Eye pecking

[MontanaChickenLady]

I could sure use some advice. We brought home 3 chicks on Monday (all different breeds) and brought home 2 buff orp chicks yesterday as that was the day that breed was coming in. I got 2 of them as I'd read somewhere that the BO tend to be picked on because they are so mild natured and I figured if I had 2 then they would be better off than just one. So I tried putting all the chicks together and the other 3 (just gotten 3 days before) kept pecking at the eyes of the buffs. I snatched those 2 up and we separated them with a cardboard wall inside the crate. We took the runt out of the side with 3 and put her in with the buffs and all is well. This morning I tried removing the cardboard wall and the 3 were back at pecking at the eyes of the buffs. I just don't know how I'm going to get them all to play nicely and now don't know how many days to wait to try again. Do you think one of the larger chicks could be a roo? I really need some advice. Thank you for any help.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

The more you keep removing them, the harder it will be to integrate them. In every batch of chicks I've raised, there's always some toe and eye peckers. Just watch them to be sure its not getting out of control and let them get over it.
A red light *might* help. Or it might not since their dark eyes are still going to stand out against their light fluff. If you get the red bulb, make sure NOT to get any that are labeled shatter resistant. They're coated with teflon, which off gases when it gets hot and that gas will kill all of your chicks. I've been seeing these shatter resistant bulbs in the poultry section of the farm supply store being sold specifically for brooder lamps, so be careful. Good luck.