3-4 day old RIR mix chicks - super standoffish and pecky

[Kytera]

I greatly appreciate any advice! I hatched a mixed incubator (pure BCM, pure Choc Orp, and RIR mixes). The RIR mixes are super pecky! Unlike the orps and bcm, they are getting agitated by handling, hate cuddles, and will not even eat from our hands. It is getting worse, not better.

They will peck EVERYTHING - us, the brooder box, bedding, other chicks, each other. If they are awake, they are pecking. Yesterday I had to remove the brooder thermometer and replace it with a tiny black digital incubator thermometer because it was a pecking frenzy. Today, they are pecking the other chicks and each other. I see them eating and drinking, completely normal poo, very active and chittery happy chirps. I pulled them out for play time on a towel and each with crumble food scattered on it, they ignored the food and us and attacked the towel. I had to put them back.

I know the RIR breed can be bossy, but honestly did not expect it as young chicks. Is this normal?? Is something wrong? How in the world do I domesticate them?

Brooder is 94-95 degrees with a cooler side, they all prefer to cuddle puddle under the light though. Fresh water and food multiple times a day. Puppy pads, not bedding. RIR mix parents are RIR roo and BSL (same RIR X BR). We are also raising Sasso Broilers (5wks old) and they are less feral and easier to handle!
I am debating just moving them to their own brooder (I was going to try guessing at sex to have male and female brooders). But I am nervous they won't integrate back together well when it is time to go out to the coop.

pics of the lil brats

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The RIR mixes are super pecky! Unlike the orps and bcm, they are getting agitated by handling, hate cuddles, and will not even eat from our hands. It is getting worse, not better.

They will peck EVERYTHING - us, the brooder box, bedding, other chicks, each other. If they are awake, they are pecking.

I am debating just moving them to their own brooder (I was going to try guessing at sex to have male and female brooders). But I am nervous they won't integrate back together well when it is time to go out to the coop.

Photos of the brooder setup, how large is it?

Some chicks can be a bit more standoffish and don't want to be handled, cuddled, etc. That's their choice, I let them be.

I place a hand in the brooder and any chick that wants to interact/be friendly, that's great, if there are ones that don't, that's fine to. The only reason I may grab a standoffish chick is because I see something that concerns me about its health, otherwise, they can move about and do their own thing.

Chicks peck and pick to explore their world. They can also peck out of boredom and overcrowding. They also like shiny things like eyes, etc. Provide them with a pan of dirt with a plug of sod to help get them interested in digging about.

I greatly appreciate any advice! I hatched a mixed incubator (pure BCM, pure Choc Orp, and RIR mixes). The RIR mixes are super pecky! Unlike the orps and bcm, they are getting agitated by handling, hate cuddles, and will not even eat from our hands. It is getting worse, not better.

They will peck EVERYTHING - us, the brooder box, bedding, other chicks, each other. If they are awake, they are pecking. Yesterday I had to remove the brooder thermometer and replace it with a tiny black digital incubator thermometer because it was a pecking frenzy. Today, they are pecking the other chicks and each other. I see them eating and drinking, completely normal poo, very active and chittery happy chirps. I pulled them out for play time on a towel and each with crumble food scattered on it, they ignored the food and us and attacked the towel. I had to put them back.

I know the RIR breed can be bossy, but honestly did not expect it as young chicks. Is this normal?? Is something wrong? How in the world do I domesticate them?

Brooder is 94-95 degrees with a cooler side, they all prefer to cuddle puddle under the light though. Fresh water and food multiple times a day. Puppy pads, not bedding. RIR mix parents are RIR roo and BSL (same RIR X BR). We are also raising Sasso Broilers (5wks old) and they are less feral and easier to handle!
I am debating just moving them to their own brooder (I was going to try guessing at sex to have male and female brooders). But I am nervous they won't integrate back together well when it is time to go out to the coop.

pics of the lil brats
View attachment 4093262View attachment 4093264

 

[Kytera]

Photos of the brooder setup, how large is it?

