New member with a problem

[wheatnroses]

Hi there to everyone here in chicken land. I am a new member, all though I have been lurking for a little while now. It is great to have a site where we all have a common love and able to help one another. I have learned so much from all of you Thank you. I am hoping someone can help me with something that is happening to my 4 week old chicks. they are eating feathers, to the point of killing one another. They are pecking holes in the skin but none of which seem to me could be fatal however the little chick is all but naked of feathers none of which are left lying around in the pen so they must be eating them. Can someone tell me why this is happening?? I have separated one little pullet but this morning I found the second naked and dead chick. Please, anyone have any suggestions??

 

[cerridwenn]

get the naked ones away from the others and keep them warm until the feathers grow back, as if they were infants again. if you can, give the others more space to move around or let them outside maybe. if you can't, put some toys or things in to distract them from pecking each other. there is a medicine you can get that sometimes keeps them from pecking as well, your feed store people will know what it is. blue-coat or something like that. fresh greens usually distracts them, or things they can scratch at. i wouldn't know anything to do other than that.

 

[MCCmomof3]

Hello Wheatnroses,

I am new to the whole chicken experience as well, but I read in one of the books I got from the library about raising chickens, that feather eating can be due to lack of space as well as possible lack of protein. The feathers are very high in protein. I got a special chick forage cake (known as a "Baby Cake") from an online poultry supply store and put it in their brooder. It gives them a little extra protein and a little extra something to do (they love to peck at it). Like I said, I am NO expert by any means...but it has kept my chicks happy.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

What percentage of protein are you on?

Also, are the babies still under a heat lamp? If yes, what color, red or white?

 

[wheatnroses]

Thank You for the information. The 4 week old chicks are o were 36 chicks in a 6x10 pen with pine shavings on the floor. I am feeding a commercial medicated chick starter with 20% protein. as for colors there are speckeled sussex, RIR, Black Minorcas, barred rocks, and the chicks that are being pecked on and the two killed were delaware chicks. The chicks are feathered out now and no longer under a heat lamp, but I use only red lamp lights.

 

[Rooster#3]

enjoy!

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!