Another Question...One chick picking on the others?

[mjhunter84]

I have noticed today that one of my six chicks is going around and pecking all the others. It is pecking them near their beaks. Could this one be a roo? Do I need to separate it from the others or is this just normal behavior? I am brand new to this and still learning.

 

[ozu]

Well, I just got chicks for the first time recently but I watch them all the time... from what I see and from what I heard from a local farmer, there seems to be a pecking order, so it's possible that s/he could be establishing her/himself as a higher up... it seems that pecking amongst each other is fairly natural and not necessarily bad- as long as it does not get out of hand or as long as one chick isn't getting the brunt of everything. One of my Golden Comets pecked at all my other chicks when we put them together but stopped after a while and no damage was done...

I'd definitely keep an eye on them to make sure no one is harmed though. It is definitely frustrating when they peck each other! Today my Rhode Island Red roo (he was supposed to be a hen :/) pecked my favorite Golden Comet in the eye.. she's okay but it's pretty irritating!

How old are the chicks? Pecking is definitely not just a roo thing. The Golden Comet that I mentioned that pecked at all the others is a feisty little hen (that breed is sexed by feather color as chicks) so yeah o;

Anyway, now I'll let more experienced chicken-owners come in and tell you what they think [nod]. c:

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I always have one or two chicks that have to peck everyones eyes, nostrils, egg tooth (the little extra bit on their beak right after they hatch), toes, leg feathers, whatever. Chickens don't have hands, but they have beaks- so they peck.
I agree, as long as the pecking isn't excessive (no ones loosing eyes, feathers or having their toes bloodies) its normal

 

[mjhunter84]

I got these chicks from a farm and was told they were born on Easter. They seem really small though compared to other pictures I have seen. I have been watching them alot and they seem to have calmed down again. It doesn't worry me so much when they peck each others wings and such. Just get nervous so close to the eyes!

 

[CedarAcres]

Chicks love pecking! They use their beaks as their hands to investigate. As long as no one is getting hurt. I do hate it when they peck near each other's eyes, but usually it's only a couple pecks and then they move on.

 

[mjhunter84]

I am still worried about the one chick. I see the others pecking each other but this one almost seems to run around attacking all the others. All the chicks will be happy and getting along and then this one will come and start pecking everyone. I got 4 new chicks today all about the same size and age but this one chick keeps on pestering them while the others all get along with them.

 

[TXchickmum]

My smallest bantam pecked everyone and rooted everyone around in the brooder. -thought she was a roo. We also had one chick that seemed to get pecked by everyone, so much so that the feathers on the middle of the back were plucked out. -thought this was a hen (as it would let one of the bantams root under its wing). Anyway, we purchased rooster booster from the farm store and put a dab on each chick, especially the one that had been pecked the most. The little bitty bully bantam soon quit pecking due to the rooster booster (and turned out to be my first broody hen). The poor pecked chick ended up being my dominant roo. -never can tell gender based upon some "behavior" as wee chicks. -wouldn't worry about the pecking unless feathers are coming out or there is obvious harm transpiring. -most likely they're just sorting out order.