How to reintroduce 4 wk chicks to one another after severe feather plucking and attacking

[nashchick]

I hope someone can offer some advice since I'm a newbie. I have 3 Easter Eggers (4 1/2weeks) and 2 GL Wyandottes (3 1/2weeks). I added the GLWs 2 weeks ago after we gave our little crossbeak EE to our vet. I wanted more than 3 hens and was told these would be generally friendly. They didn't mix well but no huge problems until last weekend. I found our sweet Daisy with a bloody backend, no tail feathers and the GLWs had bloody beaks. I removed her to a seperate brooder and treated her wounds. Next morning, same thing with a different EE. She's recooping nicely in another brooder. The 3rd EE, which is more aggressive, started attacking and pulling feathers off a GLW so now they're all seperated. I've tried to put the GLWs back together but they attack each other (one pulled a blood feather and created a new wound) and the 3rd EE attacks both GLW and other EEs. It's a huge mess! Before this happened, I noticed in weeks past the aggressive EE was pulling downy feathers off the others so introduced protein - boiled mashed eggs and sunflower seeds. I added a perch and mealworms so they could scratch around. My brooder is a fair size so don't think it's too crowded. I can't be sure the EE didn't start this and the GLWs took advantage. How can I make them stop attacking each other and how to make the EE stop pulling feathers? Are these 2 different issues? Do I need to give away the GLWs? Thanks for any insight!

 

[Den in Penn]

A true mess. The only thing I can think of to try is a staggered reintroduction. The way I'd do it would be. keep them all separate except the two EEs that were bloodied, keep them together, for a week. If you know which GLW is the least aggressive put that one with the two EEs. If that goes well, in a couple of days put the another chick in, since you think the EE started it go with the other GLW. If all is calm in a few more days try the finial chick. Hope it works.

 

[nashchick]

Thanks! That was my thinking as well. I've been reintroducing the healed EEs over the past several days and they are now back together in the brooder. I think the others will be more difficult but we'll see. I may give the GLWs away and work solely on the last EE. May simplify things.

 

[cafarmgirl]

What is the size of your brooder? I'd get this group into as large a space as possible as soon as possible. I think you are right to be leary of reintroducing the GLW's. If you do, do it one at a time, not together. Good luck!

 

[Aeropennchick]

Also try one of those brooder cakes - I got one and it nipped the feather picking in the bud, in addition to doubling the size of my brooder.

 

[MagicChicken]

What is a brooder cake?

 

[nashchick]

I had already been using a chick stick (same thing I bet) to curb the aggressive EE from eating downy feathers from the others a few weeks back. They loved it and it did solve the problems temporarily, but I was scared if used constantly, it would reduce their intake of protein from the chick starter, thus more feather eating when not in use.

I put a cardboard papertowel roll in the brooder w/ the 2 EEs last night and they love it - roll it with their feet like a lumberjack and peck it. It seems to be working for boredom.

My brooder is approx 7 sq ft. for 5 birds. It seemed plenty big when they were 2-3 wks but it must obviously be too small now.

 

[Aeropennchick]

Here's the brooder cake I bought - I got mine from a local store and not online though:

http://www.meyerhatchery.com/produc...pplies&grd_prodone_filter=PRODUCT_ID = 'BCAS'


I love the paper towel roll idea! Going to have to use that with my next batch. I also put a mirror in mine.

 

[nashchick]

Oh, yeah! That looks just like the Chick Stick I bought at the co-op. It hangs the same way, too. Great thing about the paper towel roll - it's too thick for them to peck off bits and eat. I'll have to try a mirror. Someone said they use a glass thermometer - they peck at the red. I'd be afraid it would break, though, and I wouldn't think they could see it that well with a red lamp in use.