Pecking and mounting at a young age?

nekoatsume · Post by **nekoatsume** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 10:19 am

I have successfully integrated my mutt chicks all together, no fighting between them despite the younger lot being 3-4 weeks old. However, my lone Silkie is picking on its mate - a slightly older "smooth Silkie". Constantly following, pecking, trying to mount. I think these birds are 8-12 weeks old. Is this a sign that my Silkie is a roo? Already?? Or just a bully? He/she leaves the other chicks alone, seems frightened of them even.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 4:32 pm

Probably a cockeral, sorry.

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 4:56 pm

Yep, you might have to split them up for a month or two. When birds are different breeds/ages you have to deal with bullies or the birds on bottom of the picking order. A small pen is helpful (or for bullies i like to use "no peck peepers" commonly used for feather picking in pheasants and great to "slow down" aggressive birds).

nekoatsume · Post by **nekoatsume** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:56 pm

baronrenfrew wrote:QR_BBPOST Yep, you might have to split them up for a month or two. When birds are different breeds/ages you have to deal with bullies or the birds on bottom of the picking order. A small pen is helpful (or for bullies i like to use "no peck peepers" commonly used for feather picking in pheasants and great to "slow down" aggressive birds).

Sorry, I should be more clear - the bird being picked on is one week older, max. These two are very close in age. They are leaving the younger chicks alone.

Post by **WLLady** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 10:57 pm

The one doing the mounting is 99% likely a boy.....and feeling his oats....prob better to separate him from any girls until they are ready to lay...

Post by **Killerbunny** » Sun Aug 14, 2016 7:11 pm

My free range youngsters are just over 9 weeks and one of the boys is not only trying to mount one of his siblings he had a try at an old hen too silly thing! Got a short lesson. BTW the pecking may be the normal neck or head grab a rooster gives the hen when breeding her rather than bullying.

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Mon Aug 15, 2016 3:16 am

I've just cooped up 3 guys, 10 weeks old running around the yard with runaway libidos. Their father was the same way, baby crow at 5 weeks old, harassing the ladies by 3 months. His 3 sons, despite having access to hens and laying age pullets, are hopping on EVERYTHING, including ducklings and even my adolescent turkey tom, Justin. Figured I better lock them up before they killed a duckling or Justin took greater offence and killed one of the cockerels. I think you likely have a precocious boy rather than a bully, and if you will want him to breed any of the pullets he's with in the future, you should give him his own space (or some more willing hens lol). If the pullets take a dislike to him, when you actually want them fertilized, they will just eject the sperm of roosters they don't like.