6 week old chicks.....(bully/protien def) Sunflower seeds

[hollytruitt]

I have a bully and found out she is most likely protein deficient. We pulled her out as she was causing a lot of damage to the entire flock. (Peeper blinders coming tomorrow so she will be returned to the flock) We changed the feed to higher protein (we did use 18% starter but found that is causing issues in our flock) So got the 20% for all of them.

The bully ate some cat food this morning. I have Black Oil sunflower seed ordered as well as seut sunflower seed to pick up this afternoon.

I am hoping to feed the entire flock the seeds as a lot of them lost feathers in their chest area.

Is it ok to feed them sunflower seeds whole or do I need to chop them up and then feed them this?
Thanks

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have Black Oil sunflower seed ordered as well as seut sunflower seed to pick up this afternoon.

Hi there, hope you're enjoying BYC!

BOSS are 14-16% protein depending on brand and 28-30% fat. The suet block.. most likely not any better..

What you have is a behavioral problem (boredom, sometimes caused by 24 hour lighting, or too little space) not a dietary one (unless you've been feeding too many treats) and NO reason a 6 week old chick should ever get peepers.

Mini molt on the way to mature feathers is normal and the feathers will grow back in. Feathers are made from 90% protein and it's amino acids.. however in their raw form, plucked from another chick have only about 2% digestible protein as they are now mostly keratin.

Listen, I hate those 18% protein started feeds.. but I highly doubt that's your issue.. lack of protein will cause feather growth issues and other growth delays or conditions.. So you can't go wrong by going up to 20%-22%.. but remember it's not just the protein that counts.. it's the amino acids. Also animal protein is higher valued than vegetable (soy/corn) protein.. or not providing the same micro nutrients.. for example you cannot get B-12 from non animal sources. Boss is typically fed shell on as that's where some amount of the nutrients including fiber (a carbohydrate and source of energy) are found. A good source of grit MUST be available.

Please post pics of your chicks and set up for more feedback. What breed are we discussing, how many chicks in how much space under what kind of lighting?

Honestly you started out good by "we upped our protein" but you're setting yourself up for major issues long term (IMO) adding in all those treats at this young of an age..

Another suggestion for behavioral issues.. separate out the bully out of sight from the others for the day.. long enough to let the others establish some new pecking order and then reintroduce the alleged bully back into the pecking order to get re-established..

Or a time out.. look but don't touch (dog kennel, etc) in sight of the others but no one can get hurt or bullied for a day or two.. maybe even up to a week.. Possible it's just a cockerel? I wonder if @azygous has any good suggestions in this department? TIA

 

[hollytruitt]

We observed her. She is actually pulling feathers out of all the birds and eating the feathers.
The addition of treats and peppers was advised in BYC FB group. So I am not coming up with this on my own. Also when I researched this behavior it points to protein deficiency. So far it's not a rooster. I believe we have one (supposed to be a hen) but this gal also bullies him. She is a leghorn. She is the only one fully feathered whereas the rest of the flock look awful as if they are going through a molt.
Natural light
Coop 5X8
Flock is 15.
Flock is 6 weeks old.

We either keep her out of the flock or put peepers on and put her back in with the flock. Right now we are at loss as we never dealt with this type of issue before.

Breed is brown leghorn. I will post a picture of her when I get home.

 

[hollytruitt]

btw the peepers are pinless. I also find its recommended in other threads in this forum. So why not pinless peepers?

 

[azygous]

I can't improve on the advice you just got from @EggSighted4Life other than to add that at six weeks, most bad behavior can be corrected with vigilance and a little simple discipline. (Peepers won't fit a small chick.) https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aggressive-baby-chicks-and-how-to-stop-the-behavior.72029/

However, if this particular chick is a cockerel, then this behavior is a precursor to what you can expect as he matures. When I discover such a disruptive chick and that it's also of the male gender, I usually cull him, knowing this behavior signals an aggressive temperament not welcome in my flock.

Post a photo of this chick and we may be able to confirm if it's a male or female.

 

[hollytruitt]

My daughter took this picture today. However she is not standing up she is just sitting all day. Here is the picture. We will try to get one when I get home that may be better.

 

[azygous]

Next time select the full image when posting a photo.

That appears to be a pullet. And she has guilt written all over her face.

 

[hollytruitt]

Ok we put her back with the flock as she didn't drink water since we pulled her out yesterday. She went right back to pecking everybody. sigh! She will not let anybody rest and lay down. She did eat some feed and grubs in the time out crate. So we are at lost now. We either pull her out and she dies by not drinking water or keep her in there and hope for the best.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Ok we put her back with the flock as she didn't drink water since we pulled her out yesterday. She went right back to pecking everybody. sigh! She will not let anybody rest and lay down. She did eat some feed and grubs in the time out crate. So we are at lost now. We either pull her out and she dies by not drinking water or keep her in there and hope for the best.

Still looks like a pullet. I understand peepers for grown birds but not for a chick. I can only tell you my thoughts and experience with the subject, always do what YOU think is best for your flock.

She's probably drinking enough and you're just not seeing it.. you can always wet the food. Things take time and patience. If she went back to the same behavior that wasn't long enough. And also the fact that she didn't go directly to get a drink.. is a pretty good indicator.. she's holding you hostage too.

Other enrichment, direct line of sight blocks, false fences with open ends to run around, or other things may be helpful. Do they also have a "run" or any ranging time in addition to their coop space?

I personally am not above culling even a pullet that's causing flock wide issues.. why deal with that long term? But NO, I wouldn't cruelly let them slowly starve or dehydrate (nor do I believe that's actually happening).

Leghorn are considered a light bodied breed.. also considered not to need the extra protein heavier dual purpose breeds may.. or not as much. But they're also a very, VERY active breed.

Nutritional requirement are in the blue tables on side of the page a little ways down in the following link to Merck Veterinary manual (a trusted resource of valid information far above FB or even BYC) again always use YOUR best judgement..

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...t-poultry/nutritional-requirements-of-poultry

Best wishes for peace among your flock!

 

[hollytruitt]

Ok so big mistake letting her back in flock. When we put her back she immediately started to peck the flock (all of them even her breed). One got so badly injured bleeding badly we had to pull her out to treat her and keep her in hospital near another brooder. So .....I think she is a bad one and we are considering culling her. we are heartbroken. Because we returned her to the flock we will have to observe her tomorrow (night time at this writing so all are sleeping.) During observation we will see who it is doing this. 6 total leghorns but few of them have feathers so not much weeding out.

What is weird she is not preventing them from eating or drinking. Just not letting them rest at all. Just pecking at the ones that is laying down resting. I believe she pulled the tail feather (quill and all on the injured one we had to pull out). She is bleeding badly but I put the peck me not on it to prevent her from pecking herslef. We will get first aid stuff tomorrow and decide the fate of the bully.