ChickenMomsince2025
Chirping
- Feb 4, 2025
- 52
- 50
- 81
Hello
I have one baby chick that is almost a week old (RIR), 2 chicks that are almost 2 weeks old, and 3 that are almost 5 weeks old.
When RIR was just one day old I placed her with two other then 1 week old babies. RIR pecks at two other babies' nose and eyes really aggressively. I thought she's just stressed out about new environment but it got worse with time. The other two squeals then freezes. I felt bad for the other two, I separated her. Now RIR just wants to be held in my hand. Every time I place her in her warm, comfy box, she screams and tries to escape frantically that she jumps into her water bowl (now I keep it shallow). Obviously I can't hold her all day so I make her feel snug by placing push doll next to her in the brooder. It works in short intervals.
I would like her to join the rest of the flock some day but I'm not sure if her behavior would change as she gets older.
I don't know if I did the right thing by separating them. I place RIR with 2 babies everyday to see if she would play nice but she doesn't. Sometimes I feel like she's doing it so I would pick her up.
I don't want to stress out the other 2 babies. Those two doesn't peck her back. They just squeal, move away, then freezes very uncomfortably.
This baby is very healthy physically. She eats, drinks, flaps her wings to jump on things.
Will she play nice some point? What can I do to make her feel relaxed with other babies?
Any recommendations are much appreciated.
I have one baby chick that is almost a week old (RIR), 2 chicks that are almost 2 weeks old, and 3 that are almost 5 weeks old.
When RIR was just one day old I placed her with two other then 1 week old babies. RIR pecks at two other babies' nose and eyes really aggressively. I thought she's just stressed out about new environment but it got worse with time. The other two squeals then freezes. I felt bad for the other two, I separated her. Now RIR just wants to be held in my hand. Every time I place her in her warm, comfy box, she screams and tries to escape frantically that she jumps into her water bowl (now I keep it shallow). Obviously I can't hold her all day so I make her feel snug by placing push doll next to her in the brooder. It works in short intervals.
I would like her to join the rest of the flock some day but I'm not sure if her behavior would change as she gets older.
I don't know if I did the right thing by separating them. I place RIR with 2 babies everyday to see if she would play nice but she doesn't. Sometimes I feel like she's doing it so I would pick her up.
I don't want to stress out the other 2 babies. Those two doesn't peck her back. They just squeal, move away, then freezes very uncomfortably.
This baby is very healthy physically. She eats, drinks, flaps her wings to jump on things.
Will she play nice some point? What can I do to make her feel relaxed with other babies?
Any recommendations are much appreciated.