3 week old chicks fighting?

2 weeks ago I bought 5 2-week old chicks, one was a little bit taller then the others. They were great and easy at first, very lovey. And about two days ago I noticed they were like flighing at eachother and trying to peck at eachother and if one chick moved too fast they would run after it in "attack". At first I thought it was the bigger one, so I quitely observed and they all do it! So then I thought they were in too small of a house, so my husband made a 4 feet by 2 feet cage for them. We have a watering thing in there, the food container thing they need, a pearch for them to sit on, a heat lamp (not too low and not too high, they seem good with that) but they are just attacking eachother. Is this a way for them to try and see whose "boss" or something or are they trying to kill eachother? What if they taste blood.. I heard they will kill the chicken... I would be very sad. I have also seen that their feathers are starting to come out.. could that make then mad? I just don't know what to do any more and it is taking up all my time trying to get them to stop. PLEASE HELP!

Hi, you don't say whether they are dual purpose, layer, or meat birds, but I would say they are still crowded. They are also establishing a pecking order. If you see blood, clean it up and either separate that chick for a bit,or put some stuff called blu-kote on the wound. Vaseline will also work as long as the wound isn't red. As far as the feathers are concerned, I really can't say. Good luck

My 11/2 to 2 week old chicks are doing the pecking/chest bumping/stare down thing, it's so funny to watch. I think it's just chicken behaviour and as long as they are all about the same size not too serious. I have to wear my tall boots out to the coop with my older chicks, as they go right for the mosquito bites on my legs. They notice everything.

I wear crocks most of the time so all my chickens tend to go after my fee thru the holes in my shoes. Or they peck at my tattoo on my calf. As far as the chicks fighting, I wouldn't worry about it either unless they are doing damage. They are establishing pecing order. Some do and some don't. Depends on the breed. Some are more aggressive than others. As far as space goes, I don't think it would be that. I keep mine in a smaller space than that and I have very little sparring going on. Some stare downs and some jumping but thats about it. Usually the sparring and fighting is with the cockreals. Thats just my experience.

I have six baby chicks 3 weeks old, they seem to spend all there time fighting, what a commotion! I don't know who is male or female. They are Americaunas and have 9 sq ft of box. I have different levels of perches and small boxs they can get away from the more aggressive sibs. I don't know what else to do, any suggestions? I guess it is normal? Thanks for any help.

How's your weather there in Kansas right now? Those tykes need a "field trip" badly.

If you get a period where it's around 70, put the little tigers in a small pet crate and haul their @$$es outdoors to a nice plot of open grass or mowed weeds. Open the door of the crate and let them poke their little heads out. Soon those rabble-rousers will be racing around, getting in a little low-level flight, and flexing those tiny wings. Let them wear themselves out.

Since they still have some feather-growing yet to do, they will eventually chill down enough to all creep back inside the carrier, and that's your cue to cart them back indoors and pop them back in the brooder.

If you have a run set up already, use it. If you have adult chickens in it, you can create a safe pen in there for the chicks. In a week, you can open little openings in it so the chicks can explore the rest of the run and be able to retreat to the safe pen when they get scared by the big birds.

Your chicks are growing up. They're telling you they need more space.

Ok thanks! I have been planning to do that and we are having some pretty good weather, so I can't wait to give them a field trip. I would like to see how the grown ups react to them, they are very sweet and polite. I won't let them have direct access to the babies, the big girls free range during the day. I have a small Silky roo that I have concerns about when its time to integrate. I am wondering if he would try mating beforehand the youngins are of age? Thanks for the help, I was starting to call the little ones "fight Club"!