Sometimes when I have started a holding cage with very young chicks, I find that in a short time a couple of the chicks anoint themselves to be the dominate occupants. Somewhat of a pecking order, if you will.

If I attempt to introduce new young chicks into the same holding cage about a week or two later, the dominate chicks immediately begin to show there superiority by picking on the newly introduced young.

To avoid this situation, I try to move chicks in a timely manor. If I want to add additional chicks to an existing group of chicks, I first move the existing chicks into a different holding cage. As soon as the chicks are in the new cage I then add the new chicks into the new cage also. This way the pecking order has not yet been established with the new cage and the very noticeable dominance of the first cage does not appear to be noticeable at all. I am sure that it is going on, but those original dominate chicks have to establish themselves with all the flock in the new cage, thus being much more subtle.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to send a note to Greg as he is always happy to help.