Separating chicks: eye-pecker

[newchickychick]

Oh boy. So we've got a bundle of new chicks. We've got 23 in the brooder we successfully raised 19 VERY happy chicks from last time. Other than typical pecking order tit-for-tats and the occasional karate kick, they really didn't fight much at all. And still don't!

Right now we've got a chick (suspected Gold Lace Polish) that is obsessed with pecking the other chicks' eyes. Needless to say, we constructed a little wall to separate him from the others. Should we go ahead and build a mini-brooder for him tomorrow that's specifically for 'timeout'?

I tried;
- Nudging the bully chick when he'd peck an eye. He didn't like it at all but it didn't seem to deter him even a little.
- Putting shiny stickers all over the brooder. The other chicks are going NUTS for them. They love pecking at them! But the eye-pecker pecked at one once and then went right back to poking eyes.
- And now separating him with another two chicks that he hasn't bothered (they have darker faces - the rest are very light so it's very easy to see their eyes. These chicks didn't pick on the other Polish either, so while they're not problem children at all I figured they'd be safest from his bullying)

They were shipped on the 30th and arrived today. So is it possible he's just ornery and upset from shipping stress?

How long do you keep problem chicks separated for before trying to reintegrate? He pecked one little Polish's eye really raw. I've since put Neosporin on it and the chick seems to be feeling much better. The others aren't picking on it either which is a relief. It's literally just the ONE chick that's being mean to everyone else. I'm at a loss! We didn't really have this issue with our first batch of chicks so I'm really concerned. Thanks ahead of time for all help and advice.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You may find this helpful.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aggressive-baby-chicks-and-how-to-stop-the-behavior.72029/

 

[newchickychick]

You may find this helpful.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aggressive-baby-chicks-and-how-to-stop-the-behavior.72029/

Thank you. I did give this a read! All the other chicks are very content but we’re planning on building a custom bigger brooder just in case.

There are shiny stickers all over the brooder that every single other chick became enamored with the moment I put them in. The problem baby took one peck at them then went right back to pecking at the others’ eyes. Every single chick we’ve got.

I had to stay up all night cycling in new chicks in with it so it wasn’t alone but it kept going after every one’s eyes. I would “peck” it with my finger every time and it seemed to dislike this, but hasn’t stopped for more than a minute at a time despite it being nearly 12 hours of this (outside of when it thankfully of course got a long sleep in). It even went after the all black chick’s eyes we’ve got, which I was so hoping could be a reliable companion that wasn’t as distracting for the chick since a lot of the others have light marks around their eyes.

I’m going to keep trying this once I get some sleep. I’m just not sure how long should usually solve the issue by if I’m correcting the behavior like that. If the other chicks weren’t so content and docile, I feel like I would know where to start with environmental factors, but it’s just not feeling like that’s the case here with all the others not pecking at each other. They even left the injured chick alone and its eye is already looking considerably better after some TLC.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Are you using a red bulb in your heat lamp?

 

[newchickychick]

Are you using a red bulb in your heat lamp?

Yeah. We did for our first batch too since I had read it can help mask the sight of blood in case of injury and prevent worse pecking. He goes after truly all the other chicks’ eyes. It just surprises me it’s a Polish of all the chicks. :[ I had heard they’re usually easy going chicks. The others (Polish and other breeds) are absolute angels. Certainly a peck here and there but never the eyes and never hard enough to make the others cry out.
We tried putting a plush chick with him in the separated area to try to keep him company while we sort this out. He immediately pecked at its eyes. He does not want to eat or drink away from his broodmates, so we’ve put him back to ensure he will eat and drink. We supervise and everything is good for all of 60 seconds then after he drinks and eats, he pecks an eye. There’s so many shiny little gem stick-ons the others are fascinated with. There’s a mirror toy. There’s plenty of room, and there’s little perches for enrichment. It just seems he’s fascinated with eyes and even bit on hard to one of the other’s beaks this last time and made the chick cry out and panic. It’s puzzling me.

Is this a “grin and bear it and keep trying” over the next week or two? Would it be bad to get some other chicks, new ones, to put with him separately? The only fear I have with that is he’s pecked the eyes of the Cackle Toppie chick too, who’s black with no light marks on its face so it isn’t even a matter of the markings making the eyes look extra shiny I don’t think. I want this little jerk to thrive and overcome this, but I feel like I’m missing something. Would extra vitamins help? They’ve all had access to fresh water and electrolyte water, but could a deficiency be making him cranky?