Pecking order and taming

[kvmommy]

So my first flock of chickens are about 5 weeks old. When in the brooder box they are fine, but when they are outside they sometimes fly at eachother or chase eachother around. I'm assuming this is normal. Also, my biggest (jersey giant), Hannibal, is the friendliest with me, but will also peck me hard and kind of attack. Sound like a roo? Or is that a typical behavior? Hawk, my 2nd biggest and Hannibal seem to go at it the most. And Hawk is always chasing my littlest byalmost half their size, Silvermist around. Silvermist always fights back and follows Hannibal everywhere. 3 EE's always wander by themselves and are by far the most nervous. Then I have 3 that just kind of go with the flow. Sooo...what do you guys think? I'm wondering if from this behavior you can tell if its maybe a roo or most dominant hen?

How long til you tame them? I have been handling them daily since they hatched. Only Hannibal and Cinderella (one of the chill ones) let me touch them. I give them treats and they will noot eat out of my hand. And if you want to know why Hannibal is named thus...he cannibalized a pipping chick in the incubator (it died) and he's always biting me.

 

[Katydid2011]

Mine are very friendly but I spend a lot of time just hanging out with them. I take them outside in a portable dog fence, sit down in the middle of it, and let them scratch around me, hop up onto my lap, and I talk to them and hand out treats. Some are aloof but I think it's a matter of breed type more than anything.

As for the posturing that they do, the chest bumping and chasing one another around, they're establishing a pecking order. Of course, cockerels are typically more aggressive, so I imagine you're seeing some of that, too. Thankfully, they're not all aggressive. If I had an unpredictable cockerel, I don't think I'd keep it.

I love hearing their names, by the way!

 

[ketcham]

I am keeping mine in the garage until it warms up a bit.Take them out every morning and bring them in at night.Thet look forward to me taking them out,but hate coming in a night.Once in they are OK.Have not had one peck or try to bite me yet.They seem to like to hang out with me when I sit in the driveway.Hope they stay this way.They don't like to be handled but are used to it.Kevin