Week Old Chicks picking at themselves

[Chikira]

Hello, first time raising chicks. I was wondering if it is a common thing for week old chicks to be picking at themselves consistently. One chick does it more than the other and I am wondering if it is something to be concerned about. I have done everything that I've read online to decrease the habit: give them more space, reduce exposure to light, entertain them with a roost and a mirror. And nothing I have done has worked. Any more suggestions? Or am I just being paranoid and shouldn't worry about it.

 

[azygous]

While it's natural for baby chicks to pick and peck at everything, it can be harmful when they focus this activity on themselves or each other. Severe injuries often result. The trick to keeping them safe is to give them things to peck at that will cause no harm and to divert their attention from pecking at themselves and each other.

You can stick small bits of colored duct tape to the walls of their brooder, making sure they are stuck down well so they can't peel them off. While they may be too young still to really need it, sprinkling chick grit on the floor of the brooder will satisfy the instinct to hunt and peck things on the ground.

I had an issue with chicks pecking at each others vents last season, so I got a tennis ball and drew red dots on it with red magic marker. I also stapled an insulation noodle to a block of wood and decorated it with stripes of red duct tape. These drew their attention away from each others body parts.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

It's not uncommon, but if you notice they are losing feathers and maybe drawing blood, there might be a problem. If the chick has lost feathers or has signs of attacks, post pictures please. It will help us see how bad it is.

 

[azygous]

Another thing, a brooder that is too small and confining increases the chance that chicks will cause harm to each other. If the brooder is too bright and too warm, it can cause mayhem

 

[Chikira]

It's not uncommon, but if you notice they are losing feathers and maybe drawing blood, there might be a problem. If the chick has lost feathers or has signs of attacks, post pictures please. It will help us see how bad it is.

Here are some pictures, let me know if the lighting is poor and i will take better pictures. No blood has been drawn, but I don't want it to get to that point. If it is a problem, the sooner to stop it the better.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Here are some pictures, let me know if the lighting is poor and i will take better pictures. No blood has been drawn, but I don't want it to get to that point. If it is a problem, the sooner to stop it the better.

The pictures definitely aren't in the best light, but from what I could see, your chick is fine. It's pretty normal for chicks to peck at each other rather young, as they start to develop "the pecking order". Maybe take a couple in better light? It was a little hard to make out.

 

[azygous]

Here's a tip for a new chick keeper. Get some Blu-kote. It may also be called Blue Lotion. It's an anti-fungal/anti-bacterial wound treatment. Keep it on hand if you ever have an injury. Use a Q-tip to paint it on the injury, and it will stain the red wound purple so the chicks won't be attracted to it and injure it further.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Also, in my experience, red tape helps distract chicks. Not sure if it will work for you, but it did for me.

 

[Chikira]

The pictures definitely aren't in the best light, but from what I could see, your chick is fine. It's pretty normal for chicks to peck at each other rather young, as they start to develop "the pecking order". Maybe take a couple in better light? It was a little hard to make out.

Here are a couple new pictures

 

[Chikira]

Also, in my experience, red tape helps distract chicks. Not sure if it will work for you, but it did for me.

I will use that red tape tip in the future, thanks!