redinator
Songster
This chick (Jerk Chicken)
has been a bit of a bully since day one. I have suspected that this chick was male from hatch just based on that behavior. Yesterday (4 weeks old on Monday) one of the other chicks finally had enough and pinned him in the corner and pecked the crap out him (no blood that I could see). I broke up the fight, but didn't remove either chick initially. I waited a few minutes to see if Jerk Chicken would take the hint or keep being a bully.
Jerk Chicken was running scared and since the other chick (Taz) finally had the upper hand he wanted to drill his point home. Now, you may feel sorry for Jerk Chicken, but he had it coming. He has been named Jerk Chicken for a reason.
I let them be if it was a little squabble here and there because I know they have to sort it out, but I won't stand by and watch them kill each other. Anytime it got too rough I would remove one of the chicks, alternating between the two for 15-20 mins at a time. It took 3-4 times per chick but they finally settled down. I turned off the lights earlier than usual and covered their pen and they all settled down to sleep.
The next morning their were a few scuffles when I put in fresh food and water, so I added a second of feeder and waterer, and that seemed to end the most of the arguments for the day. As I observed their behavior throughout the day I realized Taz had made his point and starting protecting the other chicks when Jerk Chicken went for them too. I know this probably isn't the end of it, but I love that Jerk Chicken has finally gotten a taste of his own medicine. Taz is a much calmer chick and I've never seen him attack any of the other chicks, except Jerk Chicken, so I hope he keeps his top spot, but only time will tell.
Today while shooting video for ID shots (I'll be posting those later) I noticed these red/pink spots under Jerk Chicken's neck. I'm pretty sure they're wattle development, but after the scuffles yesterday I want to make sure it's not an injury. I don't see blood, just bare patches just behind his beak and the two sides seem uniform, which I wouldn't expect to see with an injury.
has been a bit of a bully since day one. I have suspected that this chick was male from hatch just based on that behavior. Yesterday (4 weeks old on Monday) one of the other chicks finally had enough and pinned him in the corner and pecked the crap out him (no blood that I could see). I broke up the fight, but didn't remove either chick initially. I waited a few minutes to see if Jerk Chicken would take the hint or keep being a bully.Jerk Chicken was running scared and since the other chick (Taz) finally had the upper hand he wanted to drill his point home. Now, you may feel sorry for Jerk Chicken, but he had it coming. He has been named Jerk Chicken for a reason.
I let them be if it was a little squabble here and there because I know they have to sort it out, but I won't stand by and watch them kill each other. Anytime it got too rough I would remove one of the chicks, alternating between the two for 15-20 mins at a time. It took 3-4 times per chick but they finally settled down. I turned off the lights earlier than usual and covered their pen and they all settled down to sleep.
The next morning their were a few scuffles when I put in fresh food and water, so I added a second of feeder and waterer, and that seemed to end the most of the arguments for the day. As I observed their behavior throughout the day I realized Taz had made his point and starting protecting the other chicks when Jerk Chicken went for them too. I know this probably isn't the end of it, but I love that Jerk Chicken has finally gotten a taste of his own medicine. Taz is a much calmer chick and I've never seen him attack any of the other chicks, except Jerk Chicken, so I hope he keeps his top spot, but only time will tell.
Today while shooting video for ID shots (I'll be posting those later) I noticed these red/pink spots under Jerk Chicken's neck. I'm pretty sure they're wattle development, but after the scuffles yesterday I want to make sure it's not an injury. I don't see blood, just bare patches just behind his beak and the two sides seem uniform, which I wouldn't expect to see with an injury.
