Bloody Beaks

[tapre]

This morning I found crusted blood where the beak meets the comb on all four of my 6 week old chickens. I suspect that they might be picking on each other. I'm unsure though because all four have the injury, and the most severe is on my dominant pullet, an easter egger named fennel. If they are picking at each other is this normal, and how do I stop it? Is there any way to figure out who is the primary trouble maker? Should I be treating their injuries in any way? Will this injury permanantly damage their developing combs? Here are some pictures: (Excluding my orpington Bae, because she was feeling particularly unphotogenic.)



Fennel my easter who seems to have the worst case.



My australorp Roxy.



Tohru my barred rock.

 

[theoldchick]

Could be they are picking on each other or they are putting their heads in a small hole. What kind of feeder are you using?

 

[TeamChaos]

I'm thinking the same as theoldchick- is there any hardware cloth or wire in their cage that they could be pecking through to get at snacks?

 

[tapre]

The feeder is a long chick feeder. I havent noticed any problems but maybe it's too small now.

The chick are much bigger now but the feeder looks like this.

 

[tapre]

There is chicken wire around their run, but it is too big to cause injury.

 

[theoldchick]

That type of feeder will 'knock the bark' off older chicks beak in the manner you have photographed. I would suggest using another type feeder. My gang enjoyed a simple cardboard box with a rock in the middle when they were 4 weeks of age.




Rubber bowls work great, too!