curious or aggressive chick? buff orp

[drangle]

this is my first go at raising chickens, I currently have 23 chicks. a mix of buff orp, aust, and CLL. The buff orps have always been the first to greet me and have always been very interested when i place my hand in their brooder. as smaller chicks they would just run to my hand and investigate. as they got older they would start to peck at my arm hair and that sort of thing. I have recently put colored leg bands on them and since then I have noticed the 'red' buff orp is more aggressive with her pecking than the rest, to the point where i would call it biting more than pecking.

I am not sure if this is normal chick behavior and she is just extra inquisitive or is this a sign of aggression that will likely carry on when she gets older?

the chicks are only 5.5 weeks old at the moment so I am not worried, just wondering. if this might become a problem as she ages?

 

[aart]

Those breeds at that age should be pretty easy to tell males from females.
The biter could be a male....or not.
I don't let chickens bite me, if they do I tap them on the head, quickly and with enough force to send a warning.

 

[drangle]

It’s a female. The male is much nicer lol

 

[Paz]

Maybe she’s hungry

 

[drangle]

I don’t think it’s hunger I keep them on full feed. I’ve started poking them back when they bite and peck but it doesn’t seem to have much effect so far. I’ve also noticed they don’t do it when I hold them or let them perch on my hand. Just when I put my hand down in their brooder pen to pet them.

 

[Paz]

Maybe they don’t like you

 

[SarBear78]

Mine all did that at that age. Of course it’s not because they don’t like you! Geez, Paz!

I think they don’t understand you. I mean, how can they? Our hands are these weird bald five legged things bigger then they are, that jumps in and out of their home and seems to drop food off and emanate an irresistibly soothing warmth.

I think it goes something like this….

*Red band: “You look familiar. Food? If it’s not one of us AND it’s not poop, it’s food for sure! Let me just….
Well, that didn’t work. Maybe, if I bite harder...”

*Other peep: “Hey, hold on, it isn’t food. It’s the thing that flies from the sky and ‘brings’ the food silly.”

*Another other peep: “No, no, no, you guys are so obviously day 22 hatchlings. Newbies! It’s a toe warmer! Duh!! Look if you balance on it….., it moves, but then, yeah that’s it and hold on to that one that’s pointed out . Yes and our footsies fit perfect around it see and it’s the best. It feels like I was born to balance on these things!”

*Red band: “I don’t know. That looks wrong. Get down. I hatch day 19 and I’m telling you it has to be food. Remember when the shape of our usual food suddenly became bigger one day? And you guys were all freaking out and I was the one that said ‘hey let’s just give it a try’. So I’m gonna show you, just keep biting harder….”

*Another other deeeeeep thinking peep:
“Whoa whoa, everyone stop! Have you guys ever notice that other creature from above that’s always with the 5 legged bald thing?!!! It has two eyes next to each other, then the rest is kinda naked in the middle. Wow, it’s beak looks round and squishy ugh, that’s gonna give me nightmare. Oh no, I just noticed something right below the squishy beak ….it Like our butts, yep a giant butt, more specifically an inflamed butt vent . Look at it opening and closing all the time🗣, but no poop comes out. So sad. Just noise. That can’t be good…”

*Red band chick: “Ugh, peeeeeople, obviously it’s not pooping because it hungry. That’s why it followed the food thingy thing here! Duhhh!”

*Another other peep again:
“I just had a thought. Maybe it’s not two creatures! Maybe the five squishy legged thing is actually a foot! Omg! Five toes! Omg, It’s a Silkie! When I was in my egg, I heard about them! They are like us but also bunnies. I don’t know what a bunny is, but it was bad! And fuzzy! And Their feet are all wrong, 5 toes!! And look I see fuzzy hair on its leg! Ahhhhhh!” (Peeping in terror)

*Red Band Chick: “Calm down! So then let’s just kill it, then eat it. I’ve grown since the beginning of this conversation, So I’m gonna get it this time! I’m going for the fuzz!!!”