Cannibalistic chick?

[MooniePie]

Recently, a late hatcher was introduced to his siblings, who are all one day older than him. After a few minutes, I noticed that one chick would track him down and grab one of his limbs harshly, as if trying to kill him. We've seperated who we believe is the attacker into a separate container, and the rest of the chicks have gotten along fine with the new baby. What should I do now? Are they supposed to be doing this so early in life? The newer baby is much, much weaker than the rest. How do I ensure that they won't begin to attack him as well?

 

[Anime2lover]

Just give it time, I think. Bullying can be caused by to small living spaces, chicks natural curiousity, is the new baby still wet, or dry. A curious chick will go after the wet stuff on a new chick.

 

[MooniePie]

Just give it time, I think. Bullying can be caused by to small living spaces, chicks natural curiousity, is the new baby still wet, or dry. A curious chick will go after the wet stuff on a new chick.

After watching the attacker, he appears to be packing everything without a second thought, including walls and bare floor and everything. Could he have something wrong with him mentally?

 

[Anime2lover]

After watching the attacker, he appears to be packing everything without a second thought, including walls and bare floor and everything. Could he have something wrong with him mentally?

Is there a video so we could see for ourselves?? Im no expert on chick mentality, but I have raised chicks before.

 

[MooniePie]

I have been trying, but it does not want to work. All I can say is that he will peck anything and everything.

 

[Anime2lover]

I have been trying, but it does not want to work. All I can say is that he will peck anything and everything.

That could be just natural curiousity. You could try keeping the bully away from the others for a few days.

 

[MooniePie]

Okay, I will do so. Thanks for the advice! It's been a pretty eventful night tonight, so it's a relief to know what to do without just winging it.

 

[Anime2lover]

Okay, I will do so. Thanks for the advice! It's been a pretty eventful night tonight, so it's a relief to know what to do without just winging it.

I get it. My day has been eventful to, but then our ducklings started hatching, so now we have to rush to finish the brooder, so the two mommas and ducklings can live in it.

 

[ironsightfarm]

I went through this with both my original chicks and chicks that arrived 2 weeks later - one or two chicks from each hatching were violent terrors, attacking and injuring other babies. The aggressors were separated with reintegration attempted every few days, and each time the behavior subsided at exactly one week of age. Other members had mentioned this had happened to them as well! All girls are together now with no issues since. I found that adding mirrors and other enrichment also helped. Good luck!