What to do with one aggressive chick?

[Lori Hageman]

I have 14 4 week old chicks. All are doing very well except we noticed bare spots on the back of some. After some further observation we have one chicken that is relentless in pecking all the others and she has caused these spots. I have removed her from the coop (they all got moved outside this last weekend) and put her back in the brooder by herself for awhile (timeout). How long do you think I should wait before re-introducing her? She is a brown leghorn if that matter. Thanks for your help!

 

[YdogsflY]

You don't give chickens "Timeout." They aren't children who will learn from this sort of thing. Removing a single bird from the flock alienates them from the rest of the flock. Reintroduction will need to be done as if it's a new bird you are adding.

They work out their pecking order on their own. Best to let it go.

 

[PD-Riverman]

You don't give chickens "Timeout." They aren't children who will learn from this sort of thing. Removing a single bird from the flock alienates them from the rest of the flock. Reintroduction will need to be done as if it's a new bird you are adding.

They work out their pecking order on their own. Best to let it go.

I want to respectfully Dis-agree---what you are saying is true in a way if you plan to keep it. I am like this---if I got one chick bullying all the rest to the point of hurting them, pulling feathers out, etc, etc----It ain't going to happen on my farm----I will pull "it" out---wring its neck and feed it to the buzzards before I would just let it happen. Just like a rooster that attacks me or my family----he is domed. To each their own. I personally will remove the bully and when I put it back in a couple weeks---what it does then will determine its Future.

 

[YdogsflY]

A crazed cockerel after humans I can understand, but chicks usually work their own stuff out imo. Maybe I've been lucky over the years.

I also disagree leaving it for the buzzards. That chick sure would make a fine Marsala.

 

[Lori Hageman]

I want to respectfully Dis-agree---what you are saying is true in a way if you plan to keep it. I am like this---if I got one chick bullying all the rest to the point of hurting them, pulling feathers out, etc, etc----It ain't going to happen on my farm----I will pull "it" out---wring its neck and feed it to the buzzards before I would just let it happen. Just like a rooster that attacks me or my family----he is domed. To each their own. I personally will remove the bully and when I put it back in a couple weeks---what it does then will determine its Future.

Thank you, if her aggression continues do you think giving her to a neighbor with adult hens is an option or should I just get rid of her?
.

 

[YdogsflY]

Thank you, if her aggression continues do you think giving her to a neighbor with adult hens is an option or should I just get rid of her?
.

The answer is always Marsala.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thank you, if her aggression continues do you think giving her to a neighbor with adult hens is an option or should I just get rid of her?
.

I do not know if you know my back-ground---I have had over 1200 chickens in 67 chicken pens in 2015---I am only at about 200 right now. I do not tolerate "bullies" I do try to break them(break their pecking order) if possible. I normanally attend a Auction weekly so if I got a bully I really wanted to keep but trying to break it does not work----sure It takes the nest ride out----BUT if I did not attend the Auctions---if I could not find another home---As My Mother-in-Law says----"the Buzzards have to eat too"!!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

A crazed cockerel after humans I can understand, but chicks usually work their own stuff out imo. Maybe I've been lucky over the years.

I also disagree leaving it for the buzzards. That chick sure would make a fine Marsala.

Well I work with a lot of chickens, I have seen some seriously Hurt chickens from bullies. Dead chicks, Great broody hens head picked to the skull including one eye and the hen lived---not a little hole---No meat on its head from just above the eye's but one eye got pecked out, comb completely gone. I have seen a lot of really torn up chickens in my time. Like I said above---I made up my mind---"it ain't going to happen any more on my farm" if I can do something about it. When you got 100's and 100's of chickens in up to 67 chicken pens----having to remove 2 or 3 or 4 bullies is a small price to pay to keep the other 1000 from being harmed. So I do not tolerate it. BUT as with any other thing you own----always raise your chickens your way---That's what I do!!

LOL, don't have time to make "Marsala"!!

 

[YdogsflY]

Well, a chickens favorite meal is chicken.

Your strategy works for you and that's great. Differing circumstances are what make informed decisions and knowledgeable people. I'm learning from your posts. Thanks for sharing.