chick attacking hens

[JecaRaven]

I have three 3 month old chicks that I have had in a pen outside for two months where our older hens could get used to them. The three chicks have always got along smoothly with no pecking or aggression. Two of my chicks were easy to handle but the last one never hand-tamed and it screams bloody murder when I have to do anything in their brooder or pen. That problem chick has never been aggressive before.

Last week, I started letting my good two out to mingle with the older hens while I was outside. No prob, they just blended in with the flock. I left the screamer in the pen so I didn't have to spend all day trying to catch it.

Today, I propped up the bottom of the chick pen, let them all out, and was intending on seeing how well they behaved for an entire day... and then Butthead started picking fights with all the big hens, who were minding their on business. Our big red matriarch settled it the first time by yanking feathers out of the chick and the other hen. In a span of 20 minutes, Butthead had picked fight after fight. I finally just put the chicks away.

What is going on? I have spent hours watching these birds. I expected the older hens would try dominate the chicks... not the reverse. All of the older hens flogged, pecked back, and chased him away... but he keeps doing it.

 

[Odelia]

Lets start with is butthead a cockerel or a pullet?

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm guessing that BH is a cockrel. Bent on dominating his world, and all the old biddies in it.

 

[aart]

Lets start with is butthead a cockerel or a pullet?

Quote:
Agrees on both counts!

 

[JecaRaven]

It is still up in the air if Butthead's a cockerel. Its feathers say pullet, but the comb and wattles say cock... I think my red chick is a boy too, but they don't fight or peck each other...

Butthead is the grey one in the back. supposed to be a splash barnvelder.




This was taken earlier. The hen wasn't even looking when Butthead attacked.

 

[keesmom]

Butthead is a cockerel and the Sussex looks to be also.

 

[Odelia]

He is trying to place himself at the top of the flock where roosters naturally reside. The problem is he is only a teenager and your older hens don't agree at this point that he is above them. Is he drawing blood? If not you need to let them work out their pecking order on their own. They are chickens and they live by their own set of rules. It is tough to watch at times, but this is how their world works. Otherwise you can sign butthead up for freezer camp.