Newly Hatched Chicks Pecking Each Other

[jayytee17]

Hi all! I have recently hatched two chicks out of my seven-egg batch (fingers crossed the rest hatch soon!). The first one hatched about a day and a half before the second one, and when I put the second one in the brood box (a fairly large rubbermaid container) after drying off in the incubator, the first one started pecking at it non-stop! When I try to separate them, the second one chirps like crazy, as if it's lonely (even though it was being pecked!). I don't know what to do because I'm planning to have all of these chicks living together outside in a coop eventually, so I need them to get along! Should i just let them duke it out? Is the first one just being territorial?

TIA!

-Jordy

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It's curiosity pecking. The chicks will peck at anything that is different looking. Sometimes the egg tooth on the beak, eyes, or things stuck to down. It is NOT aggression.

In nature a day apart hatching is life or death.... Why are you hatching staggered?

Leave them together. I sometimes do a little poke to the pecking chick to back them off. It *shouldn't* last too long. The smaller chick should let out some squeals to let the early one know where the limits are.

 

[aart]

This is why I like to leave chicks in the bator,
and move them to brooder at least 2 at a time.

Hopefully the older one stops pecking soon.

You could fashion a chick jail.
Made of 1/2" hardware cloth just put it over the rowdy chick right in the brooder for 30 minutes then release it, repeat if necessary.
A simple circle or 'corral' of HC, or other small mesh, about 4-6" high would work too.

 

[jayytee17]

Thankfully after a day together they are finally getting along! Thanks for the advice!

 

[Rooster G]

Pecking each other is their job.