Am I going to have to keep them separated forever???

[Country Gal]

I don't know what is going on with my chicks. I have Buff Orpingtons, SL Wyandottes, and Light Brahmas. About 9 of each. They are now 3 weeks old.

Yesterday the LB and the SLW were pecking all of the BOs! All but 2 ended up with a shortage of tail feathers and bloody rear ends.

I went ahead and put a divider in the brooder, so all the BOs are separated from the rest of the flock. I also changed the lightbulb back to red. Also gave all the BOs a good dose of Blue Coat.

They all have plenty of food and water, I increased their brooder size last weekend so it is now 4' x 8'. Are they going to outgrow this problem or will I need to keep them separated going forward?

Thanks for your help!

 

[MissPrissy]

Buff Orpingtons have a very gentle nature. They are very easily bullied by others in the flock. I would keep them apart until the pecked places are healed. Otherwise the other birds will continue to peck at the bloodied areas. When you incorporate them back put them in at night when the others are sleeping.

 

[Country Gal]

Thanks for the tip!

Is it possible that this all started because I switched the light bulb from red to white? Last time I made the switch I had a similar experience, but only 1 chick was pecked.

At what point is it safe to switch them to white light?

 

[justusnak]

I would keep them under red.....untill they are ready to go out. I know my buffs tend to get bullied more often. They are just too sweet! We are working on a seperate coop and run for them...there are 17 of them, so they will be a lot happier in thier own space. Once yours get bigger, and outside...where the BO can get away from the others more....everything should settle down a bit. Good luck. And you did the right thing by seperateing them.

 

[Country Gal]

Well, here's my plan, since I haven't completed the coop yet...

I will have a coop, and a fenced in run for the chickens to be in during the day while I'm at work. I figure that in the evenings and weekends they can free range while I"m home to keep an eye on them.

Should I plan on putting divider walls in the coop and the run to keep them separated?

 

[michellerene]

I must have gotten the odd two BO's! They are right in there sqabbling with the barred rocks! It's so funny to watch one of those little golden puff balls take a flying run across the chicken yard and crash into another bird-- clearly on purpose! It's my black australorps that are the timid ones in my flock so far...

Hope your babies heal up & recover! I would imagine they will all work it out eventually.

 

[Country Gal]

Well, I checked on all the chickens when I got home from work, and all seem to be doing well. All is calm now that the red bulb is back in place! I think I will attempt combining the flock once again tomorrow evening...