An agressive chick

ChickenAndMore

Songster
8 Years
Jul 2, 2012
288
15
167
Texas
I have NEVER in my 5 years of incubating and hatching chicks had a mean chick. Today I noticed that one of my chicks was being really mean to the others so I put him in an incubator by himself. He then started to jump up and hit the window trying to get to me (he thinks that I am his mother). I have given him food and water now but when I try to put him back he beats up the other chicks and then try to jump out again. He will only eat food that I scratch around with my finger (still thinking that I am his mom) he is even trying to follow my finger while I am typing this ( I am using my iPad) . What can I do? Any help or advice is appreciated.
 
In a bird that young, aggression is genetic not learned, and personally I would cull him or rehome him. If it's genetic he will produce more of the same.

Debeaking him may stop him in the short term but is pretty cruel and won't change his mental/behavioral impulsion to such patterns of action, it will only prevent him acting on them temporarily. Likewise with other "treatment" options for this problem like red lighting and spectacles.

Cannibalistic and/or seriously aggressive chicks are abnormal and due to human husbandry methods, and best culled for the sake of the other birds.

Best wishes.
 

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