Need help!

[Monk]

I was out working on the coop and came in to check on the chicks and found one bleeding on her whole upper wing. I thought I had one chick pecking at it then saw another doing it? I removed the wounded one to another box. I then saw another chick bleeding a little at its ear? Any ideas on what is going on or a remedy? I never had a problem til now?

 

[willowcol]

Do they have enough room in the brooder? Mine only usually pick on each other if they are to crowded.

 

[Monk]

The box is 3'x 2'. 6, 3-4 week old chicks.

 

[Monk]

I now have another chick bleeding at the base of its tail, I believe it one particular chick doing this?

 

[Chickenmaven]

You need to give them a bigger area and something to do, like have a little roost for them to jump on.

 

[arlee453]

If you figure out who is the aggressor you may need to separate them. Once they draw blood the other chicks will peck at it - by instinct they are drawn to investigate anything red - and it will just get worse and worse.

Sometimes they'll gang up on one chick, other times you have just one pecker that is equal opportunity and goes after any of the other chicks.

You can separate out the one that seems to be the main instigator, as well as separate the ones that are wounded so they won't get pecked on worse.

I had one that did this - he would go after one chick in particular the worse to peck, but also went after others too.

Finally just had to cull (euthanize) the aggressor and that took care of the problem.

Another week or two and they can go out into a larger pen and that will probably break the cycle. And it's probably boredom along with being crowded in the brooder that started the problem, but sometimes they just get in the habit and you either have to house the culprit separately forever or cull.

 

[Monk]

I just got back with a larger box. I already had a perch in there for them, I'll make this one higher so they can escape the ones below. I now have the two bleeders separated and all seems calm, will see? Thanks! Keep the advice going though.

 

[SimplyForties]

I had one chick who was determinely pecking the eyes of the other chicks. I put her in chicken jail for about 3 days (screened off area in the brooder where they could still see each other) and then reintroduced her. By then she had calmed down and now I can't pick her out of the bunch. If you have one agressor you might try that.

 

[mediazeal]

Quote:
Oh good, I'm glad to know what happened with your little hoodlum!
Glad it worked out.

 

[Monk]

SimplyForties, I'm really not sure which one was the aggressor? I have 3 look pretty much alike and with them all them started up I'm not certain??? I just got another larger box all set up, I put the two victums in that box. Everything seems to have calmed down now. I was thinking to let the two bleeders heal up alittle and then move over a chick a day to the bigger box. The aggressor(?) will be last after a couple of days alone, will see? Does it sound like a possible solution???

I appreciate all the help...Thanks everyone