The Ugly Side of Raising Chickens

This past week has introduced me to the nasty side of chicken behavior...I have witnessed chickens get nasty with their "pecking order" in the past, but this time it had dire consequenses. I think the biggest surprise to me is that it happened in a group of 6 1/2-7 1/2 week old chicks, born and raised together, for no apparent reason. Two of 10 chicks, both cockerals, ganged up on another cockeral, with near-fatal results. The entire story is on my blog, http://www.pixiechickens.com/2009/06/08/the-ugly-side-of-raising-chickens/, if you'd like to read more. I would love to hear from members that have experienced this before...I would really like to know if this is a genetic trait, or if I could have done something to prevent this. I feel sad, I feel guilty, I feel angry, I feel relieved, all at the same time...I am hoping that I will never have to do this again...

Juliette
Charleston, SC

Sometimes "sibling" chicks will get along and sometimes they don't. The picture is of two Birchen Cochen roos. They grew up together as well but do not get along. I happened to have my camera when these two went at it, we broke them up and put one back in the pen. We usually don't let them out together and keep them seperated. Funny thing is one of these is the sweetest thing and the other will come after you.
We also had a bunch we hatched out a couple of years ago and only two of them got along.

Hi Juliette, and welcome to DG Poultry Thread!

I'm sorry that happened to you.. I read your blog and was left with a mix of emotions also! That lil guy you saved is so darling!
What a huge loss to lose 2 potentially great breeders, but if that is something they will carry to their offspring.. in my opinion, you did a good thing. Personally, I don't know if it's genetic or not. I'm sure I wouldn't want them though!

I can say I have some Ameraucana LF chicks that are a couple of weeks old.. and a batch of Serama babiez that had to go in the brooder with them.. I was so worried.. but when I added the tiny Seramas, the big giant babiez were totally scared of the tiny ones.. and have since completely accepted them. They snuggled in a pile not long after introduction. That made me love the Ameraucanas even more! I've found Modern Game bantams to be as loving and tolerant. Those are the kinds of birds I want.. it's so peaceful..

I have 2 chickens that are nasty. As soon as my other 3 start laying I'm selling them. They are free roaming (6 all together) but they all sleep together and the 2 don't share and they'll peck if another gets too close. They are just snobby biddies.
I'm glad you saved RockRoad. I would have done the same. But someone else would have to do the dirty work.
And my husband is building a new pen, almost finished, and I'm expecting them to be locked in for a week or two until they learn their new place to lay eggs. I'll have to watch out to see how far the nasties will go. Thanks for the info on this.

I would like to thank everyone for all your words of wisdom regarding this "incident". I now have Rocky Road in a separate cage in the same run as the rest of his "littermates", (minus the two rogue roosters), because he misses their companionship. He very quickly adapted to an indoor-lifestyle, and was content to sit on our lap or shoulder for hours at a time, just hanging out, preening himself. He protested loudly when put back into his separate pen. I was hoping that his littermates would learn to accept him again, but I'm not sure that will happen...Yesterday was the first time he was near the other chicks, and he was not well received. I have to keep him separated till his scabs heal and feathers can grow back, but I'm afraid he will never fit in again. Out of 10 chicks, only 2 were female...I'm hoping I can put the females with him when the time comes, just for companionship. These chicks were purchased when they were 2 1/2 weeks old...my first hatch is due Friday or Saturday, so I have no one else to keep him company.

Thanks again for all your advice and words of encouragement!

Juliette
Charleston, SC