HELP! Why are they pulling her feathers out?? :(

[kmwright]

I noticed this afternoon that my wynadotte is missing lots of tail feathers. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that she is missing a lot of feathers around her neck and some on her back. I put the whole flock outside and watched 2 of them constantly pick at her. What is this behavior? Is something wrong with her and they are picking at her because she's sick? Right now my daughter is holding her on the bed and her eyes are closed. Poor little thing. What does this mean and what do I do for her? Should I separate her fro the others? I feel horrible!!

 

[ChickenChik]

How many chicks do you have and what are the measurements of your brooder?
Edited to say: maybe you could separate her with 2 other chicks that do not pick on her that way when you reintroduce she will have to buddies to stand up for her and the flock will usually not go after one if you are reintroducing a larger number.

 

[kmwright]

I tried to separate them, but whenever I do that they all freak out. They peep really loud and try and fly out of their brooders to get back together. If I separate them, will they eventually stop peeping? Should I put them far away from eachother? If I put the two brooders right next to eachother, naturally they can see/hear eachother. Maybe if I put them in different areas that won't happen?

 

[ChickenChik]

Do you have a couple other chicks in with the one that is getting pecked on? Are they still peeping for each other When they can still she each other from different brooders?