Crazed, violent pullet/cockerel

[Mommyhen1313]

Howdy all, I'm new and this is my first post. I'll do an intro very soon, but right now I need to know if I'm dealing with my problem correctly. I am just starting out with chickens. I live in a small tract home in northern California. I bought 3 (allegedly) female chicks: a Buff Orpington, a Barred Rock, and a Black Australorp. I chose them not only as good layers, but for quiet, calm temperament. Having backyard chickens only became legal here very recently, and the rules are strict: no noisy chickens, no roosters, etc. Anyway, I have been raising them in a large 30 gallon container in our back bathroom. They are about 5 weeks old. Two are fine. they are inquisitive, eat well and get along. Then there's Blackymac, my Australorp. It is flighty, aggressive, and bullies the others constantly. It steals food from their mouths. It jumps on them, flapping and screeching. I've checked it for crop troubles and injuries. It's eliminating okay. I've tried holding it and clucking (which the other 2 love), but even though it calms down, it's back to making the others miserable the minute it gets back in the brooder. Today, it was particularly relentless, jumping on and biting the others, who wound up cowering behind the food dispenser, and I'd had enough. I put it in a separate container. It went nuts, then just sat there, chirping. The other 2 seem very happy and calm. I hate having to put Blackymac in solitary, but the violence was getting out of hand. I think it might be a rooster. I'm kind of hoping that's the problem, as I'd just give him to someone my daughter knows of with land and chickens. But what if it's just a crazy hen? I'd planned on moving them to the coop we built this coming week. Do I risk putting Blackymac out there with the others, hoping that the big run will calm it down? Will the others refuse to take bad behaviour from her since she has been separated, no longer a member of the flock? Any and all thoughts are welcome.

 

[newmarch2014]

It very well could be a space issue. Many aggression problems are solved with more space. It could be as you suspect a crazy chicken lol. I have had roosters both the past 2 years, the first one acted much like yours but really a hen can act the same way my head hen is a mean little creeper but she only has to go off on someone one time and they then learn to not cross crazy. This makes for a well organized pecking order. I would say get that coop done fast and throw them out there and see if the situation improves and wait for the lay or the crow. If it does not improve, get rid of her anyway, A wise person said to me last year while I was debating keeping my crazy terrorist in case it was a she "there is no sense in keeping a chicken that creates havoc in the flock." They were right, once I got rid of (what turned out to be a he) the others were much calmer and happy. Now that I am into this a little over a year and 2 sets of chicks, I was ready to give away my head hen this month if she didn't conform and let the rooster move in. Chaos in the coop is not worth it, chickens should be a joy.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Five week old chicks are pretty big and well feathered usually, and need much more space! Mine go from the brooder to their side of the coop at about three weeks of age, with a heat lamp. You won't need the heat lamp anymore unless you have very cold nights. Would you like to share your coop plans? We do love to admire and discuss... Mary