Everything has pretty much been going splendidly for the last 36 hours or so...yes we had that one casualty but everything since has been fairly calm.
That is until several hours ago when I noticed chick after chick jumping out of the way or chirping out more loudly than the others.
I have a toe pecker! I don't know what the little things problem is but he (I think it's a he anyway) is walking around with his head down and biting toes so hard that other chicks are trying to get away to the point of flapping their non existent wings and struggling to run.
I separated him from the group but he ended up all wet in the water we tried to put in there for him. Needless to say...I guess there is a first time for everything, but carefully blow drying a chick was not on my expected agenda for the week
After an hour of separation we threw some baby lettuce leaves in the brooder and watched them play Keep Away. I thought this might distract him. No such luck. He went straight back to toe biting. So after much contemplation on what in the world I was going to separate him with and still allow him access to food and water, I invented the Chick Jail. It is made from a bathroom basket that I've had since college. But it works
<br><br>
He doesn't seem happy to say the least...he is chirping VERY loudly and believe it or not...it isn't helping the toe pecking. The pictures I took are of him still pecking at any other chick that gets close. And God Forbid their TOES get on the plastic where the holes are. To pecking he goes if he can see the toes!
What do you do with chicks like this???I am a first time chick mommy! I can't keep him quarantined somewhere different for months because he's mean! I don't have that much space (or patience quite frankly) and I have small children to think about too! Maybe he will behave?
Here they seem to be doing the "Ha ha...we're going to dance on your jail until you stop pecking our toes..." dance.
That is until several hours ago when I noticed chick after chick jumping out of the way or chirping out more loudly than the others.
I have a toe pecker! I don't know what the little things problem is but he (I think it's a he anyway) is walking around with his head down and biting toes so hard that other chicks are trying to get away to the point of flapping their non existent wings and struggling to run.
I separated him from the group but he ended up all wet in the water we tried to put in there for him. Needless to say...I guess there is a first time for everything, but carefully blow drying a chick was not on my expected agenda for the week
After an hour of separation we threw some baby lettuce leaves in the brooder and watched them play Keep Away. I thought this might distract him. No such luck. He went straight back to toe biting. So after much contemplation on what in the world I was going to separate him with and still allow him access to food and water, I invented the Chick Jail. It is made from a bathroom basket that I've had since college. But it works
He doesn't seem happy to say the least...he is chirping VERY loudly and believe it or not...it isn't helping the toe pecking. The pictures I took are of him still pecking at any other chick that gets close. And God Forbid their TOES get on the plastic where the holes are. To pecking he goes if he can see the toes!
What do you do with chicks like this???I am a first time chick mommy! I can't keep him quarantined somewhere different for months because he's mean! I don't have that much space (or patience quite frankly) and I have small children to think about too! Maybe he will behave?
Here they seem to be doing the "Ha ha...we're going to dance on your jail until you stop pecking our toes..." dance.
