Fearless/Agressive chick??

[Friendsbymail]

My son and I got 10 chicks over the weekend. All between 3 and 8 days old. 9 different breeds. Since we wanted them as "pets that poop breakfast" and I do child care, we went for breeds that claimed to be extremely docile and even friendly and cuddly. As well as good to great layers. Most if the babies are typical in demeanor. They run from the hand that appears in the crate but calm down once you've got hold of it. However, we have 1 pullet that will jump at my hand and peck any time I'm in there. Of course I can' remember which breed she is. Either Welsummer or buckeye. However, she adores my 10 year old son. She never pecks at him and will hold still and let him pick her up. In fact we chose specifically her because when he went to catch one at the store, she sat there watching him and just hopped right into his hand. She begged to go home with him! Is it normal from day 1 that they would love one person instantly and be aggessive towards another? She seems to do just fine with the other babies. Though I do wonder if she will be at the top of the pecking order. Am I doing something wrong with her? Or is this normal? Should I be concerned about this aggression carrying over to the toddlers and preschoolers I watch? Is there some way to help her like me? Or to kind of train her to be nicer? Any helps would be great. I cannot have an aggressive chicken

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

It isn't really aggression probably at this age. Mostly confidence... and POSSIBLY a cockerel!

That is MOST often when we see this type of behavior at my house.

 

[Friendsbymail]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

It isn't really aggression probably at this age. Mostly confidence... and POSSIBLY a cockerel!

That is MOST often when we see this type of behavior at my house.

Supposedly a pullet. Of course mistakes can be made. But when I noticed her "cockiness" I did wonder. I have read that one way to distinguish is that pulleys have 2 rows of wing feathers? I don' know how true this is. But I did stretch her wing and she does have 2 rows of the feathers (sorry if my lingo is off) so I'm guessing we do have a girl. So.. We watch. And hopefully she will calm down. Or.. at least keep her pecks gentle. As long as she' not hurting anyone

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Post a pic...we can help you sort out breed and possibly gender(its kind of early for that).
Wing feather sexing applies only to birds bred specifically for the trait and only applies from hatch to three days of age

 

[Aji Dulce]

My son and I got 10 chicks over the weekend. All between 3 and 8 days old. 9 different breeds. Since we wanted them as "pets that poop breakfast" and I do child care, we went for breeds that claimed to be extremely docile and even friendly and cuddly. As well as good to great layers. Most if the babies are typical in demeanor. They run from the hand that appears in the crate but calm down once you've got hold of it. However, we have 1 pullet that will jump at my hand and peck any time I'm in there. Of course I can' remember which breed she is. Either Welsummer or buckeye. However, she adores my 10 year old son. She never pecks at him and will hold still and let him pick her up. In fact we chose specifically her because when he went to catch one at the store, she sat there watching him and just hopped right into his hand. She begged to go home with him! Is it normal from day 1 that they would love one person instantly and be aggessive towards another? She seems to do just fine with the other babies. Though I do wonder if she will be at the top of the pecking order. Am I doing something wrong with her? Or is this normal? Should I be concerned about this aggression carrying over to the toddlers and preschoolers I watch? Is there some way to help her like me? Or to kind of train her to be nicer? Any helps would be great. I cannot have an aggressive chicken

I think you have a little testosterone going on there, he may be a rooster because it reminds me of one I have. They are five weeks old now and from the very beginning Jat came running ahead of the other chicks to see what was going on, whether to be petted or get the first of the feed. They instinctively form their pecking order and it starts early. Normal behavior. I know that birds can have special attachments to one person. The other thing is that chicks have an aversion to something that comes at them from above, it’s a reaction to possible air predator so I found it best to put my hand into the brooder, then move it sideways to where I needed to pick up or leave something and even when picking up a chick scoop him up instead of taking him from above. Try that.

 

[ChickieChickieMama]

Two things that come to mind immediately to me here:

1. Do you wear rings? I presume your son doesn't. (S)he might see light flash on them or just find them curious which could cause the pecking.

2. Do you do things to your son like pick him up, move him, restrain him, admonish him, etc? Not even in a mean way, but I'm thinking normal things we do with our children to protect them and our pets from one another when they are small. If so, perhaps she sees you as a potential predator to your son! Chickens are very smart and she may be trying to protect your son from you in her weird chicken logic way haha!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Regarding breed....buckeye and welsummer have differing comb tupes.....if the comb area on this chick looks like a little saw blade, it's a welsummer as that will grow into a single comb