Cannible chicks HELP QUICK.. they are being eaten alive

[gchick]

They have and do have access to a red light. I have hay but not green grass... I have hay. I have removed all the ones with any injury and within days they are back to pecking and within days eating them

 

[zatsdeb]

is the hatchery going to replace the chicks? That is so sad for you, and the chicks.

 

[Birdgirl]

I would hope the hatchery can replace them, espcially since they told you they won't stop and to kill them.

 

[gchick]

No.. they didn't say anything about willing to do that.

They said I would have to bleach everything and burn the ground if they were on dirt.. Anything with blood on it. They think it started when a few were dead in the box when they arrived. They got their taste of blood. I didn't know that I needed to put anti peck on them if any arrived dead. Its a pecking order they say.. when seperated it will take a few days to get a top chick that starts picking on the less dominate chick. Its strange to me that the "Hospital chicks" really pecked bad.. some bone showing and still really scabby. NO deaths no even from their injuries. They/it is not killing a particular breed.

 

[NotTheMomma]

pictures ? What are you doing for the injuries?


Get them into a larger space so the ones getting pecked can escape. Get them on the yard with grass and leaves etc so they have something to do. Cabbage leaves, shredded carrots etc, so they have something to peck!

Scatter their food so they have to search for it. Get some vitamins in their water.

Watch carefully for the offenders and separate them.

Do a search for cannibalism on this site and you'll find a wealth of knowledge!

Best of luck

 

[gchick]

I currently have little gobes of red grease on them... The are pecking at it and wiping their beaks on the ground... They don't like it I hope I don't kill them with grease.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Wont the red color encourage more pecking?

 

[gchick]

I guess that's the idea... they take one bite (beck) most of the time on themselves first. It seems like they think it is bad by their behavior. I tried it on a few of the injured ones they just picked on someone else.

Tonight... I put it on everyone. We will see. I'm going to see them now. BYB

 

[gchick]

Yikes.... One eaten... nothing left but 1 wing, a foot and some internal organs. Everyone in the hospital it OK.

The other are preening the grease off playing with hay catching bugs that are coming to the light. A few are grouped together away from the light.

This can't be happening.

 

[Tala]

Bugs aren't usually attracted to a red light. This tells me that you are using the wrong light. A red light camouflages the injured places on a bird, making the others less likely to pick at it.

You need to completely isolate each one that is missing any feathers until they grow their feathers back and look normal again.