Eye Pecking!! HELP!!!

[PapaChaz]

If you opt for clippers and hit the blood line, use some flour or blood stop powder if you have it. Otherwise, the other birds may go after her!

sounds like she kinda deserves it, LOL...........

I would have never thought to make the beak tender so she stops pecking, but won't that make it hard for her to eat?


one question OP, what color is your heat light? if it's white, that could be part of the problem, change it to a red one

 

[FreedomFarm13]

Ok, so you were right. The filing was really hard to do....I couldn't really hold her tiny head still, so I wanna try the clippers. Only problem is, I don't know where the bloodline is and I'm really scared I'm gonna hit it. How can I tell where it is?
P.S. PapaChaz, as far as I'm concerned, she does kinda deserve it, but I also don't want her getting injured cuz I don't wanna have to deal with that on top of Ella's bloody little eyes.

 

[justplainbatty]

sounds like she kinda deserves it, LOL...........

I would have never thought to make the beak tender so she stops pecking, but won't that make it hard for her to eat?


one question OP, what color is your heat light? if it's white, that could be part of the problem, change it to a red one

Not if you only cut off the tip, she'll be tender but it will grow back. I would never do trimming like the commercial operations do, it's disfiguring and inhumane.
Good point about the heat lamp. I did white the first time- nightmare! Switched to red in a hurry!

 

[justplainbatty]

Ok, so you were right. The filing was really hard to do....I couldn't really hold her tiny head still, so I wanna try the clippers. Only problem is, I don't know where the bloodline is and I'm really scared I'm gonna hit it. How can I tell where it is?
P.S. PapaChaz, as far as I'm concerned, she does kinda deserve it, but I also don't want her getting injured cuz I don't wanna have to deal with that on top of Ella's bloody little eyes.

You should be able to see a dark line straight down the middle of the beak that ends a bit short of the tip. Magnifier or flash light should help.

 

[FreedomFarm13]

Ok, thanks batty. And what's the significance of the color of the lamp? Why would white make them more aggressive? Never heard of that.

 

[justplainbatty]

Ok, thanks batty. And what's the significance of the color of the lamp? Why would white make them more aggressive? Never heard of that.

Yes, with white light, they never get a break from blasting light. If you use red, and it doesn't flood the entire brooder, they see natural light which disappears at night. This causes them to start sleeping naturally. Being more rested and not light blasted, keeps aggression at bay.

 

[FreedomFarm13]

Ok, thanks. I'll definitely try that, because at the moment I do have a white light. I'll get a red one asap. I found a clear tub to put Ella in while she heals, so the other one can see her but not hurt her. I think it should do the trick. Maybe once she gets used to seeing her every day she'll be a little nicer?? I don't know. Just doin a bunch of trial and error here. Also, I trimmed her beak, but since Ella was already injured, I decided to just separate her so she had some time to heal before giving the other one another shot at her. Thanks for all the great advice, everybody!!!

 

[justplainbatty]

Ok, thanks. I'll definitely try that, because at the moment I do have a white light. I'll get a red one asap. I found a clear tub to put Ella in while she heals, so the other one can see her but not hurt her. I think it should do the trick. Maybe once she gets used to seeing her every day she'll be a little nicer?? I don't know. Just doin a bunch of trial and error here. Also, I trimmed her beak, but since Ella was already injured, I decided to just separate her so she had some time to heal before giving the other one another shot at her. Thanks for all the great advice, everybody!!!

Sounds like a plan. And, chicken raising is a lot of trail and error. You'll get better at it.

 

[rgoodman11]

I had the same problem with my chicks. Broomhilda (because she was witchy) pecked the other 5 chic's eyes closed. I made a divider out of an old screen so they could see each other, but she couldn't get to them. I then put Neosporin (non pain type) on the eyes of the others. I noticed another chic trying to peck Olive, who was the most beat up, and ran away shaking her head and rubbing her beak against the bedding. I don't think she liked the Neosporin. Broomhilda eventually escaped her time-out but behaved......again, I don't think she liked the taste of the Neosporin. They are now 3 weeks old and getting along well.

I understand how upsetting it is for you. I was a mess for the first week and wanted to get rid of Broomhilda. Now she is the one that wants to be on my lap and follows me around. I don't want to go against others with more experience, but I heard that trimming their beaks leads to other issues. I would research on your own to see what would be best for you.

Good luck.

 

[justplainbatty]

I had the same problem with my chicks. Broomhilda (because she was witchy) pecked the other 5 chic's eyes closed. I made a divider out of an old screen so they could see each other, but she couldn't get to them. I then put Neosporin (non pain type) on the eyes of the others. I noticed another chic trying to peck Olive, who was the most beat up, and ran away shaking her head and rubbing her beak against the bedding. I don't think she liked the Neosporin. Broomhilda eventually escaped her time-out but behaved......again, I don't think she liked the taste of the Neosporin. They are now 3 weeks old and getting along well.

I understand how upsetting it is for you. I was a mess for the first week and wanted to get rid of Broomhilda. Now she is the one that wants to be on my lap and follows me around. I don't want to go against others with more experience, but I heard that trimming their beaks leads to other issues. I would research on your own to see what would be best for you.

Good luck.

I am not recommending "debeaking" that is a horrible, cruel thing! Just trimming the very end, the softer keratin that grows back! That is why I recommended a file instead of clippers! But yes, do do your own research so that you are comfortable about it.