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Help! My 4 week old chicks are FIGHTING/PECKING TO THE DEATH!

Discussion in 'Raising Baby Chicks' started by maf2008, Apr 24, 2009.

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  1. Apr 24, 2009 #1
    maf2008

    maf2008 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Feb 19, 2009
    Please advise..... hurry

    I have several pens of chickens and they all behave sooooo different!

    pen 1)

    Age 6/7 weeks - 38 total RIR/ Leghorn/Redstars/Black Giants/Barred Rock/EE's (4 roosters all the rest pullets)

    all gentle and come up to me for hugs and kisses and love treats

    pen 2 and 3) age 3/4 weeks 55 total sometimes mixed together but all raised together some roosters but it should not make a difference at this age.

    Light Brahmas/Medium BrahmasCoo Coo Marins/ Barred Rock/Buff Orpention/Buckeye/EE/ Black Giants/White Leghorn 236/white rock

    What am I doing wrong? [​IMG] The smaller chicks are all pecking and fight a lot. I found 15 of them bloody tails/above tails and on the medium brahmas (4) they are pecked clean on the back!

    There are no mites as I use DE-

    Today I found one EE pullet DEAD [​IMG] her tail chewed off and bloody pecks on her back and picky area.

    The younger chicks are flighty, do not want to be handled and "spooky" wild things. The older pen are just like pets!

    I did apply "peck no more" to the injured birds. I do not know what is causing this? These chickens are all treated the same. Last week I did have to catch the young birds and put them in my garage during a big flood storm- Could this cause the problem? PLEASE HELP! [​IMG]
     
  3. Apr 24, 2009 #2
    tielsflyhigh

    tielsflyhigh Out Of The Brooder

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    Apr 22, 2009
    how big are the pens? is there a size difference ?- the small ones seem stressed - maybe split them up them in smaller groups and give them more space if at all possible ?
    Give them something to do - a pumkin to pick at, a water melon,a cabbage, corn on the cob- anything to keep their beaks busy other than pecking at each other
    Make popcorn - I make mine without any fat or salt in a paper grocery bag in the microwave.
    Also try some cat food or meal worms maybe they are missing protein ?

    Good luck
     
  5. Apr 24, 2009 #3
    maf2008

    maf2008 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Feb 19, 2009
    Thats it!!! the other pen of "nice" chickens get scraps melons/corn and scraps... The young pen DID NOT get scraps. I thought they are too young.

    Tomorrow morning I will give them left over breakfast and the table scraps in the fridge.

    Lets hope this helps thanks:yiipchick
     

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