Chicks pecking each other in the brooder

[jnicholes]

Hi everyone,

I have the following chicks, all 4 weeks old:

1 Female Rhode Island Red
1 Female Amber White
1 Female Austra White
1 Female Golden Sex Link
1 Female Buff Orpington
1 Female Barred Plymouth Rock
2 Female Amaraucanas (Think I spelled that wrong,)
And 5 others they included without telling us, breeds and genders unknown.

I went to the brooder just now, because I was hearing loud chirping. When I got there, I noticed that the chicks seem to be “taunting” each other. They were also pecking each other on occasion.

I don’t know if they’re establishing a pecking order or not, but I’m curious to know if it is normal for chicks to do these things.

Is this normal, and if not, is there anything I should do?

I’ll try to get a video of the behavior later.

Jared

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is this normal, and if not, is there anything I should do?

Sounds like they're starting to get bored and *might* be crowded.

How big is your brooder and what are you doing for enrichment? Pics welcome!

Have they made any short trips outdoors yet? Or had a clump of dirt with grass attached brought in so they can play king of the hill and get a little exposure to the outdoor cooties before going out full time?

 

[jnicholes]

Sounds like they're starting to get bored and *might* be crowded.

How big is your brooder and what are you doing for enrichment? Pics welcome!

Have they made any short trips outdoors yet? Or had a clump of dirt with grass attached brought in so they can play king of the hill and get a little exposure to the outdoor cooties before going out full time?

I’m pretty sure the brooder is big enough. I, a 6’ 1” male, can easily lay in it if it didn’t have chicks and sawdust inside.

As for enrichment, I haven’t done anything because I don’t know what enrichment for chickens is, to be honest.

No trips outside yet, I thought they still needed to be in the brooder. They are 4 weeks old, after all.

Pictures:

 

[Silkiebegins]

Seems they are fine. It's totally optional to put dirt or grass there. Yes, it is also normal for them to peck each other.

 

[Silkiebegins]

No trips outside yet, I thought they still needed to be in the brooder. They are 4 weeks old, after all.

Some people have different preferences when they take they're chicks out. I personally take them out at 6 weeks.

 

[RoyalChick]

They do that to establish their pecking order. But they would really benefit from some enrichment. Things to jump up and down, things to dodge around.
I use a lot of bits of log or a branch supported by bricks. That sort of thing.
And at 4 weeks you can totally have them outside. Not sure what your temperatures are now - but even if it is a bit cold they will love to go out for a visit.

 

[RoyalChick]

Some people have different preferences when they take their chicks out. I personally take them out at 6 weeks.

I take mine out earlier - more like three weeks. Depends on the weather.

 

[jnicholes]

They do that to establish their pecking order. But they would really benefit from some enrichment. Things to jump up and down, things to dodge around.
I use a lot of bits of log or a branch supported by bricks. That sort of thing.
And at 4 weeks you can totally have them outside. Not sure what your temperatures are now - but even if it is a bit cold they will love to go out for a visit.

Thanks so much. I will definitely put some stuff in there that they can do things with.

 

[Silkiebegins]

What I do is I let them have free time during the day but bring them back in the brooder for the night.

 

[RoyalChick]

What I do is I let them have free time during the day but bring them back in the brooder for the night.

Yes. I do too. They go out for a visit and have a blast and wear themselves out running around and digging up grass and then I take them back in.
First trip out is just sooo cute!