Mean Chick??

[HighAltitudeHens]

I'll try to make a long story short. I have 8 chicks, 3 days old, mixed breeds. 1 of the buff brahmas got a bad pasty butt, I had to wash her twice (in 2 hrs) b'cuz I couldn't get it clean on the first try. Even with 2 washes, I had to really work at some dry parts. When I finally got her back in the brooder, she started grooming. When there was nothing left to groom, she started pulling at her own wingtip feathers - hard enough to chirp in distress! (LOL) Well, not enough fun I guess, cuz now she pulls everyone else's wingtips, even the 2 chicks bigger than she is. I mean, she pulls them around the brooder! I've isolated her for now - I've been trying to re-introduce her to the group but she only behaves for a minute or two. Any ideas how to correct this behavior? Anybody ever have this before? I'm afraid I'm going to have to raise her alone and cull her as a meat bird...

 

[Lisa0318]

Hi, i have had this problem with my barred rock chick she would pick out the others feathers till they bleed. I did some search in google and found a spray. you can purchase it at all feed stores its called stop picking or something like that lol. but it works , you spay it on the areas where they pick and it taste nasty to them so eventually they stop the picking.

 

[HighAltitudeHens]

Thanks Lisa! I had no idea there was such a thing - since I read your post, I've been Googling all over the place!

 

[Lisa0318]

Here is some of the ones i use Johnson's anti-peck spray, Ukadex anti-peck spray, and also some say that by mixing 1 tbsp of vinegar or salt into a gallon of water works fine too, but i use the spray because it works better and alot faster because of its bad taste and smell.

 

[MassivelyScrambled]

hmmm didn't know such a thing existed...that's why I love BYC!