3 week old chicks attacking each other!

[Counting chickens]

How are they doing?
If there's blood on the fluff, then clean that off.
Triple antibiotic ointment, Vetericyn or even Blu Kote can be used on minor wounds.

They're doing Good, no further casualties.
This is just so bizarre, as the cardboard boxes I had used as a brooder before were actually smaller than this water tank, thought I was upgrading them.
We worked most of the evening setting up an outdoor nursery area, and though we don't have heat to it yet, it does have a fully enclosed coop. it is adjacent to the main coop and run.
I initially separated out the ones I saw pecking others and had them in a box, but as I watched, even the injured ones pecked each other. So I put them back together, as I only had the one heat source.
My wife picked up some vet spray and applied it while I was fixing a fence issue.
Man, I thought that 2x2x4 water tank would be fine while they were little. And I do now think the lamp being removed was the trigger. And now, the 10 day forecast has night time temps in the 50s and low 60s at least that far out. Not sure if they're better off in the same enclosure, but with heat, or in the outdoor area that's about twice the size?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Any way you can provide a heat source in the larger area?

 

[Counting chickens]

Any way you can provide a heat source in the larger area?

Maybe, it's going to involve a very long extension cord. may have to go buy a couple.
We're getting rain the next couple of days, should I hold off?

 

[Counting chickens]

Any way you can provide a heat source in the larger area?

Change**
My wife just said all the rain is going to be south of us.
However there is a cold front moving in.
I guess my question would be are they better off in cramped quarters, but warm and dry OR in the bigger enclosure in dirt and grass?

 

[Mamatomany123]

Change**
My wife just said all the rain is going to be south of us.
However there is a cold front moving in.
I guess my question would be are they better off in cramped quarters, but warm and dry OR in the bigger enclosure in dirt and grass?

Well, neither. Either you move them to a bigger brooder area inside or move them outside with their heat source.

 

[Counting chickens]

Well, neither. Either you move them to a bigger brooder area inside or move them outside with their heat source.

So, out of curiosity, how many chicks would a large 2'w x2'h x4'l galvanized Water tank have sufficient room for? It's by far the largest thing I've ever used for a brooder, and this is the first time I've had issues. (I did get my chicks from a different place this time)

Well, Since I don't have anything larger than that, I guess outside they go into the new area.
The coop on the new area is elevated and they have to go up stairs, and there's usually a learning curve on that. That was another thing worrying me. Gotta figure out the heat angle too, it's going to be back down in the 50s at night for the next week or so...

 

[coach723]

Your brooder was probably adequate for that many 1-2 week olds. At 3 weeks the space needed about doubles. They grow so fast that brooders can get very small very quick. Every group of birds is a bit different, it's a good idea to determine things based on how they are going, how the birds are acting. What works for one group, may not work for another. If you are using a heat lamp in your outside coop, then make sure it is anchored really well. Too many stories of coop fires from lamps that came loose somehow. Make SURE the lamp absolutely cannot fall or be knocked down. You very well may have to go out every evening and physically put the birds in until they get used to the new set up.

 

[Counting chickens]

Your brooder was probably adequate for that many 1-2 week olds. At 3 weeks the space needed about doubles. They grow so fast that brooders can get very small very quick. Every group of birds is a bit different, it's a good idea to determine things based on how they are going, how the birds are acting. What works for one group, may not work for another. If you are using a heat lamp in your outside coop, then make sure it is anchored really well. Too many stories of coop fires from lamps that came loose somehow. Make SURE the lamp absolutely cannot fall or be knocked down. You very well may have to go out every evening and physically put the birds in until they get used to the new set up.

Thanks! I think I will do that this time. Usually I put them up 2-3 times and then let them figure it out.

 

[sinibaloo]

what my grandparents always did is if there is a chick that is bloody and the blood is making the other chicks peck at it, is mix vicks vapor rub and red food coloring. dont put it on the wound, but like somewhere else. theyll peck it and then decide to never do that again becuase vicks vapor rub will taste god awful. it always worked for them, but then again if they got a runt or if one was to the point where even that wouldnt work, they would put them out of their misery. i wouldnt ever do that, but for my grandparents they were meat birds and they didnt get attached to them like i am with my chooks. just a suggestion!

 

[Angileen]

I have also read that chicks will peck other chicks that look different. So if you are going to get mixed breeds make sure you get 3 of each kind so a single breed doesn't stand out of place. The type of breed you get also matters. When I purchased my chicks I made sure they were all mellow breeds. Not that you can't have a bully mixed in. My brooder is about 3 x 8 and I had 40 chicks in it until they were about 4 weeks old, then I moved them to the coop. They got along fine.