Need help!

[Bailey1234]

You may want to invest in a can of bluecote (sp?) to cover up the wounds so that they have a chance to heal. You'll have some funny looking chicks for a while but it really does do the job.

 

[barngirlsrule]

Give the chicks something else to peck at besides each other, worked 4 me!

 

[Monk]

Quote:
What did you use?

 

[RAWR]

hmm..sounds like a possible solution. and all just thinking about that happening to ANY of my babies just makes my stomach hurt.

hope everything with your chicks goes good and hope the bleeders recover ok.

 

[Monk]

Quote:
Blue Kote, picked it up. As soon a my wife or son returns I'll apply it to my victims. Thanks!

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

You've gotten really good advice. I'll just add you should be using a red heat lamp/bulb, if not already. Seems to calm the chicks.

If you haven't started snacks, try giving them some grit and then put in clumps of sod for them to peck at. I started that at 3 wks old and they loved it. The first day, they didn't do much but the next day, the grass was gone by the time I got home from work.

Different roosts or things for them to climb on. I had a flat topped rock in mine that they loved, apple tree branch roost, and a doweled dish rack I had leaning on its side that some loved to climb up. I would sprinkle a little scratch twice a day for them to scratch. That kept them from pecking each other because they had something to scratch.

I had ten standard sized chicks in a 169 gal stock tank with red heat lamps and NEVER had any pecking or aggression.

Good luck with your quickly growing little ones.

 

[Monk]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ , Thanks for the advice! I switched over to a red light this afternoon. I was told they won't be able to see the blood as well and seems to calm the aggression.
I wasn't sure they were ready for scratch feed and the sod tip sound great! I have been giving them Chick grit though, mixed with their feed. I also put in a higher roost in the bigger box and will add something else too, maybe the rock and an apple limb?
For the pass few hours all has been calm, no pecking! Thanks again for the fantasic advice, it is greatly appreciated!

 

[Monk]

12 o'clock and all is well, no pecking! My two victims seem to be doing well, Blue Koted and healing. The sod tip is a great distraction, they are starting to work it over pretty good now. The bigger box and red light is making a difference too. Tomorrow I'm going to introduce another chick with the victims and see how it goes and hopefully reunite all of them soon.
I'd like to thank everyone for the help. Thank You very much.

 

[Gonzo]

sound like they need more room. we have 5 rh reds in a brooder, We use a(the largest size we could find) storage container. I think it's like 30 gallons. they seem comfy for now, but I'll be putting them in the coop next week. but its a cheap way to give them room. we made lids out of wood and rabbit fence and their heat lamps hang from above. hope this helps

 

[Monk]

They were in a 2'x 3' cardboard box with a lid, wood frame and chicken wire. The new box is 2.5'x 4', hope is enough for another week or so until they are out in the coop.