Are chicks terittorial?

[crazyaboutchickens]

Because my 2 1/2 week old chicks are (especially the roosters) are challenging each other, standing taller than each other, almost starting to fight, pecking etc. So I was wondering if they are terittorial . And should i separate them, which i have already done. And ever since this has started I have lost 2 chicks and 1 of my favorites, a breeder, cochin. So what should I do apart from separating them?

 

[midget_farms]

Your chicks are not teritorial so much as they are trying to determine the pecking order. They will bump & bounce & peck (hense the name) each other until the entire society understands its place.

Once that happens they will be much more relaxed as there will not be any tension of not knowing thier place.

Unless they are overcrowded they should not hurt each other. If they are crowded they can however easily kill each other. You need to have enough room for the lower down on the order chicks space to escape when necessary.

 

[Why and Dotte]

Is your brooder large enough? Mine were bickering more recently since they've outgrown their brooder, I upgraded and things have settled down some. It may be them just being "cocky" too, testing their strength and challenging each other my little ones still pick fights and goof off but have never went as far as killing each other.

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

I doubt they have outgrown the brooder as it is quiet large: about 4 rubbermaid boxes in size, but there are not many hiding places though.