Some chicks can be a bit more standoffish and don't want to be handled, cuddled, etc. That's their choice, I let them be.

I place a hand in the brooder and any chick that wants to interact/be friendly, that's great, if there are ones that don't, that's fine to. The only reason I may grab a standoffish chick is because I see something that concerns me about its health, otherwise, they can move about and do their own thing.

Chicks peck and pick to explore their world. They can also peck out of boredom and overcrowding. They also like shiny things like eyes, etc. Provide them with a pan of dirt with a plug of sod to help get them interested in digging about.

It is a DIY brooder from a 40gal HD tote. They get the zooming and run end to end. I added a second food dish yesterday too.
I thought they had to be a few weeks old to get anything except chick starter? I am actually going to go get a different brand of chick starter today. They peck and eat, but half the time the spit it out. Pieces are tiny crumbles and chick starter, but from our local mill vs store bought. Other chicks are fine with it but the RIR mix seem to be doing a lot of peck and toss...not sure if it us just behavioral though cuz they have full crops.

As for leaving the standoffish ones alone, how do you domesticate them? I was always taught the more you handle (appropriately and gentle of course) them while they are young, the more friendly they are as adults. I have young kiddos that I don't want getting hurt.

 

[Kytera]

I h

Photos of the brooder setup, how large is it?

Some chicks can be a bit more standoffish and don't want to be handled, cuddled, etc. That's their choice, I let them be.

I place a hand in the brooder and any chick that wants to interact/be friendly, that's great, if there are ones that don't, that's fine to. The only reason I may grab a standoffish chick is because I see something that concerns me about its health, otherwise, they can move about and do their own thing.

Chicks peck and pick to explore their world. They can also peck out of boredom and overcrowding. They also like shiny things like eyes, etc. Provide them with a pan of dirt with a plug of sod to help get them interested in digging about.

I have tried just a hand with food in the brooder. They come running but don't want the food. They just peck the crap out of my arm. It isn't a few exploration pecks, it is pecking frenzy that doesn't settle.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

As for leaving the standoffish ones alone, how do you domesticate them? I was always taught the more you handle (appropriately and gentle of course) them while they are young, the more friendly they are as adults.

They each have their own personality, just like people. While you may try to make friends or be nice to everyone, it doesn't mean that everyone will be nice back. I have spent a lot of time with the chicks I have raised, and do a lot of hatching every year, some of my ladies are very friendly, I can walk up and pick them right up or give them a scratch on the neck, while others won't let me even get close enough to touch them. They may get used to being handled, but it does not mean they will like it or tolerate it. They are still babies, give them some time to figure out their little world, maybe take them on a field trip outside in the sun and grass.

 

[Kytera]

I do see your point and agree that it may just be their temperment. I am very much an introvert myself and I do try to pay close attention to their body language. I am trying not to force anything but also didn't want to miss the window of teaching them humans are good and ensure they at least tolerate care.

Should I separate them from the orps and marans? They are definitely learning to peck back. I don't want all of them to end up being nasty. Or for one of them to get hurt.

It is 2nd winter here right now. Hoping tomorrow it starts to warm up again. We had snow yesterday. Babies have to be 4wks for trips outside, right?

They each have their own personality, just like people. While you may try to make friends or be nice to everyone, it doesn't mean that everyone will be nice back. I have spent a lot of time with the chicks I have raised, and do a lot of hatching every year, some of my ladies are very friendly, I can walk up and pick them right up or give them a scratch on the neck, while others won't let me even get close enough to touch them. They may get used to being handled, but it does not mean they will like it or tolerate it. They are still babies, give them some time to figure out their little world, maybe take them on a field trip outside in the sun and grass.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I do see your point and agree that it may just be their temperment. I am very much an introvert myself and I do try to pay close attention to their body language. I am trying not to force anything but also didn't want to miss the window of teaching them humans are good and ensure they at least tolerate care.

