Chick pecking

[Newlychickly]

Hi everyone, I need your help, I just got 5 newly born chicks and today is like the 4th day and all is well I guess except there sizes now varied and the biggest one is becoming very aggressive and I thought it was okay till I saw that the youngest one was suffering to the point that I had separate him from the others. I'm scared the others would also hurt each other what should I do???

 

[Mister B]

Separate.

 

[Newlychickly]

Thanks but can you please explain and is it okay for them to be alone? They get scared.

 

[Mister B]

Well, you could make a barrier of hardware cloth across the brooder so they can see the small one, but not hurt it. Then it wouldn't get lonely. Make sure it gets food and water. If you can't do that, you will need to either put it in a separate brooder or let it get picked on. Not to sound contrite, but sometimes these things sort themselves out. Of course, they may kill the little one, so it might not be what you want. You could give it one of the smaller other chicks as a companion, that might work. Maybe someone else will have a better idea, though.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

You probably need to lower your heat. Chicks get frustrated when they are too warm. And do not crowd them. Make sure you have plenty of space. Give them things to do. Chicks get bored. I have some chicks in the brooder that were going crazy the other day, biting toes, going after eye balls. LOL They have a lot of energy and need things to do. So I gave them a box, put some alfalfa leaves in it, some sand and some chick starter, and no more crazy chicks...


So...lower your heat, make more room and give them things to do. This will help with aggression.

Good luck with your babies and welcome to our flock!

 

[horsesandboots]

Welcome to BYC! You probably need to lower your heat. Chicks get frustrated when they are too warm. And do not crowd them. Make sure you have plenty of space. Give them things to do. Chicks get bored. I have some chicks in the brooder that were going crazy the other day, biting toes, going after eye balls. LOL They have a lot of energy and need things to do. So I gave them a box, put some alfalfa leaves in it, some sand and some chick starter, and no more crazy chicks... So...lower your heat, make more room and give them things to do. This will help with aggression. Good luck with your babies and welcome to our flock!

I agree 1000%!!! Give them a hobby! I cut a piece of "sod" from my grass and threw it in the brooder!!! They love it!!!! I also did some broken Cheerios! And some T and A hay from my horses stock pile!!! Shhhh! Don't tell them!!! I would also try some blue kote if you can not separate!!!

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us! TwoCrows gave you great advice. Best of luck!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You've gotten some good advice above, good luck with your chicks.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC - if you separate, take the bully away not the one that is being picked on.

 

[Mister B]

Sorry, I agree. I read it that they were all ganging up on the little one. By all means, get the bully out. If you reintroduce it later, will it come in at the bottom of the flock? Would you cull it if it continues to bully?