HELP asap....ringneck pheasants (Resolved for now I think-Thanks)

[River Lizard]

Got a call from the wife saying that three of our chicks (3wks old) are missing feathers on their backs. When I got home not only were there 3 but I found another 4 of them missing feathers too. I pulled them all out of the main container and moved them to another one.

What's going on? They have food, water and heat....either I'm missing something, doing something wrong or I should be feeding them hamburger?

I don't want to run to Lowe's and get more hardware screen for additional tubs if it's not needed....

Standing by for any help....thanks

UPDATE: We applied Blu-Kote and reduced their heat some (smaller watt bulbs) and it seems to be working. We will be building a small holding cage for outside and moving them to it this weekend and hopefully that will give them additional room and we'll add some things to keep their minds off of picking on each other.

I appreciate the quick advice from the ones who responded last night-Thank you, you helped us out a lot.

 

[Homesteading_Bound]

Do they have a large enough area to live comfortably?

Do you have them on the proper feed that has enough protein in it?

I know that is just a few reasons why this may happen.

 

[River Lizard]

I have split them into two containers: one is 2 x 1.5' and the other is 3' x 22"
I've taken some of the worst chicks and moved them into another container 2' x 1.5"

The wife says we're feeding them Chick Starter...is that the wrong feed to be using?

 

[Laskaland]

They are picking on each other. Same thing happened with mine last year. They had plenty of space, feed (chick starter is fine), light, water, etc.... but they still picked. Spray them with Blu-Kote (I put them in a coffee can, cuz it makes a mess!!) and eventually they will calm down. They are picking birds (at least in my experience).
Good luck
christina

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

I have 10 baby ringnecks I am guessing to be around 3-4 weeks ( guessing because these were hatched in the " wild " and I am fostering them until older )

I have them on non-medicated chick starter and they seem to be doing fine on it

mine are also in a plastic tote from walmart ( not sure of exact size ) and they seem to be adjusting fine -- they will need a bigger tote soon they are growing like weeds LOL

maybe after you move them into smaller groups that will help- maybe use a red light on them like you can chicken chicks for no pecking?

 

[River Lizard]

Now everyone of them are picking on each other's back because they see the red areas! 2 of them are really bad and the other ones are just pinkish red.
I thought I grabbed the largest one which started this whole mess and thought it would stop once I got him in a separate container...notta, now all of them are doing it because they see the sores on the other chicks backs.

I've shut their lights off to calm them down some and so they don't see the sore spots.

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

I had a problem like this when I had chicken chicks -- so i was told to rub vicks vapor rub on them and get a red light

worked like a charm - once they got alittle of that vicks in thier mouth they stopped and a few only had to smell it and stand far away from the ones covered in vicks

might be worth a try ?

 

[River Lizard]

I'll try that. Thanks everyone.

 

[Tony K T]

Spray paint the light bulb red and it will help a little.Throw some crickets in to give them something to chase,sounds like they might be bored.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[JJMR794]

IF YOU CAN GIVE THEM LITTLE STRUCTURES TO HIDE IN OR GET A TIME OUT AWAY FROM THE BULLIES. ALSO A SHALLOW PAN OF PLAY SAND WILL HELP. THEY ARE A PECK PRONE SPECES AND ANY DISTRACTIONS WILL HELP. WORSE CASE PUT PEEPERS ON THEM!