Ways to not let the chicks get bored and start pecking each other

[wakulla bill]

We had one very aggressive chick, at just days old, and others that were becoming aggressive. 8 chicks total in a big box.

1) We got the red light as soon as it started happening,

2) I started handling the aggressive ones, seems when I put them back, they were all mellowed out.

3) We gave them things to do. Dots on the sides of their cardboard brooder to peck at, a sand box to play in, some hanging keys and string and a plastic dog toy. They also peck at the bedding. Also a little mat thing with dots on it, made from cardstock. And a rock so they can play king of the mountain.

I'll be back with a picture, it's making me restart my computer before I can add it.

Anyway, what do you do to keep your chicks from pecking each other? If you give them toys, what are their favorites?

 

[beanmom]

These are all awesome ideas. I can't wait for pictures- we have our first flock in the brooder right now. They are happy at the moment but I can see how they might get restless in a very short amount of time!!

 

[cafarmgirl]

The number one thing I do to keep pecking to a minimum, or non-existant at all, is to make sure they have a big enough brooder. The more room they have to move around and get away from each other the better. At about 2 1/2 or 3 weeks old I start taking them to a pen outside for several hours a day every day, weather permitting, until they move to their coop at 5 weeks old.

 

[wakulla bill]

Mine seem content in this size right now. It's hard to see the rock in the middle because it's nearly the same color of the bedding. But in the third pic, the black chick in the middle is standing on it. They love their pecking mat. I sprinkled a little sand on it to keep them interested.
~Bobbi(the other half of Bill)