Mean little cuss

[KeliD]

I’ve had 19 eggs incubating and the first chick hatched yesterday. The second earlier today, another is about to emerge any moment , a fourth had started unzipping and I think a 5th has started pipping.
The first little monster keeps viciously pecking number two - sometimes pulling in t off it’s feet. So far no blood has been drawn but should I do anything about it or let them sort it out? They’ll go to their separate corners and dose off but #1 is stronger having at least a 15 hour head start so if awake seeks out the other to harass.
I don’t really have a safe place to keep anyone I remove and I’m afraid to open the incubator with others so close to hatching.
Can newly hatched chicks kill each other or are they just trying to establish pecking order right off?

 

[MGG]

I’ve had 19 eggs incubating and the first chick hatched yesterday. The second earlier today, another is about to emerge any moment , a fourth had started unzipping and I think a 5th has started pipping.
The first little monster keeps viciously pecking number two - sometimes pulling in t off it’s feet. So far no blood has been drawn but should I do anything about it or let them sort it out? They’ll go to their separate corners and dose off but #1 is stronger having at least a 15 hour head start so if awake seeks out the other to harass.
I don’t really have a safe place to keep anyone I remove and I’m afraid to open the incubator with others so close to hatching.
Can newly hatched chicks kill each other or are they just trying to establish pecking order right off?

You'd better remove number 1. He's probably getting hungry. Just get a mist bottle, fill it with hot water, and mist all of the eggs right before you shut the incubator. That way none will shrink wrap. If he draws blood though he'll peck tge other chick to death. Offer him sime water and food. What breed of chick is he?

 

[diamondsilkies]

Sometimes older chicks will peck at other chicks in the incubator, out of boredom, curiosity, and/or hunger. I would say it's time to move the oldest to the brooder, but if the behavior still persists after the other chicks have been moved to the brooder, then it's time to look at some other causes.