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browndedra0816

In the Brooder
May 20, 2024
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When do I need to worry about how bigger chicks are pecking smaller chickens? All my chickens are younger than 4 months old , I also have the same number 2 month old chickens as I do 4 month olds, added them to the flock after being housed next to each other for about a month, older chickens pecking and I’m seeing more of the older chickens feathers than the smaller ones. ( all my younger chicks are black feathered so I can tell the difference) nobody seems ill. Should I be concerned? What do I look for? Also what can I do to help keep ants out of the coop? Thanks 🙏
 
Take care of it right away! They probably need more space, first of all. Is there a brooder you have them in? I use cardboard boxes with some screens on top. But when they grow, they DO need more space. I add more box and connect them by cutting doorways and hooking them together with the flaps of cardboard left from the doorway.

Here is an article with information on the amount of space chicks and chickens need. It's really info on building coops, with lots of helpful hints and details, but it includes info on how much space they need at different ages.

Adding some things in their brooder may help as well:

Try some chicken toys, and add some red dots around the walls. The pecking chicks will most likely want to peck the red spots instead of their neighbors.

BYC has tons of information, but I really appreciate the articles written by members. They are also reviewed by other members, who sometimes have really helpful additions in the comments. You can browse the Learning Center, (or just click on the Articles button in the top menu) but you can also search by topic.

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Welcome to BYC. You have enough space. How much roost space do you have? (You need no less than 24' of roost.) I would suggest adding things that would entertain them. Hang a cabbage. Add a mirror. Put in some dust baths, lean a pallet or two against the wall for hiding spaces.
For ants sprinkling garden dust with permethrin around the border should help.
 
Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! :frow

We have your situation (almost) with some 1, 4, 5-year-old birds in the main coop who all free range as well as the 4-month-olds and the 2-month-olds.

There never is an issue until I bring out the ferment/treat so I have to lob it out in about 10 spots so everyone gets some without others being pushed away. Otherwise, other than feeding frenzy, they stay out of each other's way.

At coop time, the 2-month-olds go to their temp coop and all the rest head to the main one. Tomorrow, we'll do it all again. ☺️

To keep ants from the coop and the house, I sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth around both. Redo that when it rains. If I see an ant in the house, I know I forgot!
 

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