Most of my experience is dealing with exotics, I spend half of my time at home working from home and the other half of the time with dogs or parrots but I've found chickens are completely different! So most of the time while I'm working on graphics for work they're sitting with me at this desk. I actually have been lurking on the forum for a bit reading your posts you guys seem like a great community, but it's the silkies as for why I am here. I am about 95% (by gut feeling only) sure I have a male silkie. Largely due to his behavior. He was born within 24 hours of his girlfriend (i'm sure she's a girl because she's docile, smaller, narrower, she just doesn't seem built like a male but these are chickens there's a great chance I'm wrong XD) But I think he's a boy because he's so muscular, he's chunky, he's very active, he sits with his head up and he constantly guards her when I have him out with the older chicken (6 weeks) for supervised scratch in the pine shedding exploration. And when I was advised by my sister to allow some level of pecking to occur by the other chicks because that's how they establish themselves. I was surprised to see the bigger girl sitting while the other two were scratching away. Her name is Cathy (She's 6 weeks), she turned her head and and lightly peck Ginger (His girlfriend), it wasn't assertive she just pulled some sawdust off her feathers but it startled her so she ran behind Chunky (That's his name). So he squared up and got in her face immediately and with the tiniest jump ever actually managed to kicked Cathy in the face. I reached in and immediately separated them because I am not sure where that'll go from there because the older chick is looking down like "Wat" and he goes for it again but by then I've snatched her and him up. I wanted to ask my sister but she is offline so I wanted to ask.... Is it normal for a young chick to do that? I've also observed him "jumping" and bouncing onto the dust talons first and I can't seem to find any of that behavior anywhere else. He's healthy, active, eating properly, and loaded up on medicated chick feed and electrolyte water I picked up from the feed store as per their recommendation to keep them all hydrated. He's friendly enough, but likes to do his own thing UNLESS he can't see Ginger. Then he rushes to her or will peep LOUDLY Until he's sure she can see him. Like I don't care if he's a boy I'm keeping him no matter what, but if he's definitely a boy that means I can only buy sexed silkies from here out because I don't want to risk two boys fighting each other, or getting him neutered. (Even if it's only 60$ to get it done my sister's uncomfortable with the procedure and her opinion matters to me, so it's easier to just not risk getting another boy) Have any of your chicks ever done this?
Hi and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us. Sure, chicks square up to each other and sort out who's the boss - it's perfectly normal (and quite comical). Letting them sort out the pecking order is a good idea but just keep an eye on them to ensure that things don't get out of hand.
G’Day from down under ThatParrotLady Welcome! I agree with Ken in that chicks like to throw their weight around to ensure they are not bottom on the pecking order; sadly though, someone has to be. I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun. If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out
As a newbie, I have a bit of a question and concern. We bought six 1 week old chicks 6 weeks ago. We then bought two more a couple of weeks later. The first were two each of Rhode Island Reds, Wyandotte, and Sussex. The last two were Ameraucans. The two groups we kept separate until over a week ago, we built an extension to the coop and sonthat they would all see each other without getting into each others' business. Yesterday I put them together late afternoon. I guess I am wondering how long this pecking thing goes on. I have not seen blood. The down feathers on the back of the newbies necks are pretty much gone. Both get out of the older ones' way. In the evening I went out and one of the bigger was laying by one of the youngers and ever so often would peck...it looked almost like she was cleaning her. Do they do that? Like I said, I am so new to this! Any info would be helpful!
