Sparing Chicks

[kingmt]

I had two chicks less then a month old sparing yesterday. They are Road Island Reds. I never seen this before. They were more into it then I have seen game cooks. I was dumb founded that the fight lasted about 15 minutes. There was only about 5 minutes total of jumping & kicking with the rest of the time pecking & holding.

I just thought this was interesting because I have never seen a real fight with chicks before.

 

[PeeperKeeper]

All chicks will spar. Roos do it excessively at that age.

 

[Bluebyrd]

All chicks will spar. Roos do it excessively at that age.

Oh Really??? UH OH...

It seems like most of mine love to "spar", it doesn't get vicious or last too long for the most part. Does that mean that the ones that do the most sparring have a good chance of being roos?? That would 3 of my Ameraucana/EEs - they love it! They are of course the ones I like best.....the most friendly and the ones who hop up onto us.

(sigh)​

 

[cochinbantam-lover]

My babies are two weeks and a couple days, I am not sure if they are roos or pullets but they go at it sometimes. Jumping at each other feet first.

It's cute right now but won't be when they are grown up! Then it could get serious!

 

[codybird]

I have 9 week old BSL pullets and they have rarely sparred.

When they do it lasts only seconds.

You might be roo heavy.

 

[SarahFair]

I have week old sex links and notice that the boys are always jumping at something or someone more so than the girls. When I put my hand down in the brooder they are usually the fist ones to run over and poke at it.

 

[columbiacritter]

My grandfather used to get hatching eggs form a guy who did plymouths, RIR's and fighting birds. Occasionally we'd end up with some eggs from his fighting stock and could always tell who they were within the first week. Some of them would be so agressive they would have to be separated before they were a week old. It was funny to see a tiny ball of fluff that was a total psyco.

 

[kingmt]

I have seen them peck at each other & jump a few times but this is the first time to see a drawn out fight. Iv'e watch game birds & most of the time they get tired faster then this.

 

[Lollipop]

Relax you guys. At under three months pullets are usually as apt to scrap as are the guys. Some breeds are the exception, but nothing ya`ll are likely to have..........Pop

 

[Goose and Fig]

If they are both roos- RIR's can be a little agressive. I got 2 from McMurray- they sent an extra just in case. I ended up having to seperate them- even though the hen-to-roo ratio was good. I wouldn't worry about them right now though- probably too young to do any damage to each other.