Hurt baby chick

[amaryllis421]

My baby chick is starting her 4th week, i noticed this morning the other chicks picking on her and saw blood and found her like this, not sure if it’s feathers coming in bad, a lump, i don’t feel like the chicks could have done this in one night i’ve never seen any bad behavior from any of them but this is my first time with chicks and i’m not sure what to do i’ve already separated her from the rest of the chicks, any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[sourland]

The lump is her oil gland - it's enlarged and irritated from being pecked. I would apply antibiotic ointment. How much room do the chicks have? This behavior frequently starts when they are overcrowded.

 

[amaryllis421]

The lump is her oil gland - it's enlarged and irritated from being pecked. I would apply antibiotic ointment. How much room do the chicks have? This behavior frequently starts when they are overcrowded.

okay thank you! they are in a great dane kennel it’s about 3by5? I only have a feeder and waterer in there with them

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've had a two week old chick kill its sibling one morning by pecking it on the head. Then it immediately started on another chick. I isolated it for a day and it stopped that behavior. I had a 15 week old cockerel decide to kill a sibling cockerel one morning. It did by pecking the head, but never bothered any other siblings. These were not overcrowded.

I don't think that is what is going on with yours. I think that chick was pecked and it started bleeding. It could have been a new blood-filled feather growing in that got pecked. Once they see blood they can turn cannibalistic. I agree, this type of behavior is more typical when they are overcrowded but not all cases are due to overcrowding. Sometimes it just happens.

I have successfully housed over 20 chicks in a 3x5 feet brooder until they were 5 weeks old without problems but they were getting really crowded. That could be a contributing factor.

I'd isolate that chick until it heals, at least no longer bloody. If at all possible, house it across wire from the others as that can ease reintegration. Sometimes a flock decides to run off or kill another flock member for no known cause so I'd be cautious putting it back in with them, but I think it was probably a blood attraction.

 

[sourland]

You don't say how many chicks in that space, but to me that is a rather limited area for 3+ week old chicks. I would monitor closely in case they start pecking on another chick.

 

[amaryllis421]

I've had a two week old chick kill its sibling one morning by pecking it on the head. Then it immediately started on another chick. I isolated it for a day and it stopped that behavior. I had a 15 week old cockerel decide to kill a sibling cockerel one morning. It did by pecking the head, but never bothered any other siblings. These were not overcrowded.

I don't think that is what is going on with yours. I think that chick was pecked and it started bleeding. It could have been a new blood-filled feather growing in that got pecked. Once they see blood they can turn cannibalistic. I agree, this type of behavior is more typical when they are overcrowded but not all cases are due to overcrowding. Sometimes it just happens.

I have successfully housed over 20 chicks in a 3x5 feet brooder until they were 5 weeks old without problems but they were getting really crowded. That could be a contributing factor.

I'd isolate that chick until it heals, at least no longer bloody. If at all possible, house it across wire from the others as that can ease reintegration. Sometimes a flock decides to run off or kill another flock member for no known cause so I'd be cautious putting it back in with them, but I think it was probably a blood

You don't say how many chicks in that space, but to me that is a rather limited area for 3+ week old chicks. I would monitor closely in case they start pecking on another chick.

i have 6 chicks

You don't say how many chicks in that space, but to me that is a rather limited area for 3+ week old chicks. I would monitor closely in case they start pecking on another c

I've had a two week old chick kill its sibling one morning by pecking it on the head. Then it immediately started on another chick. I isolated it for a day and it stopped that behavior. I had a 15 week old cockerel decide to kill a sibling cockerel one morning. It did by pecking the head, but never bothered any other siblings. These were not overcrowded.

I don't think that is what is going on with yours. I think that chick was pecked and it started bleeding. It could have been a new blood-filled feather growing in that got pecked. Once they see blood they can turn cannibalistic. I agree, this type of behavior is more typical when they are overcrowded but not all cases are due to overcrowding. Sometimes it just happens.

I have successfully housed over 20 chicks in a 3x5 feet brooder until they were 5 weeks old without problems but they were getting really crowded. That could be a contributing factor.

I'd isolate that chick until it heals, at least no longer bloody. If at all possible, house it across wire from the others as that can ease reintegration. Sometimes a flock decides to run off or kill another flock member for no known cause so I'd be cautious putting it back in with them, but I think it was probably a blood attraction.

Thank you so much! I have 6 chicks in total and after separating the hurt one i noticed another one being pecked on the behind, it wasn’t bleeding but i separated it as well and have them in a kennel with a divider beside the original kennel brooder, leaving the 4 in the original brooder i’m not sure if it was bullying or maybe as you say the blood triggered something because now that i’m trying to figure out who the bully is the 4 are doing fine together and i haven’t seen any behavior but ill keep a close eye on them

 

[amaryllis421]

You don't say how many chicks in that space, but to me that is a rather limited area for 3+ week old chicks. I would monitor closely in case they start pecking on another chick.

i have 6! i’ve separated them out further and am watching for any behaviors hoping they will settle down