Hey guys, I have two chicks just fledging now, boths cocks. The older one has a beautiful temperament but the other seems to have a bit of youngest child symdrome and will hard nip as part of grooming behaviour when I take it out for handling. Is there anything I can do to settle this? They are both supposed to be going as single pet birds but if this is going to be ongoing I might advise the person to wait for one from my next clutch.

Are you sure it's a cock and not a hen???

I tend to find it's only hen babies who give the hard nips... cocks just nibble.

My hens grow out of it with time, handling and patience... try to ignore it as best you can i'd say

I would say it's a hen also. Of all the chicks I have handled only the hens bite me!!

I'm pretty sure it's a cock, interestingly from my last clutch the one with the best temperament was the hen. The cere's of both these babies are identical to each other and that deep even pinky purple that says it's a boy

It is difficult to picture the sex at this stage unless you have had alot of practice and even then you still sometimes get it wrong , my first impression was that it is a hen.

Post a picture of them both , and then we can have a closer look .

regardless of gender, your nippy baby will need lots more attention. babies only tend to bite because they are scared or feel threatened in some way. Lots and lots of love and cuddles and the little bub should stop nipping

The funny thing is he doesn't seem to be doing it out of fear, he preens my hand and then gets harder and harder with his preening until it becomes chewing!!