Help! My chicks are 12 days old 1 is pecked

[funnyfarmmama]

Ok, my 12 day old chicks have pecked another one's tail feathers off. We have a brooder that is 16 sq feet (I think), with 24 chicks in it. Heat was 80-85 degrees. Waterer and 2 feeding troughs. We do have a "roost" going across the center of the brooder, just for fun to see if they would use it and they do. I have a box fan in the window for fresh air into the room, but no draft on the chicks.

We found him/her in the brooder today with a bloody stubby butt. My husband said earlier today he/she had tail feathers, and now there is only stubbs from the feathers and the whole tail section is red and bloody looking. I have him/her in my "hospital ward". A paper box covered with black 1/2" mesh. A light with a 40 watt bulb for heat source. Of course I have bedding, food, and water in there. I rinsed the tail with warm running water, wrapped the chick in a soft towel to dry for a few minutes, and then I put some antibiotic ointment on it.

Am I doing everything OK? Should I do anything more? Any suggestions would be great. Thank you in advance.

 

[lalaland]

do a search on feather picking here, someone just did a lot of research and has a great thread on it.

The biggest problem is that this is learned behavior and it will spread through the flock. Picking is caused by boredom, low protein, overcrowding, constant light, and stress.

So, switch to a red light, see if you can create more room, provide other stuff to peck at (a piece of sod, garden weeds, an apple, etc), up the protein (yogurt, dry cat food, sunflower chips).

There is a product called "blue kote" that has gentian violet in it- you spray any wound (after you've cleaned it) and it makes it a blue or purple color. Chickens will peck anything red, like the tail feather stubs that are bleeding. It can lead to cannibalism.

Give the chick a buddy while you have it separated to keep it happier.

I am going through the same problem with 8 week old chicks - and I separated out the bully for two days (solitairy confinement, no buddy). She came back and is no longer the top pullet, but still went to peck at one of the poor victims. I had to resort to duct tape, and that seems to be working.

All I can say is if you can figure out how to stop it fast, do so - because this behavior spreads and it is pretty serious.
best of luck
post back about how it is going.

 

[lalaland]

forgot to say you should add a little chick grit - sprinkle it on their food like salt - so they can handle the grass, sunflower seeds, etc. your chicks are not too young for grit, but are possibly to young to free feed the grit - so for now, just "salt" their food with it.

Your little pecked chick will heal up, the problem will be to keep it from happening again, or happening to other chicks.

 

[LesGan]

How did you use duct tape??

 

[purpletree23]

Picking can also be caused by too much heat. Do you have an accurate thermometer on the brooder floor? Hope the little guy gets well and the others don't pick up that bad habit.

 

[funnyfarmmama]

OK, yes I do have a reliable thermometer. Brand new and it was checked with another one in the room before use.

They do already get baby grit sprinkled on their food.

Do I have to use plain yogurt? I only have flavored right now and I live in the boonies and there isn't a local store open all night.

Do I give the yogurt alone or do I mix it with their feed?

 

[California Ducken]

You can give it alone if they will eat it that way. That's the best so they will get enough.
Good Luck!

 

[lalaland]

duct tape - I got the idea from someone else on this board, and I tried it only as a last resort. Your chick may not have enough feathers to do this, but I applied the tape to the feathers on the back, extended it through mid back-to tail where there were just feather stubs coming in, and covered the protein rich, feather quills near the tail that when pecked release blood, and covered the tail feathers.

It has stayed on for 3 days now, although it is loosening up. The pullet preens on top of the duct tape - I just used one piece. Someone else on the board used a sock with holes cut out for the wing and legs.

Yogurt - the biggest thing is whether there are any probiotics in it. Look for words on the container saying live culture, or xxxxxbiotics.

Most of the stuff in the grocery store, especially the fruit flavored and highly sweetened stuff doesn't have any live culture, so it doesn't do any good in the gut. It will still add protein....

 

[funnyfarmmama]

OK, UPDATE..... I now have 2 chicks with their tail feathers completely picked out. I had given the chicks some apples and a squash plus I was watching the heat closer. Then I went back to that room and they were picking at another chicks tail feathers. I have put the 2 newly picked at ones in with the first one in my "hospital" ward.

That all happened on Thursday. They are now 16 days old. Their tails were looking better, so on Sunday I tried reintroducing those chicks into the brooder. Immediately upon putting them into the brooder the other chicks began picking at the blu-kote area. I guess I will have to raise these chicks separately. At least they aren't lonely anymore. They love each other... they cuddle at night and stand together when awake.