Behavior question

[newmarch2014]

Ok, 9 days ago I picked up 6 chicks from our local feed store. 3 B.O. and 3 R.I.R. and they all seemed fine but after a few days one of the R.I.R.'s started to go downhill. She was sick for 3 days but we nursed her back to health it seems and she is doing well other than the fact that she is much much smaller than the other chicks. by 1/2 of the largest one and a few ounces from the smallest of them. I have reintroduced her to the flock last night, but pulled her out for the day today and put her back into quarantine conditions for the day so that she did not have any competition for food or water for awhile. Reintroducing her is my problem, and not for the reason I would first have guessed. I was all ready to need to come to her rescue and save her from the bigger chicks....no she is such a little bully! If another bird is trying to lay down to nap she comes and pecks them in the face (trying for their eyes). She is not mean around the food, there she gets body blocked out of the feeder and walks away a lot but she is not assertive at all there. Nobody is ever mean to her that I can see other than pushing her away from the feeder with their body no pecking at all. But I am really feeling sorry for everyone else that cannot get a nap while she is near. If they try to cuddle up with her to snooze she almost immediately is pecking them in the face or yanking the down out of their neck. Will one of them put her in her place? Will she eventually chill out? Is she going to be a terror forever and the bad seed? Everyone else gets along so well, there is no arguments, so far, they all are amicable and seem to flow well. She on the other hand is not fitting in at all it seems. Will she eventually be part of the flock?

 

[fried green eggs]

Can you add another feeder and waterer in your brooder? As long as she is not drawing blood on the other chicks and she is getting to eat and drink - I would let them work it out. Is this little chick a roo by chance???

 

[11HappyHens]

My mom has a similar problem. Out of six pullets, all three weeks old, one (Americauna) has started picking on another chick to the point of drawing blood on the back of her neck! The aggressor was removed from the others and put in another cage by herself, but threw such a fit about being alone & refused to eat or drink. So one other chick was put in with her and she immediately went after it. We went back to leaving her alone for a while, then after a day, put her back in with the other 5 chicks. She chased them at first, but now has settled down & seems to be behaving. This chick will also bite you if you pick her up! Wondering if "she" isn't a "he" after all.....? If anyone has any suggestions about what to do with the "evil" chick I would appreciate it!

 

[newmarch2014]

Thanks for answering. Fried green eggs, ''she'' was in the pullet batch of chicks so the chances are lower but as you know, you never know. So far her 2 R.I.R flockmates are ahead of her in tail feather growth though....

 

[fried green eggs]

Well you will know before long how they did at vent sexing this chick. Good Luck. I had a RIR pullet that was actually a little roo. He was nice when he was younger but when he got older - He would go after anyone but, me that walked by his hens. He didn't go after me only because we had already had several conversations and he understood - with me, wasn't worth it. He finally went to freezer camp and I didn't feel bad. Hope yours is a nice hen.