Help. Chicks /pecking bleeding

[llsgirls]

I moved our chicks to the coop last night. It's warmed. They are 4.5 weeks old. Lots of room/food/water etc. 2 of them have bleeding tail feathers? They are all about the same age. Could only be 1-3 days apart. There is a size difference though.

What should I do?

Any kind of meds?

 

[lazy gardener]

How many birds? What was their prior housing? Brooder? What were the dimensions of it? Did it have heat? What was the temperature, both under the heat and away from the heat? What is the exact size of your coop, and what are you using for heat? What is the temperature in the coop at floor level and roost level? What do you have in there for ventilation? What are you feeding them? % protein?

 

[llsgirls]

How many birds?  17
What was their prior housing?  About 45x45 inch puppy play pen
Brooder? See above

What were the dimensions of it?  See above

Did it have heat? Ecoglo

What was the temperature, both under the heat and away from the heat?  No idea. It was in the house. They weren't going under the ecoglo very often.

What is the exact size of your coop, and what are you using for heat?  5 ft by 11ft

What is the temperature in the coop at floor level and roost level?  No idea. Warm during the day. 60-70s

What do you have in there for ventilation?  Windows. It's not stuffy

What are you feeding them?  Chick starter feed from feed store

% protein?  Don't know

 

[lazy gardener]

What is the temp at night? At 4.5 weeks old, they should not need any heat unless you are in very cold temps. What kind of birds are they? Some of the mediterranean birds have more of a rep for being aggressive. You might want to separate the ones being picked on. If there are only a couple of aggressors, take them out. Your coop is going to be a bit tight, at the recommended 4 s.f./bird. Have they had opportunity to engage in chicken behaviors? Been out in a run, out on the lawn, opportunity to dig and scratch in the soil/grass? That might help them to re-direct their energy. Toss some scratch in their litter. Offset that with some high protein treats: chopped egg, left over chicken/beef/fish. You can also give them multi height areas in their coop: a couple of hay bales, stacked with 2 on bottom and 1 on top so there is a tunnel between the bottom 2 bales. Do they have a predator proof run?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Red and bleeding will invite more pecking. Blu Kote is the product most people us when they need to hide a would from the flock. I think it also might be antibacterial.

I'm guessing they are still to small to sleep on the roost?

Have you paid attention to see if you spot any bullies? Are these straight run chicks?

 

[llsgirls]

What is the temp at night?  40-50. I put the ecoglo out there.
At 4.5 weeks old, they should not need any heat unless you are in very cold temps.  What kind of birds are they?  A mix. I can post pics in a while.
Some of the mediterranean birds have more of a rep for being aggressive.  You might want to separate the ones being picked on.  If there are only a couple of aggressors, take them out.  
Happy to do so. I'm not keeping 17. Only 8-10. Just raising them for me and my step mom until they are big enough to be introduced to all her girls.
Your coop is going to be a bit tight, at the recommended 4 s.f./bird.  Have they had opportunity to engage in chicken behaviors?  Not too much.
Been out in a run, out on the lawn, opportunity to dig and scratch in the soil/grass?  Not yet
That might help them to re-direct their energy.  Toss some scratch in their litter.  Offset that with some high protein treats:  chopped egg, left over chicken/beef/fish.  You can also give them multi height areas in their coop:  a couple of hay bales, stacked with 2 on bottom and 1 on top so there is a tunnel between the bottom 2 bales. THABK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!
 Do they have a predator proof run?  Yes.

 

[llsgirls]

Hi, welcome to BYC! 

Red and bleeding will invite more pecking. Blu Kote is the product most people us when they need to hide a would from the flock. I think it also might be antibacterial.

I'm guessing they are still to small to sleep on the roost? I put them on there last night and they seemed to like it....

Have you paid attention to see if you spot any bullies? Not yet.

Are these straight run chicks? Shouldn't be. Paid for pullets.

Thank you for the info!

 

[llsgirls]

Thabks for your help! Everyone is as happy as a clam this morning!