First hatchling is aggressive

[SurferchickinSB]

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Not looking so good this morning. It did move around a fair bit last night and cheeped. But isn’t as coordinated as the others. Also a rests its head on the right side/tilts when sitting up.

I can’t imagine that pecking CAUSED that, but it certainly didn’t help.

Put some neosporin like ointment on there and it is alone in the brooder tote under a heating plate.

Good news is we have 3 others in the incubator that look to be doing well. One of each: Crele marans, BCM and OE. The OE is black feathered for now.

That looks awful! Hopefully chick number one is not a cannibal!

 

[HollyDutton]

That looks awful! Hopefully chick number one is not a cannibal!

I’ve kept it separated from the rest. So far #1 hasn’t behaved aggressively again, so it may have been a one-off (with bad timing).

 

[Willowspirit]

I’ve kept it separated from the rest. So far #1 hasn’t behaved aggressively again, so it may have been a one-off (with bad timing).

I would go with "curiosity" since pecking at things seems to be how they explore.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I would go with "curiosity" since pecking at things seems to be how they explore.

I don’t know about that, sounds like she would’ve eaten the other one if she had half the chance. Sounds like she was learning how to become a cannibal.

 

[rascal66]

I've heard bbefore, often that chickens in general like to go after reddish colors (especially blood). And sure enough, they will eat it too. So as long as the other chicks are fine then most likely everything will be okay... Always good to keep a watchful eye just in case.

 

[Anime2lover]

Wow amazing it has been doing better since the hatch day. Keep giving the attention it needs and it might just make it. I would hate to hear that it passed away.. But incubating chicks sometimes comes with issues. My last hatch I had a deformed chick that couldn't stand so hub and I decided to cull. Good luck, hoping it makes it!

We had to fill a duckling that had issues to...

 

[Anime2lover]

I don’t know about that, sounds like she would’ve eaten the other one if she had half the chance. Sounds like she was learning how to become a cannibal.

Im inclined to agree, thpugh in chicks, it can still be averted through isolation.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Im inclined to agree, thpugh in chicks, it can still be averted through isolation.

Yeah, I would definitely tape a piece of hardware cloth up in the brooder, so the little one can be with the others and still snuggle up to them but not eat them! I would probably leave her that way for a few days.

 

[Chickassan]

Not to be brash but it would have been a miracle if your first chick hadn't pecked the one with the defect.
You don't have a murder chick, you have a normal chick.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. @Chickassan is right, "Murder chick" was displaying normal curiosity, though maybe a bit excessively from the pecking at pip holes.

Just FYI, if you do have to cull, I wrote an article on how to do it quickly and cleanly. I've used this method many times last year while hatching chicks and dealing with incubator issues.

How to Cull a Chick with Kitchen Sheers (Scissors) for Squeamish People *slightly graphic*