Chicks pecking at each others eyelids

[Kathy2112]

My chicks are only 3 day old, they were supposed to go to my broody cochin, but she snapped out of broodiness right before the chicks arrived. So I've got them in a 3x2 ft tupperware with heating pad and brood hood, they were pretty happy up until this afternoon when one started pecking at the eyelids and then all of them started doing it. I'm pretty alarmed, I tried putting shiny things in with them to try to distract, but the behavior continued. I tried tapping on the offending chicks back, but that just seemed to stress everyone out more, and lead to more of the eyelid pulling. Help??

I just pulled a dark cover over the container, because the dark lighting seems to tranquilize everyone, but that can't be a long term solution?

Edit: There are 6 chicks, all currently 3 days old.

 

[BoundlessLove]

How many chicks do you have in there and what is in the tote with them? Please post a picture.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Get a white sheet of paper. Put black dots and/or specks all over it with a pen or marker. Tape it to the inside wall. Tap on the specks and get them interested. Stickers also work, but chicks really like to peck at something dark on a light background.

 

[TwoCrows]

Chicks should have 1/2 sq ft of space per chick in the brooder at first, 1sq ft per chick by 2 or 3 weeks of age. The temp 3 day olds should be at 88° F or 31°C measured on the floor directly beneath the heat source. Heat source off to one side, food and water on the far other side of the brooder where it's cool. If they feel cramped or hot, they will peck each others eye balls, toes, pluck feathers. They will also lash out if they are bored. I always install small branches and even a 2x2 or a 2x4 as a roost bar when they are just babies. Gives them things to climb in. I also like to cut a cereal box down and put crushed leaves or alfalfa leaves, chick starter and a sprinkling of parakeet grit in it. Gives them things to do, scratching around burns energy and they don't have the time to peck at eye balls.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I also like to cut a cereal box down and put crushed leaves or alfalfa leaves, chick starter and a sprinkling of parakeet grit in it.

I love this idea! Borrowing it for next time.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I had one that liked to peck at the beaks of her brooder mates. I gave them a roosting bar specifically for chicks, a small branch from the yard, a seashell, some plastic cat toys, and a dish full of yard dirt for them to dust bathe in. They are well behaved now at almost 4 weeks, and will be going to their permanent coop soon. Keep in mind that if you add dirt from your yard, they're being exposed to anything in it. I put mine on medicated feed, but I know some people don't and their birds are fine. Do whatever you're comfortable with.

I will also second what @thecatumbrella said. I let mine out now several times a day to burn off energy, and there is this small dot on the lower part of my guest room wall. It's a dark dot of probably paint left from before my daughter moved out against a light green wall. They are obsessed with it. I actually have videos of them pecking it.

 

[TwoCrows]

My chicks are only 3 day old, they were supposed to go to my broody cochin, but she snapped out of broodiness right before the chicks arrived. So I've got them in a 3x2 ft tupperware with heating pad and brood hood, they were pretty happy up until this afternoon when one started pecking at the eyelids and then all of them started doing it. I'm pretty alarmed, I tried putting shiny things in with them to try to distract, but the behavior continued. I tried tapping on the offending chicks back, but that just seemed to stress everyone out more, and lead to more of the eyelid pulling. Help??

I just pulled a dark cover over the container, because the dark lighting seems to tranquilize everyone, but that can't be a long term solution?

Edit: There are 6 chicks, all currently 3 days old.

View attachment 4197638

This will get too small in a couple weeks for 6 chicks. And after 1 week or so, they will be able to fly out of this bin so get some chicken wire or hardware cloth for the top. Nice brooder plate, they are the best for brooding chicks!

 

[ChickenChick46]

This will get too small in a couple weeks for 6 chicks. And after 1 week or so, they will be able to fly out of this bin so get some chicken wire or hardware cloth for the top. Nice brooder plate, they are the best for brooding chicks!

I've been putting Glad Press N Seal on top of my brooder plate. Best thing I've done for cleaning up, ha! I read about using it on top of the plates somewhere, but I can't find it again for anything now. But it's du much easier to pull that off with the poop and you'd it than to clean poop off the plate multiple times every day like I was. I know you can buy the ones with a dome to prevent that, but I don't have that kind.

 

[TwoCrows]

I've been putting Glad Press N Seal on top of my brooder plate. Best thing I've done for cleaning up, ha! I read about using it on top of the plates somewhere, but I can't find it again for anything now. But it's du much easier to pull that off with the poop and you'd it than to clean poop off the plate multiple times every day like I was. I know you can buy the ones with a dome to prevent that, but I don't have that kind.

Very interesting idea! I've used hand towels but wow, what do you do with them after the poop monsters ruin them.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Very interesting idea! I've used hand towels but wow, what do you do with them after the poop monsters ruin them.

Lol right? I almost used towels too. Then I was afraid they'd somehow knock one down and get stuck under it. Have I mentioned I'm a worrier?

But then I had read about the Press N Seal and figured I'd try it. Glad I did!