6 week old chick eating other chick feathers!

[FunnyBunny89]

Hi! I'm in a real bind here. I have seven chicks that are 6-7 weeks old and one of them recently started picking at their back feathers. I noticed it yesterday, and today, two of the other chicks have lost tons of feathers from her picking! She's eating them! they are all on chick starter and nobody else is doing this. I pulled her out of the pen and put her back in the brooder box for now, and I cooked some scrambled eggs to see if she just wants more protein, but I'm afraid she's got a taste for feathers... is it possible to stop a young pullet from doing this?? I don't want to leave her isolated too long, she's all stressed out.

Anyone know what to do?? I'm supposed to pick up a couple of days old chicks today so I need my brooder box.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How big is the pen they are in? At that age they should have lots of room and things to do. Picking at that age is generally from boredom and crowding, or too much heat.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

How big is the pen they are in? At that age they should have lots of room and things to do. Picking at that age is generally from boredom and crowding, or too much heat.

Okay. Maybe I should let them loose then. The pen is 86" inches long and 40" wide. I figured they were small enough that it would be okay. If I take the pen down, they'll be loose with the flock so hopefully they'll be safe. I free range behind a tall fence lined with hardware cloth.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Okay. Maybe I should let them loose then. The pen is 86" inches long and 40" wide. I figured they were small enough that it would be okay. If I take the pen down, they'll be loose with the flock so hopefully they'll be safe. I free range behind a tall fence lined with hardware cloth.

I think I'll move them into the big coop where they have plenty of room overnight.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

As long as the rest of the birds are familiar with them I would try supervised mingling. It can help to have somewhere the chicks can go back to at night for a few weeks. I routinely integrate chicks as soon as they are done with extra heat.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

This is their pen. I just gave them scrambled eggs to see if it helps.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

As long as the rest of the birds are familiar with them I would try supervised mingling. It can help to have somewhere the chicks can go back to at night for a few weeks. I routinely integrate chicks as soon as they are done with extra heat.

Okay. I can leave their pen and coop open for them to return to.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

As long as the rest of the birds are familiar with them I would try supervised mingling. It can help to have somewhere the chicks can go back to at night for a few weeks. I routinely integrate chicks as soon as they are done with extra heat.

Do you know if the bare back chicks will get their feathers back?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Do you know if the bare back chicks will get their feathers back?

Yes, chicks go through multiple molts as they grow. I had this happen to me once. I failed to move them to a bigger area as I was dealing with some health stuff. I moved them promptly, and sprayed the pecked on ones with bluekote, and that was the end of it thankfully. There are various pecking deterrent sprays if it continues.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Yes, chicks go through multiple molts as they grow. I had this happen to me once. I failed to move them to a bigger area as I was dealing with some health stuff. I moved them promptly, and sprayed the pecked on ones with bluekote, and that was the end of it thankfully. There are various pecking deterrent sprays if it continues.

Okay, great! I have bluekote so I'll use that. Thanks a lot for your help!