Cannible chicks HELP QUICK.. they are being eaten alive

[gchick]

They have a red light... I have to turn on a florescent ligt to see. The bugs come when I am there... They have a red heat lamp... but its warm here now and they are not really around it... Its a 12x 12 enclosure cedar walls with wire opening around top for ventalation. The have perches and some are actually using it

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Are you saying you had 25 chicks in a 12" by 12" brooder? If so, that is way too small, and probably the cause of the problem. If 12' by 12', fine.

There is a product called BluKote, or something like that, that you spray on bloody spots to prevent chicks from pecking the spot. Anti peck I am sure is a similar product. People also use things like Vicks, tea tree oil, even Vaseline, along with some of the remedies you mentioned. But these are for small spots. You could try it but I don't think it will stop anything as full scale as the cannibalism you are describing.

How awful for you. I have never seen anything approaching this. But many of us have had to deal with more minor pecking issues, to pevent them from reaching this point.

Good luck.

 

[Judy]

You may know that cedar shavings are toxic to chicks. Many say that cedar as a coop material is OK. But I wonder, does it smell like cedar in there? Is it possible this is part of the problem? How old is the cedar?

 

[gchick]

Its 12' x 12' they take up very little of the space and freek out(Cheep alot) when one gets on the other side of the room.

3 hours ago... no one had any wounds at all .. No one now has any wounds.. grease all over them but no bloody spots. I have picked up the body... or all that is left.. there is no blood that I can see but I sprayed the area with bleach and rinsed with water.

 

[Dr.Doorlock]

I went through this and now it's all over. My hens are full-feathered and don't peck because I put Pinless Peepers on them until they simply got out of the habit. Do not even wait intil tomorrow - order them today from eggcartons.com and put them on right away. Leave them on until you see no aggressive behavior.

You can see I even had fun with them while my hens quit pecking the first day! Just go to my web site and see.

 

[ranchhand]

I can't say exactly what is wrong, but something is. Chicks do not normally behave like this.
In your situation, I would be changing everything - until it stops. Something is making them nuts. Housing, space, food, water, ventilation, lighting, anything at all.

Good luck, I hope you can figure it out.

 

[ranchhand]

Dr.Doorlock :

I went through this and now it's all over. My hens are full-feathered and don't peck because I put Pinless Peepers on them until they simply got out of the habit. Do not even wait intil tomorrow - order them today from eggcartons.com and put them on right away. Leave them on until you see no aggressive behavior.

You can see I even had fun with them while my hens quit pecking the first day! Just go to my web site and see.

Hey Doc, can you put them on one month old chicks? I think the cause needs to be found first.

P.S. Doc, love your peepers!​

 

[ruth]

Something is really, really wrong here. 4 week old chicks don't behave this way. I don't think they could possibly kill and totally eat another chick that quickly. You mentioned bugs flying towards the light so I'm guessing they are outside somewhere. I'm betting you have a mouse or rat getting in the brooder and eating the chicks. I just don't believe chicks would totally devour another chick and only leave "wings and feet". Plus, you said you have not seen them pecking/eating one another. Mice can get through the smallest wire holes. What type of brooder are they in and where are they located?

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Good point. You may have solved the puzzle.

 

[Julie08]

that's a GREAT point I was reading thinking nothing made any sense, but that certainly does!