HELP!!5 week old cannibal! feather pecking!!!

[click cluck]

I have 23, 5 week old chicks, all of which have been doing fine until a few days ago, I noticed one of my EE had a strip of feathers missing down her back. I had though she did it to herself then I saw one of the others (dusty, another EE) pecking more. I took her out and checked the other chicks.

She had striped 4 chicks backs!!! I separated her and put Green goo on the chicks backs. She is in a covered pen right next to the day coop for the other chicks, only a hardware cloth wall separates them. I am grinding up a good amount of mealworm into her chick starter, hopefully its a lack of protein. I don't know what to do! Hopefully it has not become a habbit by now. I plan to keep her separate for a week.

Any tips, suggestions or experience would be so gladly appreciated!!!

-Click Cluck

 

[bobbi-j]

How many chicks? How are they being housed? How much space do they have (in feet by feet)? What are you feeding them? What is the protein content?

Feather picking generally stems from over crowding and/or not enough protein. The first thing I’d suggest is giving them more space.