Graidyn
Chirping
I have 8 mixed bantam babies from TSC that we picked up on Wednesday. They weren't much help on hatch day, so they're 4-6 days old I think. We have them identified and it looks like we have 5 BB Red OEGB's and 3 Golden Sebrights. They have a large brooder, temps are good, they are very musical and happy chicks.
We noticed yesterday that the Sebright's wing feathers have these extremely fine kinda fly away feathers on the tips, and the BB Red's just will NOT leave them alone. They're not pulling the feathers out or anything (yet) and they don't appear to be hurting the Sebrights, but there are times when all 5 BB Reds will be pulling at one Sebright all at once (not always the same Sebright either, just whichever one is unlucky I guess).
We put toys in the brooder for them, some metal cat food bowls that are nice and shiny (upside down and empty), a couple of mirrors, a little bridge my husband built for them to play on, a perch, a butter box with the ends cut off (didn't have a toilet paper tube handy), a cat ball with a bell in it, etc. (it's a pretty large brooder that hubby built). And really, they are just LOVING all of their toys, but inevitably one of the poor Sebrights will be playing next to some BB Reds and then they're all pulling at those tiny little feathers again. I know there is a pecking order and I understand that, but it really seems like these tiny little feathers resemble worms or something to them? It really seems like a an "oh, what's that?" kind of pecking instead of targeted. And sometimes the Sebrights will sleep THROUGH it! Twice today I tried distracting them by throwing a little of their food in their bedding so they could scratch at it (and that WORKS, they LOVE it) but then a little Sebright will be scratching next to BB and it begins again.
So.... is there anything else I can do about this? Is there anything I SHOULD do about this, or am I being a worry wort? These are my first chicks and I just wanna give them the best care I can. They're not sick, all are eating and drinking well and none are lethargic or anything (though the Sebrights are much more laid back than the BB's). A few have pasty butt, but we clean them up 2-3 times a day and we're down from 4 with it to only two that had to be cleaned up tonight (and even those are getting MUCH better).
Are they too young for a sand dust bath? I have play sand if that's okay to use, and I have chick grit, but I think they're not supposed to have that until 2 weeks old. Also they're getting probiotic and electrolyte water along with another waterer that has plain water with a tiny bit of ACV and they're on medicated feed. Anything I can improve? Thank you for your time!
We noticed yesterday that the Sebright's wing feathers have these extremely fine kinda fly away feathers on the tips, and the BB Red's just will NOT leave them alone. They're not pulling the feathers out or anything (yet) and they don't appear to be hurting the Sebrights, but there are times when all 5 BB Reds will be pulling at one Sebright all at once (not always the same Sebright either, just whichever one is unlucky I guess).
We put toys in the brooder for them, some metal cat food bowls that are nice and shiny (upside down and empty), a couple of mirrors, a little bridge my husband built for them to play on, a perch, a butter box with the ends cut off (didn't have a toilet paper tube handy), a cat ball with a bell in it, etc. (it's a pretty large brooder that hubby built). And really, they are just LOVING all of their toys, but inevitably one of the poor Sebrights will be playing next to some BB Reds and then they're all pulling at those tiny little feathers again. I know there is a pecking order and I understand that, but it really seems like these tiny little feathers resemble worms or something to them? It really seems like a an "oh, what's that?" kind of pecking instead of targeted. And sometimes the Sebrights will sleep THROUGH it! Twice today I tried distracting them by throwing a little of their food in their bedding so they could scratch at it (and that WORKS, they LOVE it) but then a little Sebright will be scratching next to BB and it begins again.
So.... is there anything else I can do about this? Is there anything I SHOULD do about this, or am I being a worry wort? These are my first chicks and I just wanna give them the best care I can. They're not sick, all are eating and drinking well and none are lethargic or anything (though the Sebrights are much more laid back than the BB's). A few have pasty butt, but we clean them up 2-3 times a day and we're down from 4 with it to only two that had to be cleaned up tonight (and even those are getting MUCH better).
Are they too young for a sand dust bath? I have play sand if that's okay to use, and I have chick grit, but I think they're not supposed to have that until 2 weeks old. Also they're getting probiotic and electrolyte water along with another waterer that has plain water with a tiny bit of ACV and they're on medicated feed. Anything I can improve? Thank you for your time!
i keep wanting to buy chicks, but then I think “ responsibility, KiwiandPeachThePigeons, responsibility.” Gahhh its so frustrating
