Chicks acting weird and maybe racist...

[Emojikitten]

About two or three weeks ago, I received 4 baby chicks for my birthday. They are two different breeds. They used to snuggle together and forage the little cage. They were only one or two weeks, and now theyre four weeks. Now, the partridge welsummers are separated from the black sex links. They'll both sleep in different sides of the cage, they wont eat unless the other breed is finished, and they'll fight with the other breeds so bad that feathers will be torn out and sometimes blood will appear. What's going on? They used to be friends. Please help my family!

 

[duluthralphie]

 

[Emojikitten]

Could someone please tell me? I really need to know.

 

[Emojikitten]

What's that suppost to mean and can it help my birds?

 

[junebuggena]

Pecking order. Some breeds tend to be more dominant than others. But the fighting sounds like it is beyond normal behavior. May be time for more space.

 

[IndependenceGS]

If a one is too injured put them in a separate brooder for a few days maybe a little ointment (I use pick no more coverup lotion, but I have to put it on everyone so as not to single out the one who's getting bullied even more) after doing that I never had another pecking issue, they hate the taste and it helps the affected chick heal. It's a tea tree aloe Vera mixture. If bloods drawn they are attracted to it, not a good thing, as they can go cannibal on you if left untreated, but always isolate the bullies and reintroduce them one at a time. It is the pecking order and it can be corrected with just a few steps and some patience so don't worry act now and you will save yourself headache later.

 

[Emojikitten]

Pecking order. Some breeds tend to be more dominant than others. But the fighting sounds like it is beyond normal behavior. May be time for more space.

If a one is too injured put them in a separate brooder for a few days maybe a little ointment (I use pick no more coverup lotion, but I have to put it on everyone so as not to single out the one who's getting bullied even more) after doing that I never had another pecking issue, they hate the taste and it helps the affected chick heal. It's a tea tree aloe Vera mixture. If bloods drawn they are attracted to it, not a good thing, as they can go cannibal on you if left untreated, but always isolate the bullies and reintroduce them one at a time. It is the pecking order and it can be corrected with just a few steps and some patience so don't worry act now and you will save yourself headache later.

Okay, I've been hearing a lot about pecking order... But now its making me worry more. I have a full grown hen outside, and we bought chicks to cheer her up and give her company after the loss of her brother and death of her two other sisters. Would one of them possibly hurt her? Would she be at the top of the pecking order?