feather picking - 4 weeks old

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

I agree that red lights are much better and may solve your problem (if you are not already using them), but it could just be that you have a very aggressive chick (since you have 23 chicks that are not feather picking). If you had more chicks with this problem, I'd be more inclined to think there was an environmental or feed issue.

My chicks were raised with red heat lamps from the beginning, plenty of space, correct temps, even monitored free-range time in the grass, but I still had 1 RIR chick that would not leave the others alone - it was very cannabilistic. Once I returned it to the feedstore, the remaining group of chicks did very well - no pecking or picking problems whatsoever. Hopefully your chick will learn better manners after its time-out.

 

[RM44]

I want to thank all of you that took the time to respond. We took a trip up to Tennessee today, so I wasn't here most of the day to see your comments, but they are all helpful and appreciated. (I had someone looking in on the little ones while I was gone though.)

I am using a combination of red heat lamps coupled with a larger, white shop light for added warmth. We had moved them off the red heat lamps to normal output white lights the last week in the bedroom in order to adjust the temp down, knowing we'd be moving them into the basement in the next week.

As for the feed, I was feeding medicated starter feed which I found out was 16% protein. I ran out of that bag and am now using 20% starter (non-medicated). The only other option was 24% protein, but I was afraid to switch from 16% to 24% that quickly, and was planning to use the 20% for a week, then add in 1/2 24%, then keep going until I got them on 24%.

I didn't have chick grit but was using a new cat box full of playground sand. However, I didn't move the playground sand down with them, so they've gone a day and a half without it. I do now have chick grit and will begin adding it to the food and put a dish out for free choice too. I will also try some scrambled eggs tonight for them.

Thanks again to everyone who gave their thoughts, suggestions and advice. I really appreciate you. And if you have more advice/comments, keep 'em coming! I love to learn.

 

[RM44]

Well, I let her out to be with the others while they were eating their scrambled eggs and grit. She made it about 5-6 minutes (maybe longer; time flys when I'm sitting around watching the "chicken channel"....). After socializing with the flock for a few minutes and eating and drinking, she went right back to picking feathers. I have noticed that she seems to pick feathers on the other black australorps and the dominiques (which are mostly black with a little white). She mostly leaves the RIRs and the easter eggers (which are sort of blondish/brownish) alone, although I've seen her take a nip or two at them sometimes. Mostly though, she goes after the other black chicks. Anyway, I have a very bold RIR that loves to come over and see what I'm doing any time I'm messing around in the cage, so after catching the plucker again, I went to put her back in time out and the RIR ran in the kennel and wouldn't come out. So I left the RIR in the time out pen with my feather plucker. We'll see how they do tonight.

I now have another problem and need my BYC friends again, but I'm starting a new thread so as not to get this one cluttered up and in hopes that the subject line of the new thread will solicit some equally helpful feedback for the new problem.

 

[saladin]

You don't need chick grit with crumbles.

With the red lamps: all you have to do is raise them up higher. saladin