Baby chicks flying at others

[FunClucks]

A rule of thumb I've found to be helpful - when the chicks are all huddled together touching each other/standing next to each other, if the floor space they cover is more than 1/3 of the available floor space in their enclosure, they need a larger enclosure. You can raise them in less space, but there will be more poop issues per square foot, birds will be more stressed, and you may have more altercations. You also need enough space to have a cool end of the brooder that equals the temp/conditions of the room you're raising them in, whether it's an outside shed, unheated garage, etc. That helps them acclimate to outdoor conditions so you can just put them out when they are fully feathered.

Your chicks are 5 weeks old. They are ready to go outside. That will give them more space and reduce the altercations.

Those are straight combs (correct for delaware) that are just starting to grow in. Cute chicks!

 

[Brussells]

The space is about 8 to 10 sq ft. I live in the PNW so outside the temperatures are still getting into the 30s and 40s so they are indoors. I'm hoping by the time they're fully feathered the temps will be consistently above 50 so they can be outside.

 

[debid]

The space is about 8 to 10 sq ft. I live in the PNW so outside the temperatures are still getting into the 30s and 40s so they are indoors. I'm hoping by the time they're fully feathered the temps will be consistently above 50 so they can be outside.

If you have electricity to the coop, you can move them along with their heat source and let them explore their new home. It is definitely not too cold but that will give them more time if they think they need heat and you won't be up all night worrying.

But honestly, some of us start chicks outdoors in much colder temps than that and it's absolutely fine. Think about how a hen warms chicks. She doesn't heat the world, only them when they need it and by direct contact. Mine are always brooded outside with an electric hen and they will move to the roost entirely by choice around 4-5 weeks, rejecting their heat source in favor of roosting. I peek after dark and after they've all switched to the roost, I know they are done with their hen substitute and I can remove it.

 

[VaDutch]

They are practicing life skills. Chickens are instinct driven social animals. They will determine hierarchy throughout their lives with displays of aggression. I wouldn't equate this to playing, more like a kid hitting another kid who tries to take their toy from them.

Playing. Practicing life skills. Same difference to animals.

 

[debid]

Playing. Practicing life skills. Same difference to animals.

True that. I just think a lot of people are caught off guard by how it looks so I try not to soften the language around the behavior. It can be pretty rough. Cramming them into a confined space with nothing much to do can exacerbate the situation. There is nothing like perceived resource shortages to amp up the aggression.