Should I separate them from the orps and marans? They are definitely learning to peck back. I don't want all of them to end up being nasty. Or for one of them to get hurt.

It is 2nd winter here right now. Hoping tomorrow it starts to warm up again. We had snow yesterday. Babies have to be 4wks for trips outside, right?

Even as young as they are they are establishing a pecking order. The orps and marans will be just fine (I have an English Orp that is a bossy lady, lol) When it warms up a bit take them outside, there is no time frame for them to go out. I brood my chicks outside, they will be out running around in 40° temps then run back under there heating pad. If they start chirping loudly they are ready to go in and warm up.

 

[Kytera]

I ended up separating them into 2 smaller brooders last night. 2 of them ganged up on a Choc orp and were ripping its face feathers out and cut just below its beak. separated them are all much calmer, even though it is less space. The reds have been a less pecky and flighty, actually are more receptive to interaction with us humans too. I have 2 reds in with the others still - one smaller, late hatcher with a yolk sack "scab" that I am watching and other that is just far more chill than the others. Going to give them time to chill and then reintroduce. Maybe add the calmer ones back into the flock one by one.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 4093963
It is a DIY brooder from a 40gal HD tote. They get the zooming and run end to end. I added a second food dish yesterday too.
I thought they had to be a few weeks old to get anything except chick starter? I am actually going to go get a different brand of chick starter today. They peck and eat, but half the time the spit it out. Pieces are tiny crumbles and chick starter, but from our local mill vs store bought. Other chicks are fine with it but the RIR mix seem to be doing a lot of peck and toss...not sure if it us just behavioral though cuz they have full crops.

As for leaving the standoffish ones alone, how do you domesticate them? I was always taught the more you handle (appropriately and gentle of course) them while they are young, the more friendly they are as adults. I have young kiddos that I don't want getting hurt.

I h

I have tried just a hand with food in the brooder. They come running but don't want the food. They just peck the crap out of my arm. It isn't a few exploration pecks, it is pecking frenzy that doesn't settle.

I ended up separating them into 2 smaller brooders last night. 2 of them ganged up on a Choc orp and were ripping its face feathers out and cut just below its beak. separated them are all much calmer, even though it is less space. The reds have been a less pecky and flighty, actually are more receptive to interaction with us humans too. I have 2 reds in with the others still - one smaller, late hatcher with a yolk sack "scab" that I am watching and other that is just far more chill than the others. Going to give them time to chill and then reintroduce. Maybe add the calmer ones back into the flock one by one.

Separating them may help, the brooder they are all in is a bit tight quarters, so having them into smaller groups might help.

Chicks even when small like this need plenty of room, you'll find that in a week, both groups will need more space than you are providing.

Sorry to hear that you have one that got injured, hopefully you'll be able to resolve these issues and find a way to get them all integrated when outside.

What is the size of your coop (sqft) and run (sqft). A general guideline is to have at least 4sqft of coop space and 10sqft of run space for each bird.

 

[Kytera]

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Separating them may help, the brooder they are all in is a bit tight quarters, so having them into smaller groups might help.

Chicks even when small like this need plenty of room, you'll find that in a week, both groups will need more space than you are providing.

Sorry to hear that you have one that got injured, hopefully you'll be able to resolve these issues and find a way to get them all integrated when outside.

What is the size of your coop (sqft) and run (sqft). A general guideline is to have at least 4sqft of coop space and 10sqft of run space for each bird.

Separating them dramatically improved the situation! Once on their own, I was able to interact with them more. They co mingled peacefully for periods every day too and are now in 2 big mixed brooders. Going to upgraded them to XL and XXL dog crates soon.
I am still working on the run and coop bit those are the guidelines I am building with. Planning on 12. The rest will be destined for freezer camp. Based on the feathering out and posturing, I suspect only 3, *maybe* 4, of the reds are actually hens.