Chick pulling feathers

[dahlia333]

Hi,

I just got 5 Bantam blue salmon faverolle chicks last Saturday. They are now 3 weeks old. One of them keeps pulling all the other chicks feathers. The other chicks will be doing something else or minding their own business and she will keep pestering them. I'm getting worried because I've read how that can lead to cannibalism

yikes.
In the brooder, I've put a roost, pieces of wood stacked up, and a paper plate with circles all over it for them to peck at....so I've tried to give them things to do. I thought chick food had a lot of protein in it, but would this one chick need more?
Thanks for your help.
Dawn

 

[StormyMoon]

would they eat at the plate? i would be worried they might bite a piece off and it get stuck.......im a worry wart tho lol

 

[ChickenCop]

I would make sure you put in a red colored light in there with them. Once those chicks draw blood from one of the others it will be bad. The red light will make everything red (of course) and will help from them picking on each other. Good luck.

 

[dahlia333]

I have had a red heat lamp over the brooder since bringing them home. And, I change the plate every day--it's pretty sturdy and they don't pick off any pieces.

 

[fastpat]

Quote:
Is this behavior merely aggravating the other chicks or is it damaging them? If the former, I'd not be too concerned, the others will resist soon enough. Another contributing factor in pecking is not enough space. Chicks at age 4 weeks need at least 3/4 sq. ft. of floor space per bird. One full sq. ft. by age 8 weeks.

 

[dahlia333]

I handle the chicks every day and haven't seen any blood or anything so I guess she is just aggravating everybody. Sometimes the other chicks get mad at her, but sometimes they just let her do it. I will just keep watching. The brooder is 4 feet by 2 feet so it seems they have plenty of room.
Thanks for the help