New chick being pinned down by other chicks...

[Muffindoodle]

Hello. I am new to chickens and have my first four chicks. The farm sent us 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes who were 1 week old and 2 Black Australorps who were 4 weeks old. The Australorps have doubled in size, but the smalles Wyandotte keeps jetting donkey kicked and pinned down by the 2 largest chicks. Is the best way to keep her safe to separate her from the 3 other chicks? The other Wyandotte thinks she is a big chick and cries incessantly when separated from the larger two... is that the best way to keep her safe? any helpful suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Muffindoodle]

Oh, the chicks are only now close to 6 weeks and 3 weeks...

 

[dfalco]

If the chick is being bullied, it's best to keep the larger chicks and smaller ones separate, until they are closer in size.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would definitely separate them as the size difference is a concern and chicks can kill each other. Depending on how you have your brooder set up, you can use something as simple as a wire partition so they can still see each other. Hopefully that will keep the littlest safe while not making her feel left out either.

 

[Muffindoodle]

Thanks for your replies. The little one died tonight. It is hard to know if it was from injury or sicknesss.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sorry to hear about the little chick, it's possible the bullies finally did it in, or it had other issues that caused the other chicks to pick on it. Do keep an eye on the other younger chick in case the older chicks end up bullying it instead.

 

[Muffindoodle]

Thanks. I will do that. Such a bummmer- she was the favorite of them all.