Do you cull a feather plucker?

[Tookie]

Right now, 5 square feet per chick. I've split them into two huge brooders.

If possible it wouldn't hurt to try and give more space, and see if it does anything.
Are they inside or in the coop?

 

[Mrs. K]

First, never keep a bird you don't like for any reason. No guilt.

Post a picture of the set up. At five weeks, space is what I would suspect too, and how that space is set up. Many times people keep chicks in too small of space trying to keep them safe.

Are they outside? Fresh air, sunshine and space are very important to birds health. At five weeks, they need to be out of a brooder and into a coop and run.

What kind, and how many chicks do you have?

Mrs K

 

[Yard Farmer]

Also: Since they're so young, just like children, they need things to keep them occupied or they get into trouble.
They might be bored. Try giving them kitchen scraps, roosts at different levels, and some chicken toys.
All my youngins free range 24/7

 

[sophiehatter1057]

Thank you! I'll go take that photo!

 

[sophiehatter1057]

First, never keep a bird you don't like for any reason. No guilt.

Post a picture of the set up. At five weeks, space is what I would suspect too, and how that space is set up. Many times people keep chicks in too small of space trying to keep them safe.

Are they outside? Fresh air, sunshine and space are very important to birds health. At five weeks, they need to be out of a brooder and into a coop and run.

What kind, and how many chicks do you have?

Mrs K

Thank you! The guilt is hard. During the day we are letting them play in the almost-ready coop which is 10 feet by 20 feet. But at night it's getting down to 50 and I wasn't confident they were ready (not totally feathered in yet). This chick has been a problem almost from the very start, it just seems to be escalating.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I agree, but this started at 3 weeks so I'm worried it's something innate?

That’s awfully young to start feather plucking

I think they’re feathered enough to go outside, 50 isn’t that cold. I’d try that to see if it helps.

Edited to add, I didn’t realize the coop isn’t quite ready yet…

 

[Growley Monster]

That's really young. Looks like it could be a cockerel. I would isolate him, or try one of those pinless peepers gadgets. I have some, but TBH I have not felt the need to try them yet. I know my little guys are overcrowded at the moment but I am working on the coop and then I will fence in a 12 x 25 foot run which next year will be the garden and the present garden right next to it will be the run, rotating every year. Anyway I am seeing some pecking but I am pretty sure they are a little stressed right now. If they still peck then I will try the peepers. They block direct vision of the beak and so the chickens are too confused and unsure to do much pecking, or so that is how they are supposed to work. They can still eat and drink. I have heard that they can cause nostril irritation?

I would not trim his beak. It seems to be quite painful and traumatic for the birds and it takes away the main way that they explore their environment around them. Yeah, big commercial farms do that but that's a different thing.

Fatten the little fella up, keep him in a separate pen or coop or run, and if you still want to cull, eat him when he starts crowing, if he does. You have been feeding him for 5 weeks and it would be a waste to cull while he is still just pigeon size. Another 10 weeks will have him at a respectable size but still tender.

If you have ever considered caponizing, I think 5 to 7 weeks is frequently the age for doing that. It might stop his pecking, or it might not. After all, hens sometimes peck a lot, too.

BTW wing feathering can be a pretty good tip off on sex. Youtube is your friend. Wing quills in a single row and all the same length, indicates male. Wing quills in two rows and alternating long, short, long, short, indicates female. (Except when it doesn't!) Stretch a wing out and look at it from the underside. But at 5 weeks, that comb could be a good indicator, too. In another week, depending on breed, if he is male you should see significant comb growth and some red coloration, and there should be little doubt.

By the way again, If you elect to caponize, always go into the left side first, or else take both beans from the left side. If it is a pullet that just looks roosterish, you will see the ovary and it will be more round, and the teste if present will be more of a bean shape. Abort the operation and all should be well. Hens do have two ovaries, technically, but the right one will be vestigal and only the left one will grow and function, and it is the only one you will see. So the incision, just in case you screwed up, should always be done on the left first, regardless. Meanwhile it will probably take you a week or so to gather the usual instruments, so don't be in too big of a rush. There are a couple of threads on that. And there is no guarantee that it will stop the pecking.

