7. Chick Behavior

Common Chick Behavior

Chicks exhibit instinctual behaviors from a very young age that will follow them into adulthood. Knowing what behaviors to expect from your chicks helps you recognize abnormal behavior that may indicate an issue.

Key Points Summary

• Chicks fighting to establish a pecking order is normal and is usually nothing to worry about. They will have small scuffles as young chicks and get more serious about the pecking order once they begin to reach sexual maturity.
• Dust bathing is used for grooming and parasite control.
• Chicks usually begin perching around four weeks old. Having a perch in their brooder helps prepare them for roosting at night as adults.
• Ground scratching is how chicks search for food, insects, and grit. They’ll scratch through their brooder bedding even if these items can’t be found there.
• If you want your chicks to behave as pets, you’ll need to spend time handling them. The easiest time to do this is when they are still in the brooder.

Behavior Issue – Picking

Picking is an undesirable behavior that can arise in your young flock and is often initiated by a brooder management issue. We’ll cover the factors that can lead to picking, how to prevent picking, and how to put a stop to the behavior if it does become an issue in your brooder.

Key Points Summary

• Picking is much easier to prevent than it is to correct.
• Factors that help prevent picking include:
• Correct brooder temperature.
• Plenty of space for each chick.
• Adequate numbers of feeders and waterers that aren’t allowed to run empty.
• Allowing chickens to have a dark/light cycle rather than constant bright light.
• Removal of any sick or injured chicks until completely healed.
• If picking behavior starts, instigators and injured chicks should be separated, and steps should be taken to improve brooder conditions and correct any issues that led to picking.