Aggression or Pecking Order?

[danielle2003]

I can't figure out if it's a pecking order or being aggressive. One chick is pecking at each chicks back, leaving a small bare patch of skin. No blood, just skin and small holes where the feather used to be. She pulls the feather out by the quill. What's going on?? I don't want to cull her, but I don't the bare patches to get worse.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Hello! You should seperate her from the rest for a couple of hours at a time to temper the aggression.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since you said chicks, how old are they? How big is their brooder, if they're in one?

 

[danielle2003]

Since you said chicks, how old are they? How big is their brooder, if they're in one?

They're about 3 weeks old. Their brooder is 37x32.

 

[danielle2003]

Hello! You should seperate her from the rest for a couple of hours at a time to temper the aggression.

I've tried that, it doesn't seem to work.

 

[SmiYa0126]

I think their brooder is too small for three weeks. Can you increase space?

 

[rosemarythyme]

They're about 3 weeks old. Their brooder is 37x32.

Any photos of your set up? How many chicks in that space? Could be boredom and/or crowding, depending...

Also take a look at this brooder for some tips, plus the accompanying article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chick-pecking-other-chick.1430088/#post-23567316

 

[danielle2003]

I think their brooder is too small for three weeks. Can you increase space?

I'll be getting another box to attach to this one.

 

[danielle2003]

Any photos of your set up? How many chicks in that space? Could be boredom and/or crowding, depending...

Also take a look at this brooder for some tips, plus the accompanying article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chick-pecking-other-chick.1430088/#post-23567316

There are 12 chicks. I'll be getting another box to attach to this.

 

[danielle2003]

I have been giving them some wet chick food as a treat. For some reason, they like it better.