults out of 15a few years back that were very forward and would attack my hand very young. They never grew out of it and were the first in the freezer. I will not be terrorized by my poultry. I had enough of that as a kid being chased by roosters. I swore that wouldn't happen here. It's good you feel the same way. Aggressive roosters are dangerous.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I would reprimand it like a momma hen would. Peck it on the head with a finger (not to hard). I have a couple 2 week old chicks that do that to me and they leave me alone after I "peck" them.

 

[CannedMonster]

Yes I agree completely. I don't understand people that let their animals (of any kind) terrorize them.
It's absolutely unacceptable to me. There's to many animals out there that behave themselves.
Great advice Rae. I will be disciplining this chick whenever it needs it.