Juvenile delinquent roos

[rlcrn02]

I am having juvenile bantam roo issues and could use some help as I have run out of ideas. I have 2 14 week olds that were in a group of 11 chicks. At 8 weeks old, they started terrorizing the others in the group. Not just pecking but grabbing and holding on while the pullets try to run away. I put them in a separate pen but still in the coop. Then one of the roos started terrorizing his penmate, so I put the aggressor in with my grown flock thinking my alpha roo would set him straight He just ignores him but he behaves with them as he is bottom of the pecking order. We are starting to integrate all age groups, which would be going smoothly, except for these two. Yesterday I put pinless peepers on them. It didn't slow them down at all. Has anyone else used these on bantams? I thought maybe they still can see too well due to their heads being narrower. I thought it might help if I add a flap of duct tape to narrow the line of vision near their beaks. Hoping with time they will chill enough to keep. The more aggressive of the 2 is my 10 yr old daughter's so "rehoming" isn't an option.

 

[GitaBooks]

The terrible teens! I've had SOO many issues with that, believe me, it is normal.

Bantams have a very strong aggressive drive because they are naturally a little more feral then production birds, which are selected for ease of confinement or handling. Yes, bantam roosters can be nasty, and sometimes just plain nothing can be done but getting rid of one or the other (or both). With a enough hens and space they may just create mini-flocks and share rooster duties, such as my chickens do, but once you get more then three or four roosters in a flock, they start acting all crazy and getting hurt. I have a few too many right now and have to get rid of a few because of the stress and injuries. However, formerly aggressive roosters tend to settle down with their sibling is gone. Could you get rid of one of them and keep your daughter's? Once they hit full maturity and find they're place they tend to settle way down and just do their thing. I've had a few feisty guys who turned out to be wonderful guardians and fathers with age and space (and plenty of hens to keep them busy).

Hiding places, multiple perches, multiple water and food sites and visual barriers greatly decreases fighting and injuries in my flock and is very helpful. You could try this as well.

I hope this helps some. Best of luck! : )

 

[chickens really]

Roosters are bratts.
I have 32, 3 week old chicks.
Lots of Cockerels in the mix. All day long they chase, posture and fight.
Can not wait to finally be down to the one Cockerel.
Have your little girl pick out a hen as a pet. I had a Rooster last year that attacked me everyday.
He was a Standard Buff Polish Crested. The older he got the meaner he was.
An old man came and got him. The man loves the nasty bird!
Haha!!