Sudden extreme aggression from one chick--possible rooster?

[sophiehatter1057]

I have 12 almost 3 week old chicks: 6 australorps (4 black, 2 blue) and 6 easter eggers. They were supposed to be sexed pullets (from a feed store that got them from Ideal). The order was completely different breeds from what the feed store had ordered, so I wonder if females/males might have been mixed up too.

Even though it's too early to tell, I am willing to bet most of what I own that one of the black australorps is a rooster. He's got a very red, adorably prominent little comb, and zero tail feathers, and his chirp is an octave lower than the rest. So far, he has been super sweet and gentle. I can't keep roosters here and what consoles me is that my good friend intends to give him a good home.

Today, he and one of the easter eggers were going at it viciously. Nothing like this happened before, and it went way beyond the pecking order stuff I've been watching the 12 engage in. It ended with the easter egger tearing out feathers and eating them. I'm pretty sure the easter egger is the instigator. Does this level of aggression suggest a rooster? If it's causing harm and I can't keep it anyway, I'm wondering if it's better to part with it sooner rather than later?

(All of their needs are well met: good temperature, huge clean brooder, tons of fresh clean water and food)

 

[nuthatched]

Not really, the most aggressive birds I've had have been hens.

 

[sophiehatter1057]

Not really, the most aggressive birds I've had have been hens.

Thank you! Did they mellow out? How did you manage them?

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you! Did they mellow out? How did you manage them?

When
you catch it being aggressive, peck it with fingers. Hard.

 

[LaFleche]

They may be bored.

Install a nice dust/sand bath and some twigs/branches to jump on. A nice sod of grass will provide some entertainment as well as they get busy scratching up all kinds of little bugs etc.
Raw broccoli works wonders, apple slices too.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have 12 almost 3 week old chicks: 6 australorps (4 black, 2 blue) and 6 easter eggers. They were supposed to be sexed pullets (from a feed store that got them from Ideal). The order was completely different breeds from what the feed store had ordered, so I wonder if females/males might have been mixed up too.

Those chicks are not sex-linked or autosexing so they were vent sexed. Vent sexing has about a 90% success rate. Out of 12 chicks the odds are you will have one boy. Odds are just odds. You could have 0, 1, or more boys.

Today, he and one of the easter eggers were going at it viciously. Nothing like this happened before, and it went way beyond the pecking order stuff I've been watching the 12 engage in. It ended with the easter egger tearing out feathers and eating them. I'm pretty sure the easter egger is the instigator. Does this level of aggression suggest a rooster? If it's causing harm and I can't keep it anyway, I'm wondering if it's better to part with it sooner rather than later?

Once you identify one and you know you can't keep it I think it is best to get rid of it as soon as you can. That's not just because you are paying to feed it or it is causing trouble, but mainly because you don't want to become attached any more than you have to be. They do not always cause trouble.

Pullets that age can engage in that behavior. Cockerels are more likely to but pullets can instigate and respond to this behavior. I've seen two young pullets lay their hackle feathers back and go to it.

I do not consider this from boredom or anything like that. You say they a have a lot of room, how much? To me, the best boredon buster is simply room.

I consider it instinctive behavior to develop the pecking order. Some start a lot younger than others. I've seen this type of behavior when they have unlimited room and lots of distractions. I consider this play-fighting, similar to what puppies in a litter or calves in a herd of cattle do.