the pecking order has begun.and it is really stressing me out.

[bucky52]

I have a flock of 10.eleven week old chicks.one is a rooster.yesterday he cornered a pullet in the run and pecked her really bad.
he would not let up.i ran in the run and the little pullet was able to escape.i cornered him and picked him up.and i smacked him and fussed at him.(i know that sounds stupid on my part)but i was so mad at him.i come closed to wringing his neck.is that normal to be so mean when they are establishing their pecking order.also he smells really bad like chicken poo.i treated him for cocci a month ago and he smelled bad than.normal ? or not.the rest of the flock does not have that smell.
thanks in advance.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I have a flock of 10.eleven week old chicks.one is a rooster.yesterday he cornered a pullet in the run and pecked her really bad.
he would not let up.i ran in the run and the little pullet was able to escape.i cornered him and picked him up.and i smacked him and fussed at him.(i know that sounds stupid on my part)but i was so mad at him.i come closed to wringing his neck.is that normal to be so mean when they are establishing their pecking order.also he smells really bad like chicken poo.i treated him for cocci a month ago and he smelled bad than.normal ? or not.the rest of the flock does not have that smell.
                                                                                                                                                 thanks in advance.

I don't know about the smelling really bad part but the rest of his behavior is about right for a rooster that age. He will mellow more once he has everyone under his control. I know it's hard to watch that stuff but you are better off not interfering or he will be forced to be even more aggressive to take control. Get some bluekote and a paper cup with a pin hole to spray it through and let them have their tussles. If he draws too much blood he might not be the rooster you want to keep around.

 

[centrarchid]

You may not have enough room for all those birds. Also provide structure birds can hide behind or fly up on when chased.

 

[bucky52]

i did not see any blood.not that i could see.he picks on certain ones.their are four that i have never seen him peck.

 

[bucky52]

the pen is 240.square feet.

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

I literally signed on today determined to get some answers for the exact same trouble. I suppose it would be redunant to post another thread about it, so I might as well tell my issue here (not to highjack or anything, LOL)

I have three 10 Week old chicks - 2 hens and a roo. Then I have two 6 week old chicks, sex unsure at this time. Firstly, I noticed weeks ago that my Mille Fleur Roo is awfully mean to my Buff Orp hen. I had seen him grab her by the comb and drag her around, peck at her, corner her, spur her, etc. I left it alone as I assumed this was him keeping them in line. But last night I noticed the EE hen has started ganging up the BO with the Roo, like some mean little tag team. I found her with her head stuck in a corner, screaming while the other two surrounded her and pecked at her, and pulled her feathers out. They have all been together since hatching, and the two hens seemed to be best buds and even freaked out when seperated. Im not sure why all of a sudden my little Buff Orp is the target of some nasty bullying in a three bird flock!! They are in a HUGE run (55 feet long, 22 feet wide) with a 5X6 coop at night only. Anyhow, I pulled her out of the corner, and took her to the garage with the 6 week olds. After watching for a while, even THEY were bullying on her, cornering her, chasing her away from food, and she eventually flew out of the brooder area and went to sleep on some shop towels in the garage!

THEN - this AM I noticed that my two 6 week old chicks were having trouble. The Silver laced Wyandotte is constantly picking on the Barred Rock, chasing it away from food, etc.

Are my older chicks having a pecking order disruption due to the new 6 week olds making appearances? Has the 10 Week old BO disrupted the pecking order of the two 6 weeks olds now too? Will any of this EVER get better, or should I get rid of the bullys, or the week ones? I fear that if left to thier own devices the BO will be killed they are so mean to her. I remember reading a few days ago that to make it easier on a picked on bird you should carry her around and feed her treats infront of the other chickens, so I did this today with a piece of bread, which they go crazy for. The Roo and the EE just sat at my feet gazing up at the BO in my arms, blissfully eating bread to her hearts content. Then I seperated them again.

Will I ever even be able to introduce those younger chicks to the flock without my Roo killing them???? This is all more complicated than I had anticipated, LOL The whole pecking order thing I mean. Whoever said chickens were dumb was wrong, LOL These buggers are calculated Bullies!

 

[bucky52]

I also was afraid had i not went into the coop that he would have killed her.this morning everthing was quiet and calm.he did shy away from me when i went down to feed and water.

 

[centrarchid]

Take a look at this mess. My chicks are about 5 weeks old and fighting is pretty intense, but transient in mature. All images / videos were recored this morning. Roughly six hours from start problems have stopped. Hopefully, your pecking order issues are also transient in nature, otherwise look into making habitat more complex so parties can avoid aggressors. My guys are looking for each other so a bit different.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/669296/battle-royal-among-american-gamechicks#post_9037034

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

I personally dont see links/vids but id be interested in viewing them, so compare my flocks behavior.

 

[centrarchid]

I personally dont see links/vids but id be interested in viewing them, so compare my flocks behavior.

Now try.