Aggressive Chicks, Aggressive Roosters??

[angelbabyamy]

I have 21 3 week old RBLW and FBCM chicks. Several of the chicks have started pecking me and jumping at my hands when I reach into their brooder. ( I don't think it is my rings) I have banded the suspected Wyandottes because they are so hard to tell by sight the hens from the roos, the FBCM chicks are pretty easy to sex.

I have never had any luck with roosters. It seems all the roosters I keep end up mean and flog us. The only roo I have now is a 3 year old silkie that was one of my first chicks. I have to watch my back, but can't bring myself to get rid of him.

I want to keep a Maran and Wyandotte roo and am wondering if these chicks that peck and jump at me now will be mean roosters. I have a Maran that so far looks really good with really nice leg featherig, but he's a Sh*! Do you think he will stay that way? My other roos were the sweetest until about 6 months, so his behavior now is bothering me.

 

[Momagain1]

well mine peck my hand..but not maliciously (SP?)

someone told me..and it makes sense..their enemies come from the top most of the time...
so put your hand in slowly as you are crept down low and hold it still...

I did that and I also talk very normal when I come near their brooder and feed/water them or interact...just so they know
that my voice means food/water etc..and they arent startled as much anymore...

 

[Erica]

Hi Angelbabyamy,

I've never found any correlation between aggression as young chicks, and aggression in roosters. I've currently got a female chick about 8 weeks old that keeps trying to chase my hand out of the brooder. She's not from aggressive stock and will be fine as a hen.

 

[classicsredone]

They might see your hands as food, or they have figured out that you reach in the cage with food in your hands. My daughter tries to pet ours through the cage all the time, and I have to explain that her little 4-year old finger looks like a worm to a chicken. I don't think they do it out of aggression. They're just curious and not incredibly smart when it comes to what not to eat.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
My thoughts as well.,