Freshly hatched chick attacking hatchmates

[Reaperprincess]

Has anyone have this happen before. I recently hatched some chicks and the first three came out in the beginning of day 20. Normal enough right. But about 5 hours later later a new chick hatched and by then those three were walking around exploring the incubater. I didn't want to open the incubater too soon because of humidity so I left them. After the chick came out of the egg, healthy little thing chirping away, the others started pecking at them. I thought they were just exploring the new chick. But when i came back later they were dragging the chick's lifeless body around. Pecking and tugging. In the end i had to remove them before they endangered the rest of the chicks.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Did they kill the chick or did it die on its own and they just ran with it? My little quail routinely drag other chicks around by toes or wings, never had any injuries though, I wonder if it didn’t die of other causes and the chicks just played football since it didn’t protest?

 

[jxp]

Oh that is sad. I am sorry for your loss and truly horrified if they're evil little beings. I know nature can be cruel but that's just awful.

 

[Debbie292d]

Wow, so very sorry! I, too, would think perhaps the chick might have died on its own, as even though they seemed aggressive, they have little strength being newly hatched themselves. It sure doesn't mean they didn't do it though.

Perhaps the hen was on a lower-protein diet? We feed ours Kalmbach's Flock Maker, which is 20% protein.

I mention that as I once had a toe-picker on Day 1 in the brooder. I finally got that one fixed from doing it, but someone made that suggestion to me, so that's when I switched them from layer feed to the higher protein. I've never had an issue since.

 

[Reaperprincess]

Hi thanks for all your comments. And even if it is possible the chick died on its own the other three were tugging it in different directions and running over it while it sounded panicked and scared. I will try the other feed to see if it helps but i was very disappointed and disturbed by these small chicks basicly killing their own hatchmate. I was also disappointed in myself because i could maybe have saved the chick if i just removed them sooner but was worried about humidity issues.

 

[Reaperprincess]

Wow, so very sorry! I, too, would think perhaps the chick might have died on its own, as even though they seemed aggressive, they have little strength being newly hatched themselves. It sure doesn't mean they didn't do it though.

Perhaps the hen was on a lower-protein diet? We feed ours Kalmbach's Flock Maker, which is 20% protein.

I mention that as I once had a toe-picker on Day 1 in the brooder. I finally got that one fixed from doing it, but someone made that suggestion to me, so that's when I switched them from layer feed to the higher protein. I've never had an issue since.

I just want to ask is the higher protein feed ok to give to my roosters and non laying pullets

 

[tripletfeb]

I just want to ask is the higher protein feed ok to give to my roosters and non laying pullets

Yes. Many of us feed an All Flock food, which is higher protein. Then we supply oyster shell on the side for the girls who are laying