Aggressive baby chick

Feb 4, 2025
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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.
 
Sounds like she’s being an RIR to me. What are the breeds of the other chicks?
Two other babies are Black Australorp and Gold Cuckoo Maran. Older chicks are Brahma, Buff Orpington and Silver Laced Wyandotte. The older chicks have been watching the little ones, but separated. The first day RIR came home I just showed her to Buff before putting her with two other babies and RIR pecked at buff so hard that it freaked her out. I thought that was funny then. Now I'm a little worried. Everyone else are so gentle. If she's
just being herself, should I keep her with two other babies? It breaks my heart to hear two other babies squeals. Will RIR ever get along with other chickens?
 
RIRs can totally get along with other chickens…they just want to be the boss. And that means working her way to the top of the pecking order. Without a rooster you will end up with a “boss hen” and she gets there sometimes with physical violence. Sometimes they have a buddy who is an enforcer and does the physical stuff for them and sometimes they just do it themselves. I have never had a pullet that young that acted like what you’re describing. Except once when moving pullets on a long drive. I didn’t know anything about chickens back then but when we checked on them at a gas station halfway one was dead-pecked to death by another pullet we named Mad Madam Mim. Personally I would rehome her but that is just me
 
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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.
this sounds like normal RIR behavior. I would try and find a chick that's got a better demeanor, and put them with her. one who will peck back, but won't start fights. one who stands up for itself, but is a positive role model.
 
It is normal for newly hatched chicks to peck at everything as this is the way for them to explore their surroundings and everything and everyone in it.
The mother hen will also get pecked in the eyes, ears and wattles and in case one of her chicks gets fixated on pecking their hatchmates in the eyes (shiny eyes entice them to peck), the mother hen interferes and stops the overenthusiastic explorer.
 
In the current housing can the RIR see the other chicks? If not it will be very difficult to put her in later.

Have you tried put the RIR in with the older chicks? I know she is much smaller, but her feistiness might put them on even ground. Try to be patient at letting them work out their own squabbles, if you try to put them together.
 

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