Mother is Pecking her baby

[Iluvmychickens]

Hi all,

My hen is pecking one of the babies. All the chicks are 7 weeks old. This one in particular is very timid. The mother will not leave em alone. The chick does sneeze occassionally. She will seek him out to peck him. Does she know something I do not know. I now have to keep em seperated



PLEASE HELP.

DeeDee

 

[bantymum]

Hi It definately sounds like the baby has an illness that the mum doesnt want the others to catch, this is nature, please take the little one out if you have a brooder for her to go into.
Its a pity but she will be lonely but she will get used to it.
But if she survives you will have a verrrrry tame hen or roo.
Dont take all the chicks away from mum, just the one thats getting pecked.
Let us know how this goes.
If you dont have a brooder, let us know so we can help you make one asap.
im suscribing to this!!

 

[Iluvmychickens]

Ok what is a brooder?

 

[bantymum]

A brooder is a container with a light at one end which keeps them warm.
Ill expand on this in a sec, ill do a search of some good examples for you.

 

[bantymum]

Ok, ive had a look, but to the life of me cannot find what im going to suggest!!
Get a cardboard box, a lamp with a RED 40 or 60 w bulb.
make a hole in the top of the box for your lamp to poke thru.
Get some feed and water and pine shavings for the floor.
If you need to go out and buy a globe just place the chick on a hot water bottle, she will love it. just cover the bottle with material.


*******************************************
Sorry, Ive just had another look.
Go to incubating section and you will see the sticky: post pics of your brooders, there you will see lots of them.
Ill be back soon!!!

 

[Iluvmychickens]

Oh I See. Carrie (mom) and the chicks have been inside a heated and cooled 8x12 coop. We went outside and got Runt and he/she is in a cage 3x2 by 3 feet tall. I place a blanket on the bottom and covered it with hay. I have water and chick starter in there also. I installed a roosting bar and put a box in there as Runt loves to sit on egg crates and chairs. We keep it 75 in the house at all times. Will that be warm enough?

DeeDee

 

[bantymum]

Im sorry, we work with celcius temps here.
Can you get a little mirror for her and a fluffy toy!!!
You may need a red lamp, im hoping you will get more help from locals with the temp!!
it sounds like she is in good hands and the house seems perfect if not big!!!

 

[Iluvmychickens]

I put a medium sized red teddybear in the cage and placed a morror on one side (outside to avoid getting hurt). Runt snuggled up to the bear right away. Man I hope she will be ok. This is my 1st time having babies. There were born 9-2-07. There turned 7 weeks old yesterday.

DeeDee

 

[Iluvmychickens]

This is Runt

 

[bantymum]

Absolutely so pretty!!!
Im glad he liked the teddy.
Try and get a RED light globe in there and see if he likes it.
even for soothing!!!and if he is ill, he will need the heat. plus vitamin supplement in water.
Have you got any avian vitamins? or else if you dont you can get childrens viamins to start with until you do just a few drops in water..
Avian vitamins are a must have in your chookie first aid box.