Cannibal Chick Vampires, help!

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I don't think its a breed problem because I just hatched some and they weren't aggressive.

These 10 chicks were in a brooder together, and they all came together in the mail. The culprits are day old chicks. No older chicks with them.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't think its a breed problem because I just hatched some and they weren't aggressive.

These 10 chicks were in a brooder together, and they all came together in the mail. The culprits are day old chicks. No older chicks with them.

It's the day olds? It's not uncommon for chicks to peck at shiny things and eyes are shiny.
What are you using for heat? A red heat lamp can help with making things less shiny or you can give them something else to focus on.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aggressive-baby-chicks-and-how-to-stop-the-behavior.72029/

I have 3 day olds right now and 1 wants to peck at eyes, toes, etc. right now. I just have them in a cardboard brooder for now, I pointed out a "flaw" in the cardboard to the chick and now he/she spends some time pecking at that. You can also make some dots on the brooder wall with a sharpie, they will try to peck the dots off LOL

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

It's the day olds? It's not uncommon for chicks to peck at shiny things and eyes are shiny.
What are you using for heat? A red heat lamp can help with making things less shiny or you can give them something else to focus on.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aggressive-baby-chicks-and-how-to-stop-the-behavior.72029/

I have 3 day olds right now and 1 wants to peck at eyes, toes, etc. right now. I just have them in a cardboard brooder for now, I pointed out a "flaw" in the cardboard to the chick and now he/she spends some time pecking at that. You can also make some dots on the brooder wall with a sharpie, they will try to peck the dots off LOL

After I noticed the cannibalism I put in a red bulb. I've never had to use them before in chickens only in pheasants. It didn't deter the offenders one bit. I really wish I had gotten a video of it.
My husband and I were staring at them in disbelief. We've raised pheasants and they can be brutal but no... this was next level. It was discusting. I don't like normal eye pecking, toe pecking etc. but its normal and I love the dot idea too!
This was not.
I went out to get a picture of the worse offender and the hens had offed it. I'm not surprised. I think they could sense it wasn't normal.
Think more like this:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...form=VDSHOT&shth=OSH.h9MvsJMf5MldAZL8Q%2FsXJw

 

[Kiki]

I'd off the meanie.
Now.

 

[toredano]

Cull it. Quickly and painless

 

[humblehillsfarm]

It's the day olds? It's not uncommon for chicks to peck at shiny things and eyes are shiny.
What are you using for heat? A red heat lamp can help with making things less shiny or you can give them something else to focus on.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aggressive-baby-chicks-and-how-to-stop-the-behavior.72029/

I have 3 day olds right now and 1 wants to peck at eyes, toes, etc. right now. I just have them in a cardboard brooder for now, I pointed out a "flaw" in the cardboard to the chick and now he/she spends some time pecking at that. You can also make some dots on the brooder wall with a sharpie, they will try to peck the dots off LOL

I agree 100% with you. Give them a distraction, maybe a mirror, dots on the walls, etc. Use the red lamp.

I'd off the meanie.
Now.

I would absolutely not off the meanie. They grow out of it. If given the right kind of stimuli as a distraction and possibly a red heat lamp, this could further improve the situation. I've had mean babies. They grow out of it.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I agree 100% with you. Give them a distraction, maybe a mirror, dots on the walls, etc. Use the red lamp.


I would absolutely not off the meanie. They grow out of it. If given the right kind of stimuli as a distraction and possibly a red heat lamp, this could further improve the situation. I've had mean babies. They grow out of it.

Can I ask you something (out of curiosity) ? Have you ever had to kill a mean rooster? Do you butcher chickens for food?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Can I ask you something (out of curiosity) ? Have you ever had to kill a mean rooster? Do you butcher chickens for food?

Yes, but an adult rooster is not the same as a young chick. As noted in an earlier comment, I have experienced aggressiveness in early chicks and resolved the issue. The hen grew up to be the sweetest hen in my flock and a great egg layer.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I went out to get a picture of the worse offender and the hens had offed it. I'm not surprised. I think they could sense it wasn't normal.

I'm sorry that you lost it.

Can you please clarify? You mention that you added a red lamp, but then you mention that "the hens" offed the chick?
Did you put the day old chicks with Hens? Are any of the hens broody?

Photos of where you are keeping them would be good.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I seriously put the 2 killer chicks with a broody, and they were still attacking each other and the hen. So I put one chick with that broody and moved the other chick to another building with a different broody.

How old are the "older" chicks?
Can you get a video of the behavior?

Wait. I'm a bit confused LOL
They all came in the same box and are the same age?