any ideas to help picking at feathers?

[smallcitychick]

I went and checked on my 24 chicks this morning and noticed quite a few of my wyandottes are missing feathers on their backs between their wings. Looks like they are getting picked on by their brooder mates. I have all 24 in a large freezer box and thought they'd be ok in there for at least another week. Do you think they're picking feathers just because they're cramped and crowded? They don't look cramped and have a lot of space to run around still. I have a red bulb heat lamp on them. Is there anything I can put in there as a distraction to prevent any more picking? I'm trying to decide if I need to start sewing little mini chick saddles to cover thier little bare spots now

 

[Chick15]

They could be bored, this was what happened with my chicks except I had one persistent Bully Chick and he/she wouldn't stop pecking the other chicks and this really bothered me because he was pecking around the eyes... anyway, what I did was put a small log in there, I then sprinkled it with feed and they love it! They are always on the logs and now I cannot tell the bully chicks from the others as I barely see any pecking. They only peck sometimes like when one is in anothers way... I feel so proud of this and it works like a charm best of all, it was abseloutley free! I really hope this works for you!

 

[Judy]

Too little space or too much heat, or both, I would think are the likely causes. Also, possibly, too little fresh air.

One guideline for brooder size:

0.5 sq ft per chick for first two weeks
1 sq ft each for weeks 3 and 4
2.5 sq ft for each for weeks 5-8

If they are very old at all, taking them out for outings should help, too.

 

[smallcitychick]

Oh, I forgot to say how old they are! Sorry...they are about 2 1/2 weeks old right now. Just just barely starting to feather out, and the reason why I still think they have plenty of space. Today's high here is 49 degrees

not very warm to take ones so young outside yet.

 

[Judy]

They might do fine outdoors for a short period, maybe 20-30 minutes, on a sunny windless day. That's a lot to find a carrier for, though!

Distractions like the log mentioned above are definitely a good idea, but you do need space for that. Lots of people put a low roost or things to hop up on in their brooders. You might measure the box and see how it comes out in sq ft.

 

[smallcitychick]

It's hailing right now

I *might* be able to get them outside tomorrow and/or friday. It's supposedly in the 50's and sunny. But wind is frequent here.

I have a little roost in there already (not big enough for all of them at one time, but big enough for at least 1/2 of them right now). I have a smallish branch that I cut off my apricot tree that I put in there and a ping pong ball (maybe they'll find that entertaining????). Oh, and I have a small box of diatomaceous earth that I put in there that they like to kick around in (It sounds like a lot, but there's really a lot of space in there still even with that in there.

I'll have to look around and see if I have any other large carboard boxes. Maybe I could make them a little chick condo?