So this happened yesterday; 12 week old Cockerel being a good boy!

[thistlewick]

We have 2 flocks -- I would love them to integrate but, since there are 2 coops, they just won't and don't care to. It's fine - but they live right next to each other and know each other.

They are all youngsters! I bought chicks over several weeks so I have; 13 weeks, 12 weeks, 11 weeks, 7 weeks and 6 weeks.

My 12 week old Cockerel (Sarge) is LOVELY so far. Very much a gentleman, does all the Cockerel things. Shows where food is, keeps the peace...

Yesterday we were moving the tractors to their final resting spot and the littles were in a smaller pen. The big flock (and Sarge) was browsing around the smaller pen, we were moving the smaller 7 and 6 week old chicks one at a time to their tractor from the pen and we were almost done -- only the biggest chick George (a Cockerel) and Tilly, the smallest very runty chick were left. As SOON as we left those two together, George went AFTER Tilly - hardcore pinning her neck down and she was SCREAMING.

We turned around but SARGE WAS ON IT!!! He blew our minds!!! He came RIGHT OVER to the pen and told George what was up, he couldn't even touch George but it didn't matter... he communicated it somehow and George stopped right away.

Sarge stayed by the pen until we were able to drop the chick we had off and come back and get Tilly out.

MAN... I was so proud of Sarge. I praised him so much. I did NOT expect him to come break up a fight in the smaller separate flock. I AM SO PROUD OF HIM!!

Is it normal for a Cockerel to mind other hens that really aren't his? Is it fluid like that?

 

[The Coop Crew]

Nice job Sarge!!!!

 

[FloridaChook]

This played out like a short film for me. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STORY!! TRULY A GREAT YOUNG MAN

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Yes it is normal. Sarge is further establishing that he the top of the pecking order. In a hierarchical system the alphas choose when and with who everyone breeds. George is a young cockerel who was trying to assert dominance and attempt to mate with Tilly. Sarge saw this as a potential threat to being at the top and inserted himself into the situation immediately to ensure George knew who the real boss. Sarge as the top of the pecking order is the guardian and everyone in his eyes is under his protection until he says otherwise.

 

[thistlewick]

Yes it is normal. Sarge is further establishing that he the top of the pecking order. In a hierarchical system the alphas choose when and with who everyone breeds. George is a young cockerel who was trying to assert dominance and attempt to mate with Tilly. Sarge saw this as a potential threat to being at the top and inserted himself into the situation immediately to ensure George knew who the real boss. Sarge as the top of the pecking order is the guardian and everyone in his eyes is under his protection until he says otherwise.

Do you think George is too aggressive? Sarge is much gentler with his dominance over 'his' flock. I've only witnessed him push a hen's neck down once - and it wasn't an attempt to mate, he was chastising her behavior.

I don't have eyes on them 24/7 but I do have eyes on them a LOT. Sarge generally leads by example and when he needs to tell a hen what's what, he just... bodily inserts himself into the situation.

George doing that to Tilly was the first time I'd ever seen him do something so aggressive -- that flock is smaller, only 7 birds (to Sarge's 13)

Do I need to keep an eye on George?

 

[Ridgerunner]

They are all youngsters! I bought chicks over several weeks so I have; 13 weeks, 12 weeks, 11 weeks, 7 weeks and 6 weeks.........................Do you think George is too aggressive?

They are all still very immature. You did not mention 12-week-old Sarge trying to mate any of the pullets so he probably isn't. That means the hormones of adolescence probably haven't kicked in yet. Often when they do the cockerel tries to mate the pullets to establish dominance. The pullets typically resist, usually by trying to run away. The cockerel may chase them down and force them or he may let them go. This has nothing to do with sex, there aren't any eggs to fertilize. It is about establishing dominance. Sometimes adolescence is not nearly as bad as I make it sound, sometimes it is worse.

George is 6 to 7 weeks old, still a baby. Hormones have nothing to do with it. Personality does though. I've had chicks 2-weeks-old bump each other and "fight" to start working on the pecking order. That's usually funnier to watch than it is threatening. It can be the pullets as well as the cockerels. So some aggression is normal.

When George had Tilly pinned down was he just holding her down or was he pecking at her head? If he was just holding her down I would not worry too much, he's probably trying to establish dominance against a weaker chick. If he was pecking at her head he was trying to kill her. I'd call pecking her head too aggressive and would probably want to isolate him or get rid if him. I've had that happen twice, a 15-week-old cockerel killed another 15-week-old cockerel and a 2-week-old chick killed another 2-week-old chick by pecking the head.

I'd keep an eye on him. If he wasn't pecking the head I would not worry that much. You never know what will happen with living animals, even chicks.

Good luck!

 

[thistlewick]

They are all still very immature. You did not mention 12-week-old Sarge trying to mate any of the pullets so he probably isn't. That means the hormones of adolescence probably haven't kicked in yet. Often when they do the cockerel tries to mate the pullets to establish dominance. The pullets typically resist, usually by trying to run away. The cockerel may chase them down and force them or he may let them go. This has nothing to do with sex, there aren't any eggs to fertilize. It is about establishing dominance. Sometimes adolescence is not nearly as bad as I make it sound, sometimes it is worse.

George is 6 to 7 weeks old, still a baby. Hormones have nothing to do with it. Personality does though. I've had chicks 2-weeks-old bump each other and "fight" to start working on the pecking order. That's usually funnier to watch than it is threatening. It can be the pullets as well as the cockerels. So some aggression is normal.

When George had Tilly pinned down was he just holding her down or was he pecking at her head? If he was just holding her down I would not worry too much, he's probably trying to establish dominance against a weaker chick. If he was pecking at her head he was trying to kill her. I'd call pecking her head too aggressive and would probably want to isolate him or get rid if him. I've had that happen twice, a 15-week-old cockerel killed another 15-week-old cockerel and a 2-week-old chick killed another 2-week-old chick by pecking the head.

I'd keep an eye on him. If he wasn't pecking the head I would not worry that much. You never know what will happen with living animals, even chicks.

Good luck!

I was a bit frazzled and all I recall is that he had her held down -- just asked my husband, who witnessed it as well, if any pecking was happening or just holding down and he confirmed it was George holding down Tilly and she was NOT happy with that.


We had not previously seen George do anything so aggressive. He is super active, super observant, super busy and super bossy and super curious but never has been aggressive before. We will keep an eye on him! Thank you so much!!