2 Aggressive Chicks Bullying Third Chick-- is this normal?

[lilyeti]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a first-time chicken owner and just got 3 chicks from a breeder yesterday. One is a 3 week old silkie, one is a week old buff brahma bantam, and one is a week old mottled cochin bantam.

I have 2 questions:

First, the brahma began picking at the feathers on the cochin's feet yesterday and today there is dried blood on the cochin's feet. I've put a little neosporin and vick's on them (as one poster suggested) to heal and deter the picking, and it's helped a little, but not entirely. The blu kote is in the mail, and I plan to use that tomorrow. Will this help? I'm not sure why this picking is happening-- they have
-plenty of space
-a red light, and the heat at a constant 85-88 degrees.
-I gave them some dried meal worms and little pieces of herbs to forage for and keep them distracted (along with some grit for digestion)
-electrolytes/vitamins in their water for the first 2 days
I even just ordered the Eco Brooder, hoping maybe that would help if they were agitated from too much/too little heat or the red light. What am I doing wrong? Is this just from first-day stress?

Secondly, now the bigger older silkie is getting aggressive with the smaller ones, mainly the cochin who is already being bullied by the brahma. I don't really want to separate the cochin from the other two, as even separating them for 10 mins yesterday during a brooder cleaning seemed to throw off the harmony in the flock and create more bullying towards to the cochin. Is this just normal chick behavior (the pecking order) and I should stop being such a worried mom, or is there cause for concern?

The breeder offered to switch out one of them (probably the silkie) for another chick that might get along with the flock more. I'd prefer not to do this, but if it's better for the others' well-being I will.

Thanks so much for your advice!

 

[lightchick]

They should calm down soon.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If they're picking to the point of drawing blood, you have every right to be concerned.

Why are they doing it? I have no idea, some are just butt heads. Sometimes those new pin feathers are just so tempting they can't help themselves. Or perhaps they aren't getting enough protein from their regular feed (but I'll just assume you're feeding chick starter and that isn't the problem). It could also be that the brooder is too warm for the older Silkie and maybe that's whats agitating it. Though if your brooder is large, it should be able to move away from the heat (but, Silkies aren't know for being the sharpest tools in the shed). The Blu-Kote should help tremendously, as it will cover up any blood. I know that isn't much help, but hang in there. Worst case scenario, you could separate the offender inside the brooder with some chicken wire, hardware clothe or some other divider while you're waiting for the Blu-Kote.

Good luck, hang in there

 

[lilyeti]

Thanks so much for the encouragement! So I added the Blu-Kote to the cochin's feet yesterday and it actually seemed to make matters worse, if you can believe it! Suddenly they were noticing her feet more than ever and the Silkie even began picking. Luckily they seem to be over doing that today, much to my relief, and I've tried to provide them with a ton of distractions so they'll stop noticing her feet. Seems like it's working.

At the advice of another member, I've been picking up the Silkie and holding her for 15 minute intervals throughout the day trying to calm her down and teach her that I'm the alpha Sort of working, as she's warming up to me and even fell asleep in my lap. It was adorable. She's a little better with the two chicks after these sessions, but then an hour later she's up to her old antics! Charging them, flapping her wings, asserting her dominance. I worry that because she's bigger than them she could possibly hurt them.

I have a hard time knowing if this behavior is normal pecking-order stuff, or if she's being overly aggressive, as I've never had chickens before. What do you all think?

And she's not even 4 weeks old yet, but I'm starting to worry she could be a rooster! We're not allowed to have them here in Santa Barbara, so I really hope she doesn't turn out to be a he, as I'd be sad to part with her. But her aggressive behavior seems to be the opposite of everything I've read about silkies-- that they're so docile and sweet! Is it possible she's just going through her "terrible twos" and will mellow out soon?

 

[Ponyfeather]

I think you might want to take the breeders offer and trade her. I know it is hard to part with a cute fluffy chick but sometimes animals don't follow their 'breed norms' and cochin banties are small and could be seriously hurt by the silkie other then the feather picking.