Babies mean to adoptive broody

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

My chick order from Meyers arrived after just 20 hours in the mail. I gave my broody the 7 babies right away and she accepted them. The problem is the babies are MEAN. One in particular I have taken away, and another may also taken away. They peck hard at mamas eyes and yank on her eyelids. They grab onto and hang on her wattles so tight that mama cannot get them off. I am really unhappy with these babies! Mama is suffering enough in the 90 degree heat. What should I do?? Looking the babies over, I see that they all have tiny feathers, some more than others. They are supposed to be day old chicks. When do they get their feathers? I cannot remember from last year’s babies!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Babies pecking at momma hen is actually very normal and like babies it is then trying to grab everything new, but since they don't have hands they peck. Mom will put them in their place when she's had enough.

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

Babies pecking at momma hen is actually very normal and like babies it is then trying to grab everything new, but since they don't have hands they peck. Mom will put them in their place when she's had enough.

Thank you! What do you think about their age? They jump all of the place and can jump at least 4” up. They also run fast. I think they are last week’s chicks and I’m really glad mama hen accepted them! I will attach a pic of my “day old” Buckeye. Oh, they also eat and drink with no difficulty.

 

[HappyClucker7]

That chick is maybe 3-4 days old.
I would put the back the baby that you took away, and leave the others alone. Chicks are naturally curious, and they're going to peck at mom. She will tell them when she's had enough, so there's no reason to intervene.

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

I read online that feathers do not emerge until day 7-9 and 4 of them have feathers more than 1/4“ long. One of them jumped up on mama and was sitting on her back. That much I do remember from past babies… They did not eat right away and they certainly could not jump on top of mom as “day old” chicks. I did put the baby back after she was out for two hours. She immediately begin yanking on mama’s wattles, poking her eyes, and also pecking her siblings.

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

There was also poop in the box from the babies. They had already been eating and drinking for a quite a few days.

 

[aart]

I read online that feathers do not emerge until day 7-9 and 4 of them have feathers more than 1/4“ long.

Wing feathers are the first and emerge at 2-3 days.

 

[Mamatomany123]

There was also poop in the box from the babies. They had already been eating and drinking for a quite a few days.

I got 1 day old chicks before and they ate right away.

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

Wing feathers are the first and emerge at 2-3 days.

Do you think it also seems normal to be able to jump on top of the mama (a large Cochin) at just 2-3 days old? And also to jump up 4 inches repeatedly to get out of the nesting box? I hope everyone is correct!

 

[aart]

Do you think it also seems normal to be able to jump on top of the mama (a large Cochin) at just 2-3 days old? And also to jump up 4 inches repeatedly to get out of the nesting box?

Yes.