Bare belly 1 week old

[DucheneEGG]

My chicks are one week old now and some of them are pecking there own feathers out on there belly leaving there belly bare. I have watched them do it to them selfs. They r in a 50 gallon tote for there brooder. So they have a lot of room. I change out the pine shavings out every 3 to 4 days. Why are they pecking there bellies? What can I do to stop them? Is it normal for them to do this? Or am I just freaking out because I care to much about them? Lol this is my first time raising chicks of any animal besides a dog.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I would run to the feed store and get some Rooster Booster pick no more lotion (this will be messy) and put some on their bellies- it tastes bad to them.

If you want it to work the next day you have to reapply it. This should break them of this- you don't want it to become a habit.

Also you can switch to a red light if you haven't already...supposed to reduce picking.

 

[DucheneEGG]

Thank you for getting back to me, I got the lotion the day I posted for help and I have had only a red light since I started brooding them, Should I go to a Yellow Light?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Thank you for getting back to me, I got the lotion the day I posted for help and I have had only a red light since I started brooding them, Should I go to a Yellow Light?

I have never heard of anyone using a yellow light before so I would not use it.

 

[DucheneEGG]

Thanks