3 week old chicks killing each other

[Sally Sunshine]

Thanks for all of the advice. Space was not an issue, the pen was 4'X8' with 5 chicks. Whatever it was did not bother the 6 big chickens, adjacent to the pen, in chicken wire. The remaining chicks are in the house in a brooder container and no further issues.

I am leaning toward rat, cat, squirrel. It appeared to do the work from outside the pen, which is confusing. In order to eliminate the problem, I intend to place rat traps and small predator cages, which should cover the spectrum of possible offenders.

If nothing else, it has been an experience in predators and taught me a lesson about securing ALL of my pens and coops, while also providing inviting traps for future visitors. Thankfully my learning curve is on mutts and before I got into Barnevelders & $$.

Hopefully in the near future I will have pictures of suspects in the same position as my chicks, stiff and laying in a plastic bag. The warrior's method of relocation.

Staying tuned here!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

 

[chickengeorgeto]

http://www.extension.org/pages/66175/normal-behaviors-of-chickens-in-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks


“Chick-to-Chick Behavior

Recently hatched chicks do not typically show any competitive behavior until after three days of age. By 16 days of age, fighting to determine the pecking order begins. Research has shown that with groups composed entirely of female chicks, the pecking order is established by the 10th week. In small groups, the order is typically established earlier, around eight weeks. With groups of males, the social order may remain unresolved for many weeks.

Some early research has shown that certain chicks within a brood develop leadership roles. In a scenario in which there are two sources of heat, only one of which is turned on, chicks gather around the one turned on. If that heater is turned off and the other turned on, chicks move to the other heat source. In such a scenario, some chicks repeatedly respond sooner than others. A few of these leaders have been reported to leave the group under the warm heat lamp and go to a chick lagging in the cold so that the chick will follow the leader to the heat source."

I am not saying that 4-5 lonely chicks will display pecking order behavior this early in life. It won't take a clutch that small long to settle who's the boss. But a full clutch of say 15 or 20 chicks in a brooder or pen and with or without the mother hen in attendance most certainly will. Every chicken on Earth will pull tail feathers, peck their pen mates vent, or engage in cannibalistic behavior if they are too closely confined. Please note that the University of Georgia mentions the age of 16 days as the age when this natural and normal chicken behavior of establishing a pecking order begins. That btw is going on 3 weeks.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

http://www.extension.org/pages/66175/normal-behaviors-of-chickens-in-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks


“Chick-to-Chick Behavior

Recently hatched chicks do not typically show any competitive behavior until after three days of age. By 16 days of age, fighting to determine the pecking order begins. Research has shown that with groups composed entirely of female chicks, the pecking order is established by the 10th week. In small groups, the order is typically established earlier, around eight weeks. With groups of males, the social order may remain unresolved for many weeks.

Some early research has shown that certain chicks within a brood develop leadership roles. In a scenario in which there are two sources of heat, only one of which is turned on, chicks gather around the one turned on. If that heater is turned off and the other turned on, chicks move to the other heat source. In such a scenario, some chicks repeatedly respond sooner than others. A few of these leaders have been reported to leave the group under the warm heat lamp and go to a chick lagging in the cold so that the chick will follow the leader to the heat source."

I am not saying that 4-5 lonely chicks will display pecking order behavior this early in life. It won't take a clutch that small long to settle who's the boss. But a full clutch of say 15 or 20 chicks in a brooder or pen and with or without the mother hen in attendance most certainly will. Every chicken on Earth will pull tail feathers, peck their pen mates vent, or engage in cannibalistic behavior if they are too closely confined. Please note that the University of Georgia mentions the age of 16 days as the age when this natural and normal chicken behavior of establishing a pecking order begins. That btw is going on 3 weeks.

Chicks do not rip each others' throats out. They just don't. Hell, full-grown cannibalistic hens don't rip each others' throats out.

Also, I have brooded hundreds of chicks, 50-75 at a time, and the worst thing that has ever happened was a little tail-pulling. No chick ripped out the throats of these babies.

The OP had plenty of room for her chicks. They were not crowded. The chicks did not do this to their flock mates.

 

[Magfry]

All five chicks were from the same hatch and had always been together. Never had any problems, it was like when they were given freedom to run, explore and forage they went wild. It is not relevant, but I believe they were all roos.Funny thing is that I bought them sexed, supposedly pullets. Well nature happens, whether it is in their brooder box, safely penned or free ranging. Can't watch them all the time.

This looks like mink or weasel attack. I’m so sorry this happened

 

[Mariesol]

That looks awful.
Sorry, but that is not what 3 weeks old chicken do to each other.
They peck and chase each other but not that gruesome or to kill.

 

[Flat Earth]

So Sorry. for your loss

 

[Flat Earth]

Chicks do not rip each others' throats out. They just don't. Hell, full-grown cannibalistic hens don't rip each others' throats out.

Also, I have brooded hundreds of chicks, 50-75 at a time, and the worst thing that has ever happened was a little tail-pulling. No chick ripped out the throats of these babies.

The OP had plenty of room for her chicks. They were not crowded. The chicks did not do this to their flock mates.

I had a broody hen that would attack and hit the chickens on top of the heads and they be bleeding, nothing like this have i ever seen!

 

[mamajos]

Just so you are aware, this thread was started in 2013.