Aggressive Baby Chicks and How to Stop the Behavior

It's always good to have new ideas for solving problems with a flock. Mimicking the mother's behavior works for a lot of animals, so why not chicks?

I use the heated brooder plates for chicks and that seems to solve the problem, or prevent it. They have a place to hide from their aggressive hatch mates and there is no light, so they have a natural wake sleep cycle. The chicks seem calmer and more content using the heat plate.

Although I read this a little later than I should have as I had one aggressive chick in my bunch, I enjoyed it as a reinforcement that what I did was right. i also think that my aggressive chick is the smartest of the bunch. She was first to figure out how to drink from various waterers, seemed more curious than the others from day one and now that she's outside, she's first to explore, always leads the way, stays away from the big girls so she gets pecked less, comes for treats (the other littles are OBLIVIOUS until she starts making happy noises) she will sit on my lap and stare curiously and tilt her head.

The first few days I was SO upset with her trying to peck her sisters eyes out that I considered giving her to a friend hoping it would stop her behavior. i'm glad i didn't as I think I have a future 'top of the pecking order' chick and one with a bit more smarts than the average chicken.