Violent chicks?? What to do?? Its getting ugly!

[kaitlyn_rae2003]

I have encountered a HUGE problem. I have a few different brooders set up. My chickies are sorted by age/size and that sort of thing. I ordered a batch from mcmurray, all living in harmony, sweet as can be. I hatched out a batch of frizzled cochins, and have 4 remaining, who I planned to keep, and put in my 4-5 week old silkies with them. 10 birds, in a large chicken hutch. The 4 frizzled cochins are now evil. all of the sudden. drew blood on all the silkies. I have never had angry/evil/violent chicks before so I am at a loss. So far, I have removed all the silkies, cleaned their wounds, mostly tail wounds, and applied ointment, and put them in a different brooder, with a red/dark light, because I know they are very attracted to the red blood...Trying to keep visuals to a minimum. And left the 4 nasties where they were. I would leave it at that, but, 2 of the 4 then attacked the other 2 frizzles, so now I dont know what to do. At what point do I determine I have devil chicks, and what do I do!? Is this somewhat normal? Any advice, ideas, help is welcome and appreciated!
PS, the silkies are doing so well, eating drinking, poo-ing, no damage, but I am running out of time out homes and I prefer a little harmony!LOL

 

[Madhouse Mumma]

From my experience, when chicks fight- they are being possesive about territory and food. Heard of the "pecking order"- well, thats chickens! I keep different breeds apart- mainly for breeding, but also because they tend to fight. Maybe thats what your chicks are doing?

 

[kaitlyn_rae2003]

Yea, I have never really had to intervene before, but they are drawing lots of blood. Doesnt seem like the pecking order I am used to.

bump for more replies.

 

[riftnreef]

The above info is most common. Space and availability of food and water the primary causes of aggression in chicks. With that being said, sometimes they just get a little nutty for no good reason...you see it mostly with different breeds...sometimes one breed just don't seem to like the other. No rhym or reason to it, just chicken bigotry I guess! Now, since you have cochins going at fellow cochins that were raised together, then we are back to something environmental. Have another look at your set up...ample roosting/resting space? Plenty of room around the feeders and waterers? Constant supply of food and water? Lighting, too much? All of these can have a large impact on their behavior, but in the end, if this is not the problem, you may just have to isolate the trouble makers until they are a bit older and everyone can defend themselves better....HTH