Are some broods of chicks just more aggressive than others?

[thecatumbrella]

But Isla (my special one) got her head stuck in a tiger melon today. It lasted seconds... wish aI got it on video!

OMG, that's hysterical. I wish you had a video to share!

Make the day a little more interesting than just waiting for the next scoop of feed.

Even something small, like today was the first day the girls had their feeder suspended, and the challenge of having to follow the moving food ports has made their crumble 10x more interesting!

That's very cool that you have a parrot background. Are the RIRs your first chickens? I'm also curious if you plan to free range?

 

[CabritaChicks]

OMG, that's hysterical. I wish you had a video to share!


Even something small, like today was the first day the girls had their feeder suspended, and the challenge of having to follow the moving food ports has made their crumble 10x more interesting!

That's very cool that you have a parrot background. Are the RIRs your first chickens? I'm also curious if you plan to free range?

I've treated plenty of chickens in clinics and for special clients, but these are my very first feathered freeloaders of my own. Sure, they’ve got acres of beachfront jungle to roam—true island-style free ranging—but they still prefer hanging around the coop all day, watching me make endless tweaks (HGTV renovation we are calling it).

They're my 'not-so-helpful helpers,' supervising every nail and screw. At night, they get carried into the utility room like VIPs, because the coop still needs a few comfort upgrades (My hubby cant understand my logic- but it makes sense in my bird-brain)—to meet their standards and mine. We're getting there... one step at a time.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Wanted to update this thread as I got another batch of 3 chicks (and have new data!). 2 are very gentle Silkies. The 3rd is another Mottled Cochin Bantam, but this one is "frizzled" and therefore from another breeding stock. The frizzle is insane. She came out of the shipping box acting like she's on speed and hasn't slowed down a bit over the last two weeks. If you're wearing any kind of clothing, she'll literally launch up your arm and latch on like a dog with a steak. Corrections are slow going...

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Cochin Bantams just tend to be aggressive/high-energy chicks. They're very pleasant as pullets, so hoping my frizzle cools her jets in a few weeks.

 

[CabritaChicks]

That’s fantastic! …Wait—is it good or bad that they have more energy?

Yes, my Rhode Island Reds are free-ranging from sun-up to sundown. They’re doing great, though they only tend to explore as far as I guide them. Today was wild—they discovered the baby mud crabs hatching near the beach. Total chaos. Crab frenzy.

(The photo above is from earlier today—they were mid-lizard chase. Pure madness.)

The new girls (plus one guy I’m still stubbornly refusing to acknowledge) are a whole different species of wild. Seriously, they’re little maniacs. I’m convinced they have cocaine in their bloodstream.

They got their first taste of outdoor freedom today—full run of the coop while the RIRs stayed outside. They sprinted in circles until they collapsed from joy. When I checked on them, I’d somehow become a human jungle gym—full-sized RIRs on one side, tiny chicks scaling me like it was Everest.

(Pretty sure I’m doing this all wrong. haha)

 

[CabritaChicks]

Also apologies for not answering your question fully- life caught up with me and I wasn't paying enough attention

 

[thecatumbrella]

That’s fantastic! …Wait—is it good or bad that they have more energy?

Yes, my Rhode Island Reds are free-ranging from sun-up to sundown. They’re doing great, though they only tend to explore as far as I guide them. Today was wild—they discovered the baby mud crabs hatching near the beach. Total chaos. Crab frenzy.
View attachment 4128031

(The photo above is from earlier today—they were mid-lizard chase. Pure madness.)

The new girls (plus one guy I’m still stubbornly refusing to acknowledge) are a whole different species of wild. Seriously, they’re little maniacs. I’m convinced they have cocaine in their bloodstream.

View attachment 4128032
They got their first taste of outdoor freedom today—full run of the coop while the RIRs stayed outside. They sprinted in circles until they collapsed from joy. When I checked on them, I’d somehow become a human jungle gym—full-sized RIRs on one side, tiny chicks scaling me like it was Everest.

(Pretty sure I’m doing this all wrong. haha)

Great photos! Your chickens are all living their best life. I think mine bite because they don't want to be in New Hampshire and would prefer to hunt crabs and lizards at the Caribbean Sea.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Great photos! Your chickens are all living their best life. I think mine bite because they don't want to be in New Hampshire and would prefer to hunt crabs and lizards at the Caribbean Sea.

Definitely a real possibility—but mine peck. I squat down and get what my husband calls “Too much love! They have too much love to give! Watch your eyes!” …and honestly, he has a point.

Most of the time, I take their little pecks as a sign of affection—but somewhere around the fourth peck, things start to get a little more... intense. Still, I know they mean well… which is probably what every overly optimistic bird mom says right before losing an eyeball.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Definitely a real possibility—but mine peck. I squat down and get what my husband calls “Too much love! They have too much love to give! Watch your eyes!” …and honestly, he has a point.

Most of the time, I take their little pecks as a sign of affection—but somewhere around the fourth peck, things start to get a little more... intense. Still, I know they mean well.

Still, I know they mean well… which is probably what every overly optimistic bird mom says right before losing an eyeball.

Seriously, watch out for their little snake necks! Our last flock had a big cuddler, but if I didn't pay attention, she'd work her way up to eyeballs.

Too much love... dude, they don't peck each other like this! Step off, chickens!

 

[CabritaChicks]

Great photos! Your chickens are all living their best life. I think mine bite because they don't want to be in New Hampshire and would prefer to hunt crabs and lizards at the Caribbean Sea.

It is not all its cracked up to be: we are entering hurricane season. !!! rain for months and wind that will knock you knickers off!

 

[CabritaChicks]

Maybe I just buy a helmet.