Yesterday I got humped, today, I got bitten!

[CrazyFowlFreak]

All done by a RIR/SLW mix. He's about 5-6 weeks old!

I have never, ever, had a baby chick do this before. Is it common? Little turd will be freezer camping in a few weeks if he doesn't stop.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

This is about the age that chicks start working our their pecking orders. He is challenging your place in it so is trying to dominate you.

What I do when they are this age is as soon as he jumps me I thump him up side his head with my finger (not so hard as to injure him) then chase him around the brooder box for a while. Just don't do it so vigorously that you cause the others to panic to the point they could injure themselves. You just want to keep him moving away from you. Chase him around a bit and every time he stops your thump his head again until he avoids you every time you put your hands in the box. This should convince him that he is NOT above you in the pecking order.

When they are old enough to go onto the ground don't ever move out of HIS way. Make him move out of YOUR way. Every time. This will keep him reminded that you are the boss bird and not him.

There are the occasional cock birds that simply will not be convinced so are better off in the pot, but most of them if you start in the brooder and don't let up on them will be well behaved.

.....Alan.

 

[Happy Chooks]

A.T. Hagan :

This is about the age that chicks start working our their pecking orders. He is challenging your place in it so is trying to dominate you.

What I do when they are this age is as soon as he jumps me I thump him up side his head with my finger (not so hard as to injure him) then chase him around the brooder box for a while. Just don't do it so vigorously that you cause the others to panic to the point they could injure themselves. You just want to keep him moving away from you. Chase him around a bit and every time he stops your thump his head again until he avoids you every time you put your hands in the box. This should convince him that he is NOT above you in the pecking order.

When they are old enough to go onto the ground don't ever move out of HIS way. Make him move out of YOUR way. Every time. This will keep him reminded that you are the boss bird and not him.

There are the occasional cock birds that simply will not be convinced so are better off in the pot, but most of them if you start in the brooder and don't let up on them will be well behaved.

.....Alan.

This is exactly what I do. I had a pure Ameraucana pullet challenge me and bite my finger. I thumped her with my index finger on her head until she backed away. (it took about 4 thumps before that happened) She tried one more time with me, with the same results. She's sweet as pie now. (and yes, I'm positive she's a female)

I also do not move out of my roosters way. I walk right through him and make him yield to me. I've taught my kids to do the same. I also don't let him mate in front of me. It only took once of him being knocked off a hen. (he wasn't very happy, but he hasn't tried again - although he will mount a hen once I turn my back)​

 

[nelgkel]

lol about knocking the rooster off the hen!

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

Thanks for the great advice! I'll try it this evening on the little stink.