chicks out of the blue are pecking and killed a guinea

[Sphynxcrazy]

I had, 48 chicks. 41 golden sex link, 7 EE's all pullets, plus 5 guinea keets. They are around 8 days old. They are all in one of those big hermiston watermelon boxes.

I went to check on them this morning and i found a poor guinea keet dead. They pecked its wing and he basically bled to death. There is blood streaks around the box. It happened this morning, he hadn't even started to stiffen up. It was about 8:45 when i found them. I was checking everyone else and they had started to peck another keet. There wing kind of parts and hang down. right where the part is, is where they start eating the wing at.

I hurried and set up another watermelon box. I was actually going to do this and split everyone up since they need more room, but now i am not sure if i should Do You think they pecked them because they were a bit crowded?? Maybe since they will have more room they wont peck?


Sorry for the long ranting post, I had to wrestle 5 grass calves with pinkeye to give them a shot that burns yesterday and i'm sort of tires.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Yes I would separate them asap. If they're crowed they might peck on others. More room would be good. Let us know if that helps.

 

[Sphynxcrazy]

I was in a hurry and didn't clarify I did separate the keets. I am wondering if they would be okay if I put them back with the chicks who will be separated into 2 watermelon boxes

This afternoon when I got home from checking the calves I decided to put a few chicks back in. So far they have been sleeping. I did see one of the chicks who kind of was going to peck the wing feathers that hang down.

I don't know what I am going to do if the keets have to be completely separated, as I don't have another light...

 

[suki'smom]

I would buy another light, just in case, and toss some grass clippings in there to help with boredom. Also a sight barrier might help, just add some stuff the break up the line of sight.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Are you using a white or red light for heat? guineas normally are pretty robust, but that being said being out numbered something like 8:1, one peck one drop of blood and it would have been the wolfpack vs the injured rabbit.

 

[Sphynxcrazy]

It's a white light. I just don't like read. I have heard red is better. Is there away I could make the light red , so I don't need to buy one?

This is the firsttime I've raised this many chicks, so the second light was actually a spare. I do actually have anothercone though, maybe if I can figure out what's wrong with it.

I just mowed perfect will they need grit for the clippings??

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Not safely with the heat produced,but red is the way to go. neutralizes the color of blood, keeps chicks calmer and for the most part stops the cannibalism. I know it sucks to replace your lights out but its whats best. you can offer chick grit by itself, i normally mix it in with their feed -J


Edit: Just used my IR temp gun, the glass of the 250w bulb read 400*F. Definitely is not safe to try to modify a heat bulb.

 

[Sphynxcrazy]

I ink they were Judy a bit crowded and bored. I have been introducing a couple chicks per day with the guineas. So far they have been fine.

Now I can get back to finishing my incubator......