I just got my order of chicks today and one of them is VERY agressive. It is a cream Brabanter, and I read they are mellow. he/she was so agressive, grabbing the other chicks beaks and shaking then and pecking the eyes, I locked it up is a tiny bird cage inside the brooder with food and water. Do you think he/she will get over being like this? I had 37 to start, 3 have died, 2 were DOA. Thanks
Which hatchery did your chicks come from? I'm new to raising chicks so I wish you the best on resolving this issue. I'm sorry to hear that 5 of your chicks have died already.
Only 3 have died. 2 were dead in the box and one had very twisted feet and could not keep upright. It died later. The hatchers is reimbursing me for the lost chicks. It was Ideal Hatchery. I actually think they are pretty good and like their web site very much. I would order from them again. Maybe less birds next time though.
I let the little bully out of his tiny cage today and he/she seems to be doing better. I also put out another big box with a second light and seperated a bunch of the chicks so they had more room. I thought maybe that was causing the aggression, maybe? All the chicks are doing well this AM, so I think we might be in the clear.
Any kind of stress brings out the worst in chicks. Seperating a bunch of them was probably a very good move since crowding really aggravates the situation. Sometimes switching your heat lamp bulb to a red one can mellow the chicks out as well. I always give them something besides each other to peck at as well like little bits of grass and clover or boiled egg.