Bully Chick

[chickohroo]

I have a 2 week old bully chick whom I have separated from my other chicks inside their brooder. I've attempted twice to rejoin her to the flock without success... she still brutally beats everyone up (pulling at head feathers dragging across brooder, pecking eyes insistently, etc). My brooder space is filling up as my babies are growing and I worry about over crowding.

My questions are- do I need to keep the bully within the brooder so she can see the other chicks while she is in jail or is it okay to move her to a separate location where she wouldnt have access to seeing them. I wondered if the second option might work since my previous attempts have failed with her having visual of everyone.

Any thoughts appreciated.
Blessings!

 

[countrygirl345]

Its okay to keep her (or him, this could very well be a roo) in the brooder, as long as it is not able to hurt the other chicks. Extra handling may help, but if in the long run its still mean, you may want to cull for the good of you and the rest of the chickens.

 

[chickohroo]

My thoughts exactly

I really hate to go that route, but understand it may be my only option. I couldn't believe how mean it was from the get go! It's funny though because I've tried to handle her more to break her bad habit and she chirps so happily and innocently with happy baby chick sounds. lol! It is supposed to be a girl... but like you said it may very well be a roo. I had to pull it out of the brooder within the first 3 days of having them all. Crazy Chick I tell ya!

I'd like to move him/her out of the brooder so it would give the others more room, but wondered if having an actual visual of what is being missed might need to be part of the punishment.

Its okay to keep her (or him, this could very well be a roo) in the brooder, as long as it is not able to hurt the other chicks. Extra handling may help, but if in the long run its still mean, you may want to cull for the good of you and the rest of the chickens.

 

[countrygirl345]

The visual is fine, because otherwise you will have to reintroduce the chick, and that would probably make it worse