Are some broods of chicks just more aggressive than others?

[Lil Country]

I have 16 chicks ranging from 2 weeks to 2 days. I have 4 breeds, so far my speckled Sussex are the aggressive ones in the bunch. They are housed with RIR and they are very sweet. I do believe certain temperaments are more prevalent in certain breeds.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I'm hopeful it was a temporary reaction to rough hatchery handling.

This is another difference between the two groups that I forgot to mention! The first were picked up in a farm store the day after hatch. This second group spent over 48 hours in the mail . My husband thinks they're a little behind developmentally because of spending those first few days in a dark box under duress. Glad to hear yours came around.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I have 4 breeds, so far my speckled Sussex are the aggressive ones in the bunch.

That's really interesting because I've always heard that Speckled Sussex are very people oriented. Are they nippy with each other or just with you?

We had RIR hybrids last time, and they were absolutely perfect as chicks. Quiet, gentle, and very self-sufficient.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That's really interesting because I've always heard that Speckled Sussex are very people oriented. Are they nippy with each other or just with you?

We had RIR hybrids last time, and they were absolutely perfect as chicks. Quiet, gentle, and very self-sufficient.

If you read enough posts on this forum you will find chickens of any breed can be absolute monsters toward other chickens or toward humans or both. You will find that chickens of any breed can be absolute sweethearts toward other chickens or humans or both. RIR's probably have the worst reputation on this forum for being brutes toward other chickens and humans. You've had experience with RIR hybrids. What do you think?

I think our experiences have a large effect as to our perceptions, as they should. I also think that many people compare normal chicken behaviors to what is accepted for humans and find chickens lacking. Personally I look at each chicken's actual behaviors instead of assuming anything because of breed.

 

[Lil Country]

That's really interesting because I've always heard that Speckled Sussex are very people oriented. Are they nippy with each other or just with you?

We had RIR hybrids last time, and they were absolutely perfect as chicks. Quiet, gentle, and very self-sufficient.

I got 4 chicks from a breeder and suspect 2 of them are Roos already at 2 weeks. They a very flighty, skittish, stirring the pot and peck at the other chicks. The Roos will also peck my hand when I reach in. I won’t be keeping the Roos. Loving the RIR very sweet.