pecking at feet

[NewChicky174]

My 2 buff orpingtons are 1.5 weeks old and frequently peck at eachothers feet. Sometimes they seen to be cleaning eachother but other times, it seems mean. Is that normal?

I'm getting 15 new chicks this week, can I put the older girls in with them?

 

[ls430fl]

My buff orpingtons are also about 1.5 weeks old and do the same thing. I noticed they are not doing it as much but it was a constant thing. Interested to know if all breeds do the same thing as well.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Yep, eyes and toes are fun for baby chicks to peck and pull. Normal chick curiosity

 

[Janet Pesaturo]

Boredom is the primary cause of toe picking and feather picking. Read about it here: http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/range556/appl_behave/projects/chicken_cannibalism.html

I strongly urge you to do what you can to stop it now. Picking tends to get worse if nothing is done, because it becomes a habit. Picking chicks need more stimulation, i.e., more interesting things to explore than each others feathers and toes. See my post on creating a baby chick playground: http://ouroneacrefarm.com/baby-chick-playground/

If it is too cold in your area to give them outdoor time, try adding interesting things to the brooder box, like logs, twigs, mixed lettuces and/or other greens, dried mealworms.