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What to do with a mean girl chick

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Mary Poophens

In the Brooder
Oct 29, 2022
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I am a new member in Colorado, I got 9 very sweet hens and 1 laidback rooster called Eddy Haskel in the spring of 2022. I just ordered 6 more baby chicks (females). They are rare breed Marans and I got them in three days ago. They are healthy and doing well, but one of the chicks (brown in color with a large beak) is aggressive and very mean to the other chicks. She pecks at their faces, legs, wings, and doesn’t let go. It attacks the other chicks relentlessly. I ended up separating her from the others because I was afraid she would kill the other chicks. This mean girl is in the same fenced cage as the other chicks but separated by plastic fencing. I am not sure what to do with her. Is there any chance she will calm down and stop attacking? What is my best approach to dealing with mean girl?
 
Mary Poophens said:
I am a new member in Colorado, I got 9 very sweet hens and 1 laidback rooster called Eddy Haskel in the spring of 2022. I just ordered 6 more baby chicks (females). They are rare breed Marans and I got them in three days ago. They are healthy and doing well, but one of the chicks (brown in color with a large beak) is aggressive and very mean to the other chicks. She pecks at their faces, legs, wings, and doesn’t let go. It attacks the other chicks relentlessly. I ended up separating her from the others because I was afraid she would kill the other chicks. This mean girl is in the same fenced cage as the other chicks but separated by plastic fencing. I am not sure what to do with her. Is there any chance she will calm down and stop attacking? What is my best approach to dealing with mean girl?
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Can you get a video of the behavior?

Also what's your brooder set up like?
 
Welcome to BYC! I'm so sorry for your stress.
Are you using a heat lamp? If so, try switching to a brooder plate heater. Overheating often causes aggressive behavior.
Make sure your starter feed is fresh and has 18% protein or more.
They need stimulation. Boredom and crowding cause problems. Try adding some low perches to your brooder space, and some hiding places, such as a small box or two.
 
Mary Poophens said:
I am a new member in Colorado, I got 9 very sweet hens and 1 laidback rooster called Eddy Haskel in the spring of 2022. I just ordered 6 more baby chicks (females). They are rare breed Marans and I got them in three days ago. They are healthy and doing well, but one of the chicks (brown in color with a large beak) is aggressive and very mean to the other chicks. She pecks at their faces, legs, wings, and doesn’t let go. It attacks the other chicks relentlessly. I ended up separating her from the others because I was afraid she would kill the other chicks. This mean girl is in the same fenced cage as the other chicks but separated by plastic fencing. I am not sure what to do with her. Is there any chance she will calm down and stop attacking? What is my best approach to dealing with mean girl?
Click to expand...
 

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Mary Poophens said:
I am a new member in Colorado, I got 9 very sweet hens and 1 laidback rooster called Eddy Haskel in the spring of 2022. I just ordered 6 more baby chicks (females). They are rare breed Marans and I got them in three days ago. They are healthy and doing well, but one of the chicks (brown in color with a large beak) is aggressive and very mean to the other chicks. She pecks at their faces, legs, wings, and doesn’t let go. It attacks the other chicks relentlessly. I ended up separating her from the others because I was afraid she would kill the other chicks. This mean girl is in the same fenced cage as the other chicks but separated by plastic fencing. I am not sure what to do with her. Is there any chance she will calm down and stop attacking? What is my best approach to dealing with mean girl?
Click to expand...
 

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