Need help, 6 week old chicks picking each other clean.

[MandyH]

I've got a pen that now contains 6 RIW's. Big, clean pen. Roosts, fresh water, turkey starter, etc... There is one or two of them killling the others by picking them clean down to the meat. I've used the search option on here and doen everything that is suggested. However I cannot apply tar, stop pick etc, to a chick that is laying there barely breathing. I went thru and checked the remaining 6 and no one has even a feather missing. Same as last night, then today there is one at deaths door. We segregated the RIW's because we kept having dead birds the same age, for no reason and noticed taht the welsummer's and RIR's were bare chested. I knew the RIW"s where the culprits when everybody else was ragged and they were pristine. I do not want to have to cull these birds because they are the rare rose comb RIW's, but I can't stand for them to kill everybody else and each other.

 

[cassie]

Are you feeding crumbles or pellets? Is the protein level high enough? You might throw in a flake of alfalfa so they have something to pick besides each other. It takes longer for a chicken to fill up on crumbles than pellets, so sometimes switching to crumbles or mash helps.

 

[zatsdeb]

I throw handfulls of grass in for them to pick at, how big is the pen? Are there any roosts? if they are too close together they sometimes pick. they are cannabils also, its gross but they do it.

 

[rachiegirl]

How old are they? Try separating the suspected pickers for a few days and see what happens. Then reintroduce them one at a time to see if that helps. The ones not missing feathers are probably the pickers, but they could also simply be the ones at the top and not getting picked at by a some lower members of the flock who are actually the pickers.
Hope you find a solution soon for the "kids" sake.

 

[NotTheMomma]

My guess is that the area isn't big enough for them. They should be getting plenty of protein on the turkey feed. Do they have access to a run with grass? Maybe start throwing in some broccoli leaves, or cabbage/lettuce/kale/peas for them to peck at. Sometimes if they are bored they'll start pecking others. Unfortunately if it's true cannibulism, I've read on here that it's difficult to stop. I've personally never had them peck each other to death though. If at ANY way possible, about an hour before it starts getting dark, start letting them out into the yard to pick and scratch around. They'll go back into the coop when it starts getting dark. Sometimes it helps to put a nightlight in the coop for a few days or a week to make sure they can see where to go.

I have a friend that bought chickens at the same time I did, and many of the same breed. Mine are almost twice as big as hers are, and the only difference is that mine are out everyday for hours in the yard, and hers have a dirt lot. I really believe letting them out to find their own food, adn what their body needs, makes them healthier and stronger.