Questions about my NEW chicks???

[DebB11]

These questions might seem silly but I am in a major learning curve right now... this is all way new to me....

First question...... is it normal for them to peck each other all the time?

Second question..... can I add 2 more chicks to the bunch today if I bought the others yesterday? Will mixing breeds matter?

Third question.....they are constantly pecking at their bedding in the bottom of the container I have them in...I assume this is normal? Is this called foraging even though they are in a container and not outside?

 

[schellie69]

1st Yes the do peck each other if you put a red lamp on them this usually stops that behavior

2nd You should be fine as long as they are all about the same age and size

3rd yes them pecking at the bedding is normal just make sure that they are not eating it.

Good luck and have fun with your new babies.

 

[DebB11]

I do have a red lamp on them but they still peck each other..... also can't tell if they are eating the bedding or not??? At times I thought they were but it's hard to tell.

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

Mine pecked everything....I think in the begining they are trying to figure out what's food and what isn't! But if they are really hurting each other maybe give them an additional food dish...maybe they are hungry!

 

[AKsmama]

I cover my bedding with paper towels (newspaper is a no-no, too slippery) for the first couple of days until they know where and what their food is, but yes, they absolutely will peck at/scratch around in the bedding. Even if they eat a tiny bit it's ok, as long as they are eating their chick feed. They peck at one another too, but as long as they aren't drawing blood then it shouldn't be a problem. Pecking is how they explore. Make sure they have enough room in the brooder- sometimes overcrowding causes excessive pecking.

It shouldn't matter if you mix breeds. I have three breeds that all live together. Unless, maybe, if you are getting a game breed; from what I understand they can be more aggressive from the start.

 

[wifeofyoyopro]

I love having a variety of different chicken breeds. They are so colorful and so are the eggs I get (white, brown, and blue!). I have Buff Orp, blk Sexlink, RIR, Easter Eggers, Leghorns, Barred Rocks.

And now I have backyard mixes that are:
Dorking/RIR
Dorking/Blk Sexlink
Easter Egger/Leghorn

I almost like my mutts better than my pure breds!

Don't feel bad about the silly questions, we all had them at one time. Have fun!

 

[FombellClucks]

Can I add a "silly" question to this? I have eggs hatching on Sunday (hopefully) if we don't have as a successful hatch as hoped for is it okay to add chicks from TSC? Should I wait a week before I would do that so they can all be strong and stable? Also can you mix bantams with "regular" chicks in a brooder?

 

[ralleia]

I wouldn't mix chicks of different "ages" together--day-old babies could get pecked pretty badly by older chicks. Certainly at least wait for the babies to get as big as the TSC chicks.

And I think it's fine to mix banties with standard chickens--I have before and don't remember having any problems with doing it.

 

[Omani]

I have a standard and a bantam chick together in the brooder, about the same age. They're best buds. I think age has more to do with it than size.

 

[rocky41102]

These are my first chicks but I've got bantams and standards together now and all different ages. I've got 2 sebrights about 3 weeks old, 2 Tetra Tints and 4 Easter Eggers that are probably 2 1/2 to 3 weeks old, and 8 new tiny bantams that are about 1 week old. They've actually gotten along quite well and one of the older ones has gotten a little protective of the little ones. I did watch them carefully the first day to make sure they were okay and had an alternate brooder set up ready in case it didn't work, but they only pecked a little and then everyone moved on.