Perfectly understandable if you elect to keep it simple and just sacrifice him for the greater good. And I am not all that sentimental, I just prefer to keep viable chicks alive to more of a young adult stage if there is any practical way possible. Better fried than just tossed in the trash or used for crab bait.

Speaking of crabs, If you take some chicken wire and make a 2 x 2 x 2 foot cage like a crab trap and put him in time-out when you catch him pecking, he might or might not learn, but at least while he is in his cage, he can't peck. You could put cardboard in the bottom so he isn't stumbling around on chicken wire, and some wood savings or whatever, and hang it from the rafters rather than take up floor space, if it seems to be at a premium. As others said, do not let guilt determine your decision. Be practical and have a well reasoned plan. You have other chickens to take care of.

 

[sophiehatter1057]

Also: Since they're so young, just like children, they need things to keep them occupied or they get into trouble.
They might be bored. Try giving them kitchen scraps, roosts at different levels, and some chicken toys.
All my youngins free range 2T

That's really young. Looks like it could be a cockerel. I would isolate him, or try one of those pinless peepers gadgets. I have some, but TBH I have not felt the need to try them yet. I know my little guys are overcrowded at the moment but I am working on the coop and then I will fence in a 12 x 25 foot run which next year will be the garden and the present garden right next to it will be the run, rotating every year. Anyway I am seeing some pecking but I am pretty sure they are a little stressed right now. If they still peck then I will try the peepers. They block direct vision of the beak and so the chickens are too confused and unsure to do much pecking, or so that is how they are supposed to work. They can still eat and drink. I have heard that they can cause nostril irritation?

I would not trim his beak. It seems to be quite painful and traumatic for the birds and it takes away the main way that they explore their environment around them. Yeah, big commercial farms do that but that's a different thing.

Fatten the little fella up, keep him in a separate pen or coop or run, and if you still want to cull, eat him when he starts crowing, if he does. You have been feeding him for 5 weeks and it would be a waste to cull while he is still just pigeon size. Another 10 weeks will have him at a respectable size but still tender.

If you have ever considered caponizing, I think 5 to 7 weeks is frequently the age for doing that. It might stop his pecking, or it might not. After all, hens sometimes peck a lot, too.

BTW wing feathering can be a pretty good tip off on sex. Youtube is your friend. Wing quills in a single row and all the same length, indicates male. Wing quills in two rows and alternating long, short, long, short, indicates female. (Except when it doesn't!) Stretch a wing out and look at it from the underside. But at 5 weeks, that comb could be a good indicator, too. In another week, depending on breed, if he is male you should see significant comb growth and some red coloration, and there should be little doubt.

By the way again, If you elect to caponize, always go into the left side first, or else take both beans from the left side. If it is a pullet that just looks roosterish, you will see the ovary and it will be more round, and the teste if present will be more of a bean shape. Abort the operation and all should be well. Hens do have two ovaries, technically, but the right one will be vestigal and only the left one will grow and function, and it is the only one you will see. So the incision, just in case you screwed up, should always be done on the left first, regardless. Meanwhile it will probably take you a week or so to gather the usual instruments, so don't be in too big of a rush. There are a couple of threads on that. And there is no guarantee that it will stop the pecking.

Perfectly understandable if you elect to keep it simple and just sacrifice him for the greater good. And I am not all that sentimental, I just prefer to keep viable chicks alive to more of a young adult stage if there is any practical way possible. Better fried than just tossed in the trash or used for crab bait.

Speaking of crabs, If you take some chicken wire and make a 2 x 2 x 2 foot cage like a crab trap and put him in time-out when you catch him pecking, he might or might not learn, but at least while he is in his cage, he can't peck. You could put cardboard in the bottom so he isn't stumbling around on chicken wire, and some wood savings or whatever, and hang it from the rafters rather than take up floor space, if it seems to be at a premium. As others said, do not let guilt determine your decision. Be practical and have a well reasoned plan. You have other chickens to take care of.

Wow, so much good info here. I love the crab trap time out pen! Thank you for the encouragement