Why do my chickens do not like baby chicks?

[Elrodvo]

My dad recently let the big chickens and the small baby chicks be free in my backyard and after that. He left for work. I went outside to feed them all but the chicken started pecking and attacking a baby chick. I was disappointed and mad. So I had no choice but to put them back in their coop. The baby chicks were so scared but now they are safe. But why don't the big chickens like the small ones?

 

[bobbi-j]

Chickens aren't very maternal unless they are broody. If they hatch chicks (or you can slip some babies under a broody so she thinks she hatched them), a good mama hen will protect her babies with her life. If she's not broody, a hen will attack baby chickens. They will also attack new half grown chickens and sometimes other adult chickens because that's how they are. Very territorial. They're not all warm and fuzzy like we'd hope. Have the chicks and adults been housed near each other so they can see each other? How old are the chicks that were attacked? Did the adults draw blood on the little ones? Were they going after them relentlessly, or giving warning pecks to teach manners and pecking order?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It is normal for the adults to peck at chicks. Continue to let them mingle daily, than separate them if it gets too rough. Eventually you will be able to leave them together as the chicks learn to stay away from the adults, and they learn about the social structure of a flock.

It has nothing to do with them liking each other. The chicks are new so some hens will peck them. Usually their mom would protect them from it. With no chicken as mom you must play the role.

 

[BYCforlife]

I always put my chickens in my solitary confinement cage when they are mean to other chickens. (Actually, it is touching my regular cage but they never attack the other chickens again.) Once they are out, they are very well behaved!

 

[Elrodvo]

The chicks and adults have been housed near each other for a month now. They can see each other everyday. The chicks that were attacked, I think they are a month old. The big chickens are 3 months old. The chicken was pecking the baby chicks whenever I gave them food and if they are close to each other.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I misunderstood. You have two groups of young birds. That is harder to get them to get along. Both groups are interested in establishing the pecking order, so there will be fighting and pecking. Eventually they will get along but it will take longer.

It's similar to asking 6th graders to play with 1st graders in school. Some will play nice and others won't. They will get along better as they reach adulthood.

 

[BYCforlife]

Yes, that sounds a lot like territorial problems. Your chicks will probably learn to stay away, and if they are anything like mine, they will slowly move in with the rest of the chickens.

 

[aart]

I misunderstood. You have two groups of young birds. That is harder to get them to get along. Both groups are interested in establishing the pecking order, so there will be fighting and pecking. Eventually they will get along but it will take longer.

It's similar to asking 6th graders to play with 1st graders in school. Some will play nice and others won't. They will get along better as they reach adulthood.

Well, situation wasn't completely explained.