Does this look pest related, or is it molting?

[sophiehatter1057]

4 week old chicks, I'm not noticing any bullying, feed is 20% protein.

 

[sourland]

It is feather pecking/plucking by flock mates. How much room do they have? Any bird/birds in perfect feather are the culprits.

 

[sophiehatter1057]

It is feather pecking/plucking by flock mates. How much room do they have? Any bird/birds in perfect feather are the culprits.

Thank you! What are the telltale signs? I keep watching them and I'm not seeing any bullying when I'm with them...is it possible that the culprit is clever enough to modify behaviour when I'm around?

 

[sophiehatter1057]

It is feather pecking/plucking by flock mates. How much room do they have? Any bird/birds in perfect feather are the culprits.

Also, one of the affected chicks is the most dominant one. Is that normal?

 

[sourland]

What starts as 'grooming' escalates to pecking/plucking - generally a result of overcrowding/boredom.

 

[sophiehatter1057]

What starts as 'grooming' escalates to pecking/plucking - generally a result of overcrowding/boredom.

Is this different from bullying-related pecking?

 

[sourland]

Most feather pecking/plucking has nothing to do with the 'pecking' social order. Sometimes low protein in their feed may be a factor, but in my experience it has been caused by overcrowding and resultant boredom.

 

[nuthatched]

How big is the brooder? Is the coop ready for them to go out?

 

[sophiehatter1057]

How big is the brooder? Is the coop ready for them to go out?

I'm currently building the coop and hoping to be done by the end of the week. They each have about 1 square foot right now in the brooder. Should I just set up a second brooder and split them into them while I'm building?

 

[nuthatched]

I'm currently building the coop and hoping to be done by the end of the week. They each have about 1 square foot right now in the brooder. Should I just set up a second brooder and split them into them while I'm building?

You may want to, yes.