Baby chicks pecking in the brooder

[Chioflock]

Hello everyone!
Please help me understand why baby chicks peck their own feathers so much.
I have 7 chicks in the brooder ( a medium size Rubbermaid tote) they are 2 and 1/2weeks old. They all seem healthy and their feathers are changing a lot now. They are no babies no more

 

[newchck]

Hello everyone!
Please help me understand why baby chicks peck their own feathers so much.
I have 7 chicks in the brooder ( a medium size Rubbermaid tote) they are 2 and 1/2weeks old. They all seem healthy and their feathers are changing a lot now. They are no babies no more

How often are they pecking?

 

[Chioflock]

How often are they pecking?

Often, it seems like they are cleaning their feathers, I checked them and they look good, just growing.

 

[newchck]

Often, it seems like they are cleaning their feathers, I checked them and they look good, just growing.

Yeah, I have only had chicks once so far, but I was thinking either general grooming or maybe a bit of boredeom as well. I am not sure how you have your brooder set up, but I gave my chicks little roosts (just made of sticks that I broke into small pieces) and made them a bit higher every so often and they loved them! Glad they are healthy!!

 

[Chioflock]

Yeah, I have only had chicks once so far, but I was thinking either general grooming or maybe a bit of boredeom as well. I am not sure how you have your brooder set up, but I gave my chicks little roosts (just made of sticks that I broke into small pieces) and made them a bit higher every so often and they loved them! Glad they are healthy!!

I added
some broccoli florets hanging from a thread, like little piñatas haha to see if that helps with boredom. They like them. But still pecking

 

[newchck]

I added
some broccoli florets hanging from a thread, like little piñatas haha to see if that helps with boredom. They like them. But still pecking

it may just be their natural behavior! Hopefully someone with a bit more experience than me will make a comment or two

 

[TryxiChick]

Following!

1st time chick raiser - I have 5 x 3wk old silkies, they are a bit pecky and rushing each other? flappy wings and running toward each other, like sizing each other up? Gee I hope they're not all roos

 

[Chioflock]

Following!

1st time chick raiser - I have 5 x 3wk old silkies, they are a bit pecky and rushing each other? flappy wings and running toward each other, like sizing each other up? Gee I hope they're not all roos

I red that sometimes they try to stablish who is gonna be the boss in the coop, that is why they peck each other and do all that crazy dance. Haha so fun to watch

 

[DobieLover]

Following!

1st time chick raiser - I have 5 x 3wk old silkies, they are a bit pecky and rushing each other? flappy wings and running toward each other, like sizing each other up? Gee I hope they're not all roos

The chest bumping is normal behavior. Pullet chicks will also flare their hackles at each other during the establishment of the pecking order.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello everyone!
Please help me understand why baby chicks peck their own feathers so much.
I have 7 chicks in the brooder ( a medium size Rubbermaid tote) they are 2 and 1/2weeks old. They all seem healthy and their feathers are changing a lot now. They are no babies no more

The brooder is way too small for that many chicks at that age. They need MORE SPACE!!
Do you have any other chickens?
Do you have their adult coop and run built already?
If so, what size is it?