New chicks

[Mamatomany123]

I just got 4 more chicks. My oldest ones are 16 weeks. These new babies just arrived at the store an hour before I got them so I'm guessing just a day or 2 they're golden sexlinks.
So, on to my problem. I got them set up in their brooder. It's an extra large dog crate so plenty of room. Food and water set up and they ate and drank. But I noticed one of the chicks keeps grabbing the others toes and dragging them. My older chicks were the snowflake of chicks and never gave me any problems. Is this normal behavior. Do I need to do something to stop it? Help

 

[The Happster]

They do peck each others toes....they look like mealworms. Dragging though?
I have two at the moment. One has an obsession with pecking the other's toes.
The other has an obsession with pecking the other's eyes?! But they seem fine together and we've had no casualties yet...

 

[Mamatomany123]

They do peck each others toes....they look like mealworms. Dragging though?
I have two at the moment. One has an obsession with pecking the other's toes.
The other has an obsession with pecking the other's eyes?! But they seem fine together and we've had no casualties yet...

Yeah, she will get a hold of a toe and start running. I wonder if shes thinking it's a worm? I'm hoping she cuts it out. I've never dealt with one like this.

 

[The Happster]

I've had it before and they always seem to grow out of it. In the first few days/even weeks they're still trying out new things. They try eating poop and learn from it. They peck their mother sometimes. Hopefully they won't take any toes off in that time.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I've had it before and they always seem to grow out of it. In the first few days/even weeks they're still trying out new things. They try eating poop and learn from it. They peck their mother sometimes. Hopefully they won't take any toes off in that time.

I think I figured it out. The store had just barely gotten them in so they told me they didnt have time to eat and to make sure to give food when we got home. I gave food and water. My older girls are still on chick food because they arent laying yet so I just gave them some.(we also are switching to all flock feed and will provide oyster shells once they're laying) Well, I forgot how small baby chicks were and the food pieces were too big for them. I blended it up in a blender, they pigged out, and now they're all sleeping and happy. Poor baby was probably hungry and thinking her sisters toes were food.

 

[The Happster]

I'm glad you got it sorted. Now I'm questioning my girls (hopefully girls)
They have access to food though so it probably isn't that. They chuck the food everywhere though so I've started only putting a bit in at a time.
They're getting a bit bored. One keeps trying to fly out. Any idea how to entertain them?

 

[Mamatomany123]

I'm glad you got it sorted. Now I'm questioning my girls (hopefully girls)
They have access to food though so it probably isn't that. They chuck the food everywhere though so I've started only putting a bit in at a time.
They're getting a bit bored. One keeps trying to fly out. Any idea how to entertain them?

A mirror I've heard. I brood mine in the coop so I think its plenty big to keep them entertained before they go outside. Also put in a pan of dirt. They will love it. Little perches. These are only maybe a day old so they are still at the eat. Poop, and sleep stage

 

[The Happster]

I'm missing that stage now
Mine are in my bedroom just in case....
Keep waking me up super early just because they want a cuddle. I might try a mirror. They'll think they have new siblings.
I did take them out today for a dustbathing lesson didn't go very well....hard when you don't speak chicken. I scattered some oats and tried to get them to dig for them. They just wanted to sit on my lap and eat grass. I tried.
Mine are about a week old now. I also have a day old buff orpington under a broody.
I bought a Light Sussex and a Cuckoo Maran. Apparently she isn't a Cuckoo Maran but a SL Wyandotte.... And now I think my 'Light Sussex' is another Buff Orp. Ahhhhh.
Her feathers are just too peachy looking for a LS.

 

[The Happster]

Just tried the mirror idea. I happened to have a tiny one...perfect. The Light Sussex/Buff started preening his feathers at the mirror