Chicks' tail feathers are GONE!

[newlychicked]

xpost

I posted the below in raising chicks but am wondering if this is a better place. Anyone able to help?

Hello BYC! I am a newbie to chicks having hatched my first eggs just over two weeks ago. All was going well, 15 chicks were growing quickly and I expanded the size of their brooder twice; it is now 2.5'x6.5' and a toasty 85 degrees. They are inside my house.

Here's my problem - I just discovered two of my chicks have bloody tails - apparently someone has turned them into snacks. One chick has had all his tail feathers removed and has some other miscellaneous bloody places on him. The other has managed to hang on to a few of her tail feathers - - no blood anywhere else. The others all look okay. So far, the only suspect is my tiny little runt who is always pecking at the others - it's just hard to imagine s/he doing this much damage to chicks more than twice his/her size.

Does anyone have any idea what is going on and what I should do about it? The two injured chicks have been moved to a separate ChiCU and seem okay.

Thanks for any info/wisdom you can share.

Mary-Alin

 

[centrarchid]

Quick response needed. What are you feeding them and how many birds present? Suspect cannibalism early stages.

 

[puglady]

x2 = they will pick each others tail feathers, lower back feathers when too crowded. I give mine an unlimited supply of chick starter and lots of space. They need to be able to run around a bit and will cuddle together at night to sleep.

 

[Sylvestor12]

They might be overcrowded to some degree, hence the picking. Usually size doesn't matter until they start a good, sturdy pecking order. I reccomend a kiddy pool for batches 25 and under. For the wounds I'd just put non-pain relief Neosporin or Vaseline on them. If you find the culprit in the act, a quick tap on the head or back will get the message across. If that doesn't work, put it in solitary confinment for a while, that usually does the trick. If that doesn't work, well you have me stumped.

 

[newlychicked]

Quick response needed. What are you feeding them and how many birds present? Suspect cannibalism early stages.

x2 = they will pick each others tail feathers, lower back feathers when too crowded. I give mine an unlimited supply of chick starter and lots of space. They need to be able to run around a bit and will cuddle together at night to sleep.

Thank you Cent and Pug for your replies.

The woman I hatched them for said they have more than enough space and that I spoiled them by expanding their brooder (she didn't think that was a bad thing, just unnecessary;-). Your thoughts? I have 15 in them in 2 large dog crates combined into one brooder - (2 days ago, we added the second crate because they looked so crowded) Final size is 2 1/2' x 6 1/2'. So far, I've come across 1 sq. foot per chick under a month old - does this sound right. So currently. 15 chicks have 16 sq. ft. Temp is running about 85 degrees - too warm?

Unlimited access to chick starter (have snacked once a day with rolled oats) and water with electrolytes. I have not witnessed any bullying behavior but of course I don't watch them 24/7 no matter how much I would love to. They can get pretty rowdy. Pics are below if that's helpful.

Is this just chicks trying to establish a pecking order already? There are quite a few roo-to-be's suspected in this hatch (6-7). Off to TSC to get some Blue Kote.

 

[Sylvestor12]

Yeah, roos can be pretty aggressive with female chicks, especially ones he doesn't like.

 

[newlychicked]

They might be overcrowded to some degree, hence the picking. Usually size doesn't matter until they start a good, sturdy pecking order. I reccomend a kiddy pool for batches 25 and under. For the wounds I'd just put non-pain relief Neosporin or Vaseline on them. If you find the culprit in the act, a quick tap on the head or back will get the message across. If that doesn't work, put it in solitary confinment for a while, that usually does the trick. If that doesn't work, well you have me stumped.

Thanks Sylv - I have already treated with the Neosporin. Interesting about the discipline idea - might be an idea

 

[newlychicked]

Yeah, roos can be pretty aggressive with female chicks, especially ones he doesn't like.

The funny thing is, the one that's the worst off I suspect to be a roo-to-be, hmmm, maybe I was wrong

 

[Sylvestor12]

Well, roos fight with each other more that's why you only should get 1 in smaller flocks. One, to prevent fights and to minimize over mating.

 

[newlychicked]

Well, roos fight with each other more that's why you only should get 1 in smaller flocks. One, to prevent fights and to minimize over mating.

You're absolutely right - ultimately, there will be no roos for us. Just a few hens

.

Well, the Blue Kote has been applied (on the chicks, my hands and my sink

) - the injured chicks are in isolation - and the remaining chicks are hanging out acting innocent. All's quiet for now. No more injuries so far. Hope it stays that way.