Chicks Eye Pecking Each other

[Chickens4Me]

I have 4 new Chicks and since I intruduced the last one the other have started a nasty eye pecking, I afraid they will blind each other, Any ideas ?

[chicken slave]

That happened with my last hatching last year, I had a poorly little one that could go in the brooder for about 24 hours after hatching and the largest first hatched pecked her eyes it was horrifying to see but it stopped after a short while and no harm was done.
Unfortunately you can't stop it by any means of intervention and nature must take it's course, you could try putting things in the brooder like plant pots that create a distraction for the older ones. Chicks loose interest in things really quickly so if you give them other new things they may leave the little one alone.

[Eyren]

Good suggestion on the distraction, chicken slave - chickens of all ages are prone to peck at things when they get bored!

How about one of those brightly coloured ping-pong balls that are sold as cat toys? The bigger chicks could peck at that to their hearts' content to satisfy their predatory dinosaur instincts, and the balls are so light, the chicks can't possibly hurt themselves.

[Snadger]

Have they got enough water at all times........maybe pecking because of liquid in eye?......just a thought.
If just one is getting picked on though without fighting back I think I would seperate it but still keep it visible to the others until it can fend for itself!

[lynda66]

put a mirror in, they will peck their own eyes then

[Flummery]

They always seem to peck at spots - I had me feet pecked by free range hens on a farm holiday once because I had trainers with a white dot on the side. They made a bee-line for it. Maybe if you have something with a dot or two painted on, it would peck that instead?