Feather pulling roo

[crooked stripe]

I have one black australorp roo that plucks the tail feathers out of all the rest of the chicks. I have put up with this yelling all day. He just goes from one chick to another pulling feathers. I took him out and put him in a seprate cage in the barn. What do I do? He is only 3.5 weeks old and already a hellian. I can't keep him seprated for ever and really don't want to. Please help. John

 

[MRNpoultry]

If you have the chicks in a closed off area you chould put a divider in so he can't get to them are at least to they get where they can defend them selfs. But I don't know how to stop him. I hope you find out what to do.

 

[crooked stripe]

I took the 2 chicks with bloody tails and put them in a laundry basket and placed it in the brooder with food and water. I also placed some vaseline on their tails and all is quiet for now. It just seemed like things turned into chaos in a short order. From a clam and cool family unit to plucking some chicks to death. I just don't understand. Is this normal? John

 

[MRNpoultry]

I have never heard of a rooster pulling chicks tail feathers out. I have heard about a rooster pulling full grown hen feathers out. Is he mean to people.

 

[crooked stripe]

He seems to just lost controll of him self and went wild. Most are sleeping now and quiet. John

 

[GwenFarms]

I've heard of a few things that can cause chicks to pick at one another. Do you have plenty of room in your brooder? What about trying red lights? I know I've read other things, but I've never experienced this myself. I have a neighbor whose grown chickens were doing this, it was an overcrowding issue for him. Maybe someone who has actually experienced this for themselves will post.

Good Luck!

 

[crooked stripe]

I am going to bring him back from the barn and keep him in a separate cage. My DW feels sorry for him. I cleaned his cage this morning and he just keep pecking at my hands. That is a first.
Will the tail feathers on the rest of the chicks grow back or are they gone till the first molt? There bloody bums look pretty good after a night kept separate. How soon can I introduce them back with the rest? Any recommendations? Will the other roos start this pecking at a later date? I have 11 chicks in a 16 square foot breeder, is this enough room? This bad situation just brings on a lot of questions. John