Chicks Pecking 😢

[BSYardFarm]

My chicks are pecking each other. At first it was two hens who were pecking each other until bleeding just above their vents at their tail feathers. I separated those two. Then today another chick was being pecked by the rest on her wing. I have now separated her.

Is this over crowding or maybe a deficiency?

There are 8, 2&3 week old chicks in a 2x4 ft brooder.

They have grit, starter feed, access to water, a roost.

What else am I missing?

 

[BSYardFarm]

My chicks are pecking each other. At first it was two hens who were pecking each other until bleeding just above their vents at their tail feathers. I separated those two. Then today another chick was being pecked by the rest on her wing. I have now separated her.

Is this over crowding or maybe a deficiency?

There are 8, 2&3 week old chicks in a 2x4 ft brooder.

They have grit, starter feed, access to water, a roost.

What else am I missing?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Can you post a picture of your brooder? They start to get really active around this age, and a new bigger space (once their injuries are healed) could be just what they need. Or how's the weather where you are? Can you bring them out to their pen for field trips?

You definitely want to nip this in the bud. Feather picking can become a habit if done out of boredom.

 

[newchickmomma83]

Are they all the same age? They do start to assert a pecking order as they get older. However, they usually don't go to this extreme. I also agree that if they are a lot of them in a small space it may cause boredom and more issues. Are you sure they are all hens as well?

I just turned my babies in the coop with two older hens. The one that's only 4 weeks older is being a bit of a bully. Hopefully they can work it out with no blood shed!

 

[BSYardFarm]

Can you post a picture of your brooder? They start to get really active around this age, and a new bigger space (once their injuries are healed) could be just what they need. Or how's the weather where you are? Can you bring them out to their pen for field trips?

You definitely want to nip this in the bud. Feather picking can become a habit if done out of boredom.

Thanks! I am thinking you are right on space. We have taken them out a lot but not over the last two days so we will continue the field trips. Building a much bigger enclosure today.

 

[BSYardFarm]

Are they all the same age? They do start to assert a pecking order as they get older. However, they usually don't go to this extreme. I also agree that if they are a lot of them in a small space it may cause boredom and more issues. Are you sure they are all hens as well?

I just turned my babies in the coop with two older hens. The one that's only 4 weeks older is being a bit of a bully. Hopefully they can work it out with no blood shed!

We have 4 that are a week older. We only know two are for sure hens(at least labeled that way.) the other 6 are straight run so we aren’t sure yet.

We are building a bigger enclosure tonight! I hope for no more bloodshed here and none at all in your flock! Thank you!

 

[thecatumbrella]

Building a much bigger enclosure today.

Ooo! Post it when you're done. I'm always looking for new brooder ideas.

 

[BSYardFarm]

Ooo! Post it when you're done. I'm always looking for new brooder ideas.

Nothing fancy just much bigger! Pretty much a wood box on casters. Haven’t finished the top yet but we have MUCH happier chickens. We also spent probably an hour last night playing mother hen and that helped a lot as well!