Pecking at 1 week

[Aemelia]

I have 3 chicks. 2 RIR's and 1 SLW. One of the reds constantly pecks at the tip of the beak of the SLW, I mean constantly. The SLW doesn't seem to be harmed at this point but I thought this wasn't supposed to start until around 3 weeks. Can the beak be hurt? The other red and the SLW get along great.

 

[Blue_Myst]

Usually they do that because the other chicken has food on their beak . . . the RIR probably sees something she likes, or thinks something is there.

As long as she isn't drawing blood or actually pecking with enough force to knock her down, they should be fine. Keep us posted!

 

[Aemelia]

I was wondering if it could be due to the SLW having a white/pinkish beak and the Reds have a much redder marking on the beaks. So the SLW would look like it always had something going on there to the red. I think I'm going to track down a red heat light and see if that will stop it.

 

[Blue_Myst]

That sounds like a good plan. The red lamp should help decrease over-all pecking.