3 day old baby chicks keep pecking each other’s wings

[Dcarey]

Hello there, I’m new to this so help would be much obliged. I’ve noticed the tips of my chicks wings looked kinda thin/bare and then I noticed several of the chicks would go around and peck at other’s wings. They’re under a heat lamp, kept between 91-95, their brooder box is 2ftx4ft, they’ve got a feeder and waterer spread apart and water kept in the cooler area. They’re inside the house so there’s lights but I’ve been dimming them as it gets later in the day. Idk how many of each I have but it’s barred rocks and black Australorps. Any remedy to this situation would be much obliged!!

 

[neo71665]

How many total chicks in there? Sounds kinda like a crowding issue.

 

[Dcarey]

9. I realized just a minute ago I left that out. That’s my initial thought on it. I originally had them in the box in the first photo inside the box in the second with hay all around the outside to insulate it. Just about level with the bedding in the smaller box. So this morning I decided to cut a hole in the side of each of the boxes to see if they’d wander out or if they still preferred their box, but they immediately took to wandering and pretty soon were running all through their boxes seeming happy as could be. So I decided to give them some time to get used to that and tonight I’d remove the cardboard. Well I’ve removed the cardboard and I’ve still noticed the wing pecking. They all also sometimes peck each other right on the beak. Just stare them down for a second then bam. I kinda figured that one was normal though. I just don’t want any cannibalistic habits to develop.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

How many total chicks in there? Sounds kinda like a crowding issue.

I’m thinking the same thing...

 

[Dcarey]

Examples of what I mean by thin/bare

 

[rosemarythyme]

Turn off the red light for photos. Can't see if there's anything really unusual.

It's probably just curiosity pecking so unless I saw blood being drawn I don't know if I'd worry about it too much.

 

[Dcarey]

Left and right of the three worst ones

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks for the extra photos. I don't really see anything wrong, so guessing it's curiosity, as chicks explore things with their mouths (including one another).

I've seen a couple cool ideas on here to try and get chicks to focus on investigating things other than their broodmates, such as using a marker to put dots on the cardboard brooder walls at eye height (for a chick), or putting dots on a secured tennis ball.

 

[Dcarey]

The secured tennis ball sounds like a good idea

 

[Dcarey]

Thank you!