Frantic, squabbling little chicks who eat kitchen towel - are they just bored?

I am chick sitting for a friend who's mother became unwell. I took care of them from them from 7 days old. When they first came to my house I made them a 4ft x 4ft area with EcoGlow heater and kitchen towel flooring (the size recommended by My Pet Chicken). I live in NM so it's warm here and they were often running around and not cold huddled.

Then at 10 days old 2 died suddenly (for reasons I am lost about as it was so quick and they were all so healthy up until a 25 min period). Anyway, after the 2 sudden deaths I moved the remaining chicks into a small plastic container approx. 20" x 38". I think this move as difficult as they had been able to roam freely in the larger space. So they started to be 'pissy' with one another and grumpy. I saw a 2 room cardboard box apartment idea on The Chicken Chick and thought that would be a good way to add space, but I made it so one room can be closed off at night to keep warmth in a smaller area. I added 3 perches, a sand/dirt box for them to bathe in and a bundle of herbs hanging so they could peck at them, not each other.

Well....they never looked at the herbs. They are always pecking at one another and for the last 4 days they have taken to eating the kitchen towel flooring (which they fight and squabble about that too). I should mention now they only eat chick starter food, but before the deaths I gave them very small pieces of greens from the veggie garden along with some grit for the crop.

I've asked others who have chicks and they said theirs are fairly calm and happy. But these six remaining 18 day old chicks just seem so bored. I don't like them always being so frantic, squabbling, chest bumping one another etc. I can't imagine them inside for another 3+ weeks, I think they, or I, or both will go crazy by then.

Any suggestions, is this normal behaviour? I'm new to this!

Thanks.

Emma.

I would remove the kitchen towel, and replace with some other bedding like shavings, your chicks are bored and should probably be getting outside soon, crowding and boredom equals pecking. They do sound like a rowdy bunch, are you sure they are eating their feed and it's not too old.

At that age mine will spend the day outside in the grass in a small enclosure, not sure if you have grass in NM. They won't eat herbs, but they will peck at grasses, dandelion, plantain, but I don't know the plants where you are at. I also will dig up chunks of sod for them to mess with in the brooder.

Thanks for the feedback OHLD's. After the 2 died I was advised to throw away the feed and I bought a brand new bag which has now been opened for 8 days, so I don't think it would be old. They do eat their food - I have it in a feeder and I did remove the paper towel in the 'playroom' and I sprinkle it around there. I will buy shavings tomorrow. In NM we have dirt and cactus outside! They have a coop at their owners house but I don't have one at mine. I think I am scared for them to go outside in case they pick up anything and another one dies, they are not mine and the guilt is horrid!

That's what I thought MN was, you could go back to offering lettuce leaves and spinach, it sounds like you are doing your best, the chest bumping sounds like rooster behavior, roosters are more rowdy, they should be fine outside for a few hours where you can keep an eye on them, I use a circle of wire, providing shade food and water, being outside builds immunity. Here's my setup for mine.


The one year I didn't get them out early I had some pecking.

Thanks again OHLD! I'll have to figure something out over the weekend that can act as an outside pen for a few hours per day. Oh and I love the pooch guarding them!!!

She's guarding them from the other dogs, she get first dibs on eating them.