6 week old chicks are killing each other

[cochinbantam-lover]

I am so sorry that is terrible!!! Hope you can stop this now!

 

[bradleyfarm]

Quote:
I hope so too. I'm afraid since they have already started they may not quit... the sad part is I have more ameraucanas chicks. They are 2 weeks old. If I don't get this stopped they will start on the new chicks when I finally put them in the coop.

 

[Judy]

How many square feet per chick? Do they go outdoors? You said they still had starter, so while the scratch would have been a problem, it does not sound like it is the whole problem.

If you can't let them outdoors at all, hanging a cabbage or some lettuce seems to be a good distraction.

 

[emys]

If your light is not already a red one, switch to a red bulb.

 

[Monk]

I had a simular problem and received a lot of good advice.

*Get the bleeder out! Use Blue Kote on wounds.
*Get a larger area.
*Red light, they will see red less(blood) and it calms the birds.
*SOD! Place a piece of sod in with them, they pick at that not each other and it entertains them.
*Other objects (rock, limb) to climb on, entertainment...
*Keep victims separate til fully healed.

These tips where very helpful.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=188306&p=1

 

[speckledhen]

Sure hope this helps! When chicks need extra protein, some scrambled eggs will do, in addition to the starter. And, of course, make sure they are not crowded or too hot, either. Good luck!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

When chicks need extra protein, some scrambled eggs will do, in addition to the starter.

great tip!

i was going to say throw in a couple of hard boiled eggs - it will take them a while to figure out what they are and to eat them. keeps them entertained. believe it or not part of your job now will be to entertain them... hee hee hee i think someone called it a kindergarten class full of monkeys! red light is also a great tip
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[melvin1208]

thats bad

 

[hoosiergal]

I just had to put my chicks in a much larger pen because they were picking each others bottoms and making them bleed. Once blood shows the picking will not stop if they are too confined. My bigger pen stopped the picking.

Good luck, and I like religious music.

God Bless

 

[RevaVirginia]

Quote:
Believe it or not I'm playing religious music.. it's easy listening, and sometimes theirs even preaching....

Religion and Greed <------ probably the two biggest reasons for war...well that and statements like "I've got more feathers than you"