Paranoid?

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MattalynsBarn

MattalynsBarn

Songster
9 Years
Jun 11, 2010
359
4
109
Connecticut
My chicks are 5 days old and they're starting to try to fly. They're also running around really fast at random. I'm wondering, are they starting to work out the pecking order yet? Should I be worried or just let them be? what do I do if they're figuring out the pecking order and it gets a little violent...?
 
You'll KNOW they're doing pecking order "stuff" when they start chest bumping one another...lol. It's kind of funny when they try to hold their head (neck stretched out) taller than the next guy...
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They're be some pecking, but it shouldn't get too rough. I wouldn't interfere unless feathers get plucked out or blood is drawn.
 
mine are 3 wks and are starting to do the tippy toes and chest bumping...its was soo funny watching them zipping here and there for no reason..i think some of them scared themselves with how fast they were able to go!!!!
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Mainly watch to be sure they aren't pecking each other's eyes. We had a batch once that spent too long in the mail and they were pecking each other's eyes by the time we got them. It was so sad (bloody eyes and some stuck shut). We had to put neosporin (sp?) on their eyes (recommended by an eye doctor) and most are fine now (only 1 has a bad eye out of 15 birds that had bloody eyes). Put something in there to distract them if possible. They like to eat crickets for example or if you put something shiny like a waterer for rabbits, they like to peck at it and it occupies their time doing something good (drinking water) instead of fighting. Are they warm enough? Usually they sleep a lot if they're warm. If it's too hot they'll be panting with their mouth's open.
 
You can toss grass clippings into there brooder to slow some of the pecking down Also use a red light, This helps if one gets picked and bleeds to mask the blood color and avoid cannabalism, or more wounds. Good luck..
 
I have a read light. I was just concerned that they now all hate each other. But looking at the mass pile of sleeping chicks I think they're fine. TY so much fro all your help, BYC people!
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