AARRGGGG!!!!!!!! You won't believe this!!! 4 IN A HOME HOSPITAL

[Acre of Blessings]

Just used the blu-kote. What is the name of the red product on the market that is bitter? And does it work effectively?

 

[Acre of Blessings]

eNo one can say that they are food deprived. I went to check on the chicks this morning at 7 and they still had food from last night and I gave them more. Well I checked again at 9am everything was fine, I went again at 9:30am and there was another one that had been pecked, ALL WITHIN 30 MIN!!.
Well I check on them throughout the rest of the day. i leave with a friend to get her ducks< she had an emergency so we had to turn around, gone 30 to 40 minutes tops and when I get back I go and check on the chicks and lo and behold, one of the younger got in with the older ones and they pecked half her wing and her back.
AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG!!!!! I am having one really bad a week. Please Pardon my thinking here.
I even called a lady up and sold her the 10 W. Leghorns cause they were doing the pecking thing.
The older ones are going to peck at the smaller ones anyways. I can understaqnd the last incident. I now have 4 in my make-shift "Chickie Hospital". 4 with blue tail and butts. Lord, please help me.
Thanks for listening.

 

[lemurchaser]

So from your posts it looks like this is happening about the same time each morning. Try changing the routine up. So refill food, then an hour later put them outside for an hour (or less if it is cold). Mine are usually so tired after that they wouldn't have the energy to peck each other. It could also be a fight over the food dish. I would put in a couple dishes of food, it can't hurt anything. I would also throw in some huge handfuls of grass and/or weeds (in a couple different piles). It gives them something to do.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

I gave them some bread, and they seemed to like to peck at that a little. I also sold the White Leghorns that seemed to be doing all of the pecking, except the one when the little one got out.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Leghorns DO NOT like being confined...that was part of why Obelisk was pecking the feathers off Penny. She was bored and wanted to go out, but if there was snow she wasn't going to go out unless I shoveled a path and that wasn't happening...
Good luck with the rest of the bunch.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

Thanks.

 

[DTchickens]

If you ever have any problems like this.. looks at these simple causes: Chicks get bored often if kept in pens. and no room to roam really. so its best to have them in a pen on some grass when raising them. However you dont have to do this.. Causes to keep them from getting bored... Go outside. get some grass. put it in the brooder. Good for the chicks. and keeps them from being so bored. However. You'll have to keep it in there or they'll be bored again. There is another option. Styrofoam. get some Styrofoam and put it in the brooder. they'll pick piece by piece off. BUT this isn't as healthy for them as the grass. and people on here will pretty much murder you for even mentioning you giving Styrofoam to your chicks (i know personally..). And if the pecking continues. Well your problem. IS too many chicks in one brooder. time to separate..

 

[MissPrissy]

The problem with styrofoam is 1. it is not food and 2. it can clog their crop and they can die.

I would say you are lucky if you give your chickens styrofoam and you have had no troubles.

To me that is like giving a toddler marbles and telling them it is okay to put it in their mouth it won't hurt you just choke you to death.

You would be better off hanging a head of lettuce.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

O.K. 1) I haven't and don't intend on giving the chicks styrofoam 2) I have tried lettuce with the bigger ones and they like it 3) The run will be finished tomorrow for the bigger ones.

Thanks for all the advice. I just pray this doesn't happen when we get the guineas, and possibly a turkey (Royal Palm). They are so beautiful.

 

[MissPrissy]

Please get a turkey a mate. They need a companion.