I have 2 baby chicks that are just about a week old now. One is a barred rock and one is a buff orpington. They were 3 days old when I purchased them. They were in separate cages at the store but have been together for 4 days now.
Their first night home if I put them down at all they peeped like crazy so they ended up sleeping with me. Now they are fine in their brooder, and if I pick up one and not the other the one left in the brooder screams for her friend. Cute, I thought...they've bonded. All of a sudden today the barred rock is pecking the heck out of the BO's little eyeballs. My poor little BO can't get any rest. I took her out to lay with me here at the computer and of course the barred rock screamed like crazy so I now have them both.
I realize chickens have their pecking order thing, but I got two because I read that just one chicken would be lonely by itself. I can't help but think she'd be better off not having her eyes violently pecked at. I don't want to separate them but it is absolutely horrible watching the little BO being bullied like this. What should I do? Would it have been better had I not mixed breeds?
*edited to add: The two chicks are sharing a brooder I made out of our old playpen, so they have plenty of space, and I have a "red" heating bulb (well, every one labeled "red" that I found is actually orange and puts our yellow light, but I tried anyway).
Thanks.
~Cammie
Their first night home if I put them down at all they peeped like crazy so they ended up sleeping with me. Now they are fine in their brooder, and if I pick up one and not the other the one left in the brooder screams for her friend. Cute, I thought...they've bonded. All of a sudden today the barred rock is pecking the heck out of the BO's little eyeballs. My poor little BO can't get any rest. I took her out to lay with me here at the computer and of course the barred rock screamed like crazy so I now have them both.
I realize chickens have their pecking order thing, but I got two because I read that just one chicken would be lonely by itself. I can't help but think she'd be better off not having her eyes violently pecked at. I don't want to separate them but it is absolutely horrible watching the little BO being bullied like this. What should I do? Would it have been better had I not mixed breeds?
*edited to add: The two chicks are sharing a brooder I made out of our old playpen, so they have plenty of space, and I have a "red" heating bulb (well, every one labeled "red" that I found is actually orange and puts our yellow light, but I tried anyway).
Thanks.
~Cammie
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