Feather Pecking in d'Anvers

Im not really familiar with d'anvers, but from you post I'm assuming you have different color chicks together and the lighter ones are being picked on most....is this correct? Do you have a white bulb for your heat lamp? If so- a red bulb may be your solution, especially since they stop when you turn the light out. Im also thinking 30 gallons isn't big enough for 6 month old chicks. I was brooding my chicks in a 48 gallon rubbermaid container and they out grew it in about 2.5 weeks. What kind of feed are you using, is it possible they are lacking protein and this is why they are gobbling up feathers? Sometime the whole deduction thing can be really frustrating- its like putting together a puzzle whenever something goes wrong. Sometimes they will pick each other out of boredom as well. Try the red bulb first (if you don't already have one) and then work your way through the list- all of these are usually the top reasons they have issues, in my experience. Good luck with them!

EDITED TO ADD- you may also want to pick up some blu-kote to cover up the picked spots. Yes it will turn them blue for a while, but it really helps. If you get the spray bottle, opt to use it when there isn't a breeze (not even a slight one) because odds are the wind will shift at the last moment and you'll end up with blue freckles everywhere. Trust me, I had blue freckles all over my face for a week!!!

 

I have 7 D'Anver chicks who are six weeks old. They started out as part of a group of 43 and now the group is down to 17. Haven't seen any picking at all from them, but then, the group was in an 8x8 coop from the time they were two weeks old so plenty of room for them.

 

I had one chick constantly pulling on everyone's toes..I spread the food on the ground for them to forage and put in one of those disposable aluminum bread pans...all the pecking went to the pan.,.no more troubles..you could give it a try.