6 week old chicks are killing each other

[stormylady]

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I absolutely agree!

 

[bradleyfarm]

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my first thoughts too.

That said, maybe they' re too crowded. six weeks seems early for scratch. If your feeding medicatied started seems to me vitamins are not necessary. I did give mine pieces of lettuce to deal with. Sometimes I think folks try too hard, keep it simple. If they're drawing blood, are you using a "red" light? Killing each other seems extreme.

We have a red light in the coop more as a night light than anything else. It isn't being used as a heat light. I know my chicks are old enough not to need the heat now. We gave the vitamins after we found out that the scratch was bad for my chicks, but we are no longer offering it in their water. We have them all on starter, and were gonna keep them on it until their of laying age. Then were going to put them on layer. I have a head of lettice hanging in the coop for entertainment, as well as a treat. They seem to like it.

oooo and by the way I never played heavy metal.. it was gospial, then we changed it to country. Now were only keeping it on during the day. At night its off. We also gave them some water mellon, which they loved.

 

[Judy]

I'd take out the night light. Mine fussed at first but then it was much quieter in there at night.

 

[The Gingerbread Man]

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

well that could be your problem right there

sorry could not resist I mean no offence

Lol Funneh

 

[Natty Bumppo]

if they have a grit deficiency maybe some rolling stones will clear their crops

 

[bradleyfarm]

update on my chicks.......

They are doing fantastic. No more dieing, and for the moment, no more snakes. We will be finishing the run for the chicks this weekend so they can get outside. At the moment we have installed several fans to keep them cool. They seem to love it. I feed them started twice a day. I make double sure they are never out of food, or water. We put 2 heads of lettice in the coop, and they have already eaten them. We tried the cabbage, but they wouldn't give them the time of day. I guess they still want the tender flesh of lettice. I also gave them water mellon, and they loved it

...

Once again thank you all for the fantastic advice. I would hate to think what shape my chicks would be in if it weren't for all your advice.

 

[bradleyfarm]

I am still having trouble with rat snakes. Does anyone know if mothballs work in deturing the snakes? I have killed 5 in the last 2 weeks

. I saw on the news that snakes are bad in Texas this year. I thought I had my chick run snake proofed, but they are still finding ways in

. I lost 3 chicks today alone

. Please any help would be most appreciated!!!!!

 

[highcountrychickens]

Laughing at the volley about music - however I would highly suggest removing the radio altogether... whatever is playing doesn't matter, they are over stimulated and stressed because of something (sounds like it might be nutritional) Calmness to a chicken is silence - music of any kind will act as a stimulator right now - something you don't want.

The picking and cannibalizing thing is a reaaally tough problem once it starts. Diligence is your best friend now. I have found some luck with this line of products... http://www.roosterboosterproducts.com/ they specialize in products that will help this problem. (I went through it this winter - it was awful)

Good luck with this

 

[IggiMom]

I send you sympathy and hope your problem gets solved.

Here is a hug.

Catherine

 

[aussiemom]

I have some 3 1/2week old Langshans and cochins in together. I noticed the tails on the Langshans were being chewed. But when I peeked again, I noticed one chick was picking her own feathers as well as help from the others. The Langshans are doing the pecking. I can separate her but she just might pluck herself anyways. None of the cochins are plucked. They have plenty of food, they eat a lot. It just started today, I am trying to read through all the posts.
It is the weekend so I won't be able to get anything from the feedstore until Monday.
Any ideas? I do give them scrambled egg 2-3 times a week which they LOVE!