Need info. about....

[Jen4]

I was checking the chicks and seen that they where pecking on the butt of another one and theres alittle blood... I removed the chick and put it in another container with food and water. What do I do..... why are they pecking on this one chick? I've had them for 3 weeks tomorrow and they've done great with each other... do you think its cause they are running out of room in their container?

Thank you

 

[meriruka]

Sometimes, if they are crowded or bored, they will feather pick. Try giving them more room and some blades of grass or something to peck at......

 

[Jen4]

Ok... Thanks

 

[Lunachick]

I am concerned this might happen to mine as well. I was just on another thread and someone suggested putting a live cricket (from the pet store) in there to amuse them and they get some good protein too. I suppose it's time to think of toys and stuff for entertainment.

 

[RendonRoo]

I've used some stuff call No Peck from the feed store. It apparently taste bad and also has stuff to help heal. I found that the chicks that i've used it on try to get it off but it seems to help. That is about the same age that mine started and i think it was overcrowding and boredom. Now that my flock is in the coop and run they still pick at each other some but i think that's a normal part of the "pecking order" thing. Good Luck and Welcome to BYC

 

[Jen4]

I am sooo ready to move them to the coop.... but we dont have it built yet. We have the chicken run built, so I'm sitting here racking my brain about what I could use as a coop for 32 chicks...........

 

[meriruka]

I use big plastic storage totes, about 12 chicks in each.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

How big a space do you have 32 3 week old chicks in? Are you using a red light?

I had mine in a 162 gal stock tank with red heat lamps. Roosts and rock to climb on. At 3 wks when I introduced snacks and grit, I put clumps of sod for them to pick at when they were awake.

I consider myself lucky that none of mine picked on each other BUT I only had ten chicks. I can't imagine having 32 of them. As they get bigger, you'll need a HUGE brooder.

Good luck.

 

[RendonRoo]

Jen 4. I'm in about the same situation. I have a coop and run that will house between 12 and 15. Somehow i've ended up with 27 chicks(6 are roos for the freezer) but i will still have too many. I will be building another coop and run this summer.LOL... For a quick fix you might try craigslist. I've been seeing portable buildings for free if you go get them. I don't know what shape their in but it would be worth checking out. Good Luck.

 

[Jen4]

Thanks guys...
My husband just told me he is picking up the wood for the coop today when he gets off work... but its still going to take us days... weeks or a weekend to build it. Hoping the weather is going to be great this weekend. Hoping the chicks can hold off a couple more days or I'll think of something for them.