EE cockerel fighting

[Homestead girl]

I have 13 EE that are 8 weeks old. This morning my husband and I got to witness our first fight in the coop. It was pretty intense.
I have four different breeds in the coop. But the EE are by far the more aggressive of the breeds.
I have noticed on four other EE that they have a lot of feathers missing on their back's and some on the neck. I am wondering if they are rooster's too.
Will the fighting get worse or will they figure out who is the dominate Roo ?

 

[bowen012]

How big is your coop and how many chickens within?

I have 7 EEs now that are a mix of 7 and 8 weeks old and have had zero fights; unless you count them frilling their neck feathers a bit and jumping and dancing (they seem to do this when they're running around - 'playing'? I had a small mixed flock a year ago of leghorns and brahmas and my EEs are more docile and friendly than any of those by a lot (disclaimer of spendig more time interacting with these and a bit more chicken knowledge this time around).

Maybe it's as simple as an aggressive bird. Maybe working out a pecking order (it seems odd that it's only interbreed fighting though)...

 

[Homestead girl]

How big is your coop and how many chickens within?

I have 7 EEs now that are a mix of 7 and 8 weeks old and have had zero fights; unless you count them frilling their neck feathers a bit and jumping and dancing (they seem to do this when they're running around - 'playing'? I had a small mixed flock a year ago of leghorns and brahmas and my EEs are more docile and friendly than any of those by a lot (disclaimer of spendig more time interacting with these and a bit more chicken knowledge this time around).

Maybe it's as simple as an aggressive bird. Maybe working out a pecking order (it seems odd that it's only interbreed fighting though)...

My coop is 12 x24 feet. I have buff 6 buff orpington, 4 GLW, 4 Jersey Giants, 1 polish, 13 EE. ranging from 8 weeks to 12 weeks old. and this is the first time we have witness anything other than just the ordinary pecking order stuff. All of them get along well.
But The EE are the only roos in the bunch and I think I could have around 4 or 5 not sure just yet.
But this was a stare down grapping necks and really fighting not just bumping chests and play fighting this was all out gonna kick your butt fight.
My husband and I were amazed at just 8 weeks old.
They have enough of room and roost plus other roost for during the day to get on and rocks and logs to walk and peck on .

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

My mother had some aggressive EE cockerals too. All 5 of them found themselves being dinner when they started ganging up on the girls and terrorizing them. They were older though. 8 weeks seems young for heavy fighting.

 

[Homestead girl]

My mother had some aggressive EE cockerals too. All 5 of them found themselves being dinner when they started ganging up on the girls and terrorizing them. They were older though. 8 weeks seems young for heavy fighting.

I thought 8 weeks was a little young also. We were in shock. But one had the other by his feathers around his neck and just wouldn't let go.. It was rough . So if it keeps up they will be put in separate cages and find themselves in the freezer. Which is what will happen to all the rooster anyway except for one .
But these chicks were aggressive even at 2 weeks old compared to my other chick breeds. The EE would peck the crap out of your hand at 2 weeks and the other breed would eat right out of your hand the EE would not eat out of your hand.
Now they do cause everyone else does.

 

[bowen012]

Those EEs sound crazy. Mine (who are around the same age) still behave more chick than chicken much of the time. While they're beginning to show 'chicken' traits; they still play and chirp and generally live a care free life. I'd freak if they went completely Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome at 8 weeks old. Hopefully they work it out one way or the other.

 

[Homestead girl]

Those EEs sound crazy. Mine (who are around the same age) still behave more chick than chicken much of the time. While they're beginning to show 'chicken' traits; they still play and chirp and generally live a care free life. I'd freak if they went completely Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome at 8 weeks old. Hopefully they work it out one way or the other.

I hope they work it out , we will have to build a separate small coop for the trouble maker. My pullets don't seem to have a problem they play and chirp and chase each other around . But the two little roo's not so much.

 

[Homestead girl]

Well today I went to the coop and there were feather's everywhere and I have a wounded EE . His tail feather's have been either pecked or he got hurt fighting. He had blood where is feather's used to be. I have five chick's that are loosing feather . So I think they are either all little roo's or I have one bird that is pecking the heck out of the other's . It is only happening to my EE.
None of the other breed's have this problem.
Frustrated very very frustrated

I think I will put in the camera and see who the culprit is.......

 

[Homestead girl]

Okay put the camera in and I have 7 EE Roo's and they are making each other bald on their back's and all tail feather's are gone. What to do with 7 Roo's . I guess trim the beak's or put them in separate cages. Then the freezer.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Wow that's really bad, just be careful when you trim their beaks not to cut too much. I was given a bunch of hens a few years ago, they were evil ( well just really REALLY aggressive) and killed 2 of the lower flock members in 1 day. It was absolutely a horrible sight, I trimmed all the instigators beaks and that helped for a while. I did cut a couple too short and they bled a bit. The beak will always grow back though unless you cauterize it.