Is it usual for chicks to beat each other up? This is my second hatch and my last ones were angels. These 5 are now two days old (all large fowl of different breeds) and they are always squabbling and pecking each other. Sometimes they even end up with a beak full of down from dragging each other about, sometimes it's by a wing which really makes them swear! It's not just one chick who is the culprit either, they all seem to have a go at one another. They never seem to do any damage but it's horrible to watch. Is this normal behaviour? I am hoping it's just a temporary phase and they will grow out of it in a day or so, is this likely to happen? Many thanks in advance.
Well, that sounds brutal. But if they're all doing it and no one is drawing blood, I'd let them sort it out. I would've thought overcrowding could be an issue but since there's only five unless you're keeping them in a shoebox, they should be fine.
They could be stressed. Have you lowered the wattage of the bulb, or even switched the white light out for a red one. (if you are using a white light) If nothing works, try separating them for a few days, see if that works.
Thanks guys, the brooder is quite big but I am warming up a huge one as I type, if only to give them more room to run away! The light I am using although it is infrared has got a large white spot in the middle of the bulb (I don't know why???) so the new brooder has got red only. Thanks once again
I had a problem with a group of chicks that I had under a regular light bulb. I think that I read here at BYC to make sure and have a red light heat bulb and it really did seem to stop the picking of the chicks at each other. I hope it helps. misty
everyone always talks about red bulbs? I used a regular during the day and a black reptile bulb at night more work, but everyone got some sleep. LOL
