Attacking or play-fighting?

[centrarchid]

Room is adequate. Every time I make major changes mine attempt to change pecking order. Same operates with fish.

 

[3for3]

They were doing this before any changes were made perhaps just coming of age?

 

[Sonya9]

The one in the middle that is standing taller than the others with the neck stretched up, does that chick do that a lot? Just asking because after reading that roo's often stand taller and such I started to suspect my dominent little 5-6 week old chick was a roo and then others confirmed.

The posture and the "I am the boss" attitude was what made me suspect. Chicks name was Buffy and then became Spike, he always likes to be the boss and if someone gets on something taller he has to either knock them off or get higher than they are. The other chicks would give him flack but he was obviously a bit different.

 

[centrarchid]

They were doing this before any changes were made perhaps just coming of age?

They do seem to go through bouts where pecking order is likely to be challenged. Mine do so at about 5 weeks when hen weans them and often somewhere around 12 to 14 weeks which is about time father would wean them if he providing care (free-range games). My dominiques also seem to have slight upticks during those windows.


Scraps occurring earlier in brooder are much bigger concern and may have little to do with developmental stage. It is with those in the brooder events I scrutinize nutrition very closely. Lighting I have never seen to be a cause.


Males are easy to ID by point you have chicks as Sonya9 indicated based on behavior but for me they are seldom problematic with brooder mates, the just act different. When I have option hen rearing is the way to go as that seems to suppress aggression within a brood.



For fun, get them some live mealworms and make so they have to work to get them. Even make so they have to fly up a little to perch on something for a reward. That will up protein and provide a diversion for birds and yourself.