Pecking eyes

[new2me]

I need some input. We got 8 peachicks last week and a couple of days in we notice a few of them have an eye shut. We observe closer and the other few are pecking each other's eyes. I read in a different thread that peachicks do this, but I don't know how to stop it. Right now we separate them during the day, and because so many of them are pecking eyes, we have each one in their own bin. I think they are stressed. They spend a lot of time pacing and crying. We try to hold them, but I obviously can't spend 24-7 holding peachicks (as much as I'd like to)

Does anyone have feedback on this? Will they stop? I don't want blind birds, but I also don't want stressed birds.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Maybe 8 is too many? Crowding is never good.

Good luck

Gary

 

[KsKingBee]

The one that does not have pecked eyes is the one doing the pecking. Natural behavior is for the chicks to peck at things to find the food source. That is why they peck at each others beak and shiny objects. Beaks because momma will find and offer food. Plenty of space, ample food will usually be enough, but when you have a chick that is persistent you will need to separate it for a while.

 

[Midnightman14]

The pacing and calling is normal and nothing to be concerned about, eye pecking can be a problem when they don't know where the food is or there's a big age gap between the chicks. I've found throwing some roasted mealworms on top of their starter/grower food helps them figure things out more quickly.