Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[mimi5]

So my hatching adventure & learning curve continues! Now, just starting today the biggest cockerel chick is fighting and terrorising his 2 brothers!! A little blood was dawn on combs too. They are pekins and are only 7 weeks old!!! I've been swapping them over to growers pellets this week (they seem to like them, leaving the chick crumb behind!) and as I was home they were freeranging when the fighting started.

 

I do have a small holding who are taking them, but I am worried about the fighting and didn't think thy could go for atleast another week or so. Not sure what to do for the best???? My hubby thinks maybe he should be culled

 

I just feel bewildered. They had been fine all together with their sister who I am keeping.

 

Has anyone experienced anything like this before??

 

Any ideas/advice appreciated!

[miller30]

Ive had chicks fight like this the more room you can give them the better it can just blow over its your decision if you want to cull him if they are not with their mum anymore they will be fine to go off to the smallholding chances are they will be a bit shocked to have gone to a new home and may settle down leanne

[sjp]

sounds like normal chicks sorting out the pecking order I found this year with haveing 4 boys in one brood that the pecking order was sorted out quicker than last year with only 2 boys to a brood.

you might that once you seperate the girl/s out that the boys calm down

[mimi5]

Thanks So much for the replies! But this morning they are just terrified and it's much worse than yesterday. They are throwing themselves at the run wire trying to get out!!!! I can't give them any more room, don't have anymore pens either and I'm at work 7.30-7pm tomorrow!!

 

The 2 frightened boys are now in the coop and I've given them food and water. They don't want to come out!!!

 

So do you think that this cockerel will be spiteful as he grows up??? His dad is the sweetest chicken (shouldn't have favs....but he's mine) Should I say anything to the lady at the small holding? A slight complication is she currently has no adult chickens....Mr fox got some and she had a breeding group stollen!!!!! So she is having the boys and had eggs in the incy when I spoke to her a couple of weeks back.

 

So the boys would have to be together for a while.

 

So upset and sad, I thought I could keep them for atleast another week, then I have their sister who I'm keeping and was going to add my younger chicks (5 wks at the mo) to her pen and there would be 4 again.

 

What do you think???????

[kittyl]

last year 3 of my boys did this at about 8 weeks old, like you I was really worried, I found it was worse

at certain times of the day so kept an eye on them them, & seperated them if I needed to. But suddenly

it just stopped & the chief cockerel is now a real sweety, everso friendly.