in-brooder jail ideas? and thank you for your support so far!

Puck-Puck

Crowing
15 Years
Apr 7, 2009
169
7
251
a mountain hamlet in B.C.
I just wanted to write thanks to those who have helped answer my questions so far. What a great site!

Yesterday I picked up the 25 Red Sussex Cross pullets I'd ordered. 25 healthy little fuzz-balls bobbing around the box! And the cheeping! Brought them home to the brooder where they quickly made themselves at home. I was dipping their beaks like it says to, but they tended to jump out of my hand and run over to the waterer before I could do that. Like they knew what it was for!

It's been less than 24 hours since I picked them up, but I swear their feet are already becoming more yellow-orange rather than pale-transparent like a baby's skin, and already yesterday their wing feathers looked more pronounced and individually marked after a couple of hours, than when they'd come out of the box; and even more so, today. Am I hallucinating, or do they really develop this fast?

So far I cleaned one potential pasty butt, and she rewarded me by pooping in my hand. Mission successful, I guess. There is one Pecky Becky, a regular schoolyard bully. She has nothing better to do than march up to other chicks who are minding their own business, and beak-box them, or peck at their toes and feathers. I've given her time-outs for longer and longer periods. I'm not sure how to separate her within the brooder and still ensure that she's warm enough and not too hungry or thirsty. Does anyone here have an in-brooder "jail"?

Thanks for any advice you may be able to provide.

-R.
 
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Unless she's actually hurting the other chicks I would leave her be. The more you separate her now the more she'll think she has to establish the pecking order later. It's normal for them to peck at each other and play fight. As long as she's not making anyone bloody she'll be fine.
 
hi! sounds like she's working on establishing the pecking order. Each flock will have a dominate alpha male and female. You have to become the alpha. Everytime you see the chicks pecking at one another, put your hand between them and push each one back. (not hard, lightly) you have to show them that you are the boss. later, when they do this, give a good swat, again not trying to really hurt the bird... just get the point across. Good Luck, I hope this helps!
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problem with seperating is unless, she's doing great physical damage... I would not seperate them. this is normal flock behavior. The sooner the learn your the alpha the better.
 
Ordinary behaviour? That's good to know. She hasn't drawn blood from anyone yet, and since I let her out of jail she has been a little more civilized...for now. I will take your advice and put my hand between her and the peck-ee when I'm there and see her pecking, but I can't sit on top of the brooder all day! It sounds like it's safe to go do some errands without incarcerating her.
 

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