Newbie needs help!!!

[bill_43527]

I am a newbie who has got my first 30 chicks in mid march.

I've been reading the forums for a few months now.

No major problems, some pecking but seperated injured until they healed.

They have been in a 12'x12' coop for three weeks now.
The first week in the coop I had two dead chickens with there vents pecked out.

I was very discouraged but got rid of them and continued on.

This morning I fed the chickens as usual and went to work. This evening I went out to check on them and feed them again. There was another dead chickwith her vent pecked out.

Any Ideas? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks for any advice....

 

[Chickaroo!]

I just posted a question about some stuff that is suppose to help prevent pecking. I cannot remember what it's called, but maybe someone will reply and then you can see that thread.

 

[MissPrissy]

They may not be getting enough to eat. When you say you go out to feed them I take it as you are rationing what you think they need to eat. For chickens it is best to have big feeders and keep them full. They will eat all they need and won't over eat. You can offer them vegetable and meat scraps from your kitchen as well as cooked white rice with yogurt and chopped boiled egg. Add some raw apple cidar vinegar to their water for a good immune boost.

Once the chicks see a broken skin place with red blood they will not relent. They are drawn to it. The more they peck and pick the worse it gets and they will eat another chicken. Sad but true.

From the information you have posted I am initially led to think they are hungry.

 

[bill_43527]

I just don't understand,when I check on them they are all perfectlt healthy. It seems to happen in just a few hours. Like they are being ganged up and attacked....

 

[bill_43527]

That could be Miss Priss, When I come home to feed them sometimes there feeder is empty.

I will get them a bigger feeder and follow your instructions.

I really hope this works, it stinks to learn the hard way....

Thanks Miss Priss!

 

[MissPrissy]

I have 12 nine week olds in my nursery coop. I have a 22lbs hanging feeder. I have to fill it every week. If I notice it is getting low when I am out and about during the day I'll go ahead and top it off. Chicks grow so fast they really need the feed to be available at all times.

 

[ruth]

Do you have a run for them to go outside or have they literally been in a 12x12 coop (30 chickens) for three weeks now? That sounds awfully overcrowded if they can't run around and if there isn't enough food...well, like Miss Prissy said - they will eat one another - a hard habit to break.

 

[bill_43527]

OK,
I purchased a 30# hanging feeder to go with the two one gallon waterers I already had.

As far as the space goes the 12x12 coop = 144sq ft.
I now have 27 chickens (minus the three that didn't make it.

That calculates out to 5.33 sq ft per bird. Is that not enough? I did research area requirements before purchasing the chicks, and I read 3-4sq ft per chicken was a rule of thumb.
I do have windows in the coop and the run will be complete in a week. I am making it a 12'x12' run.

I hope I haven't done any irreversable damage.....

Thanks for the advice!

 

[ruth]

While, by the book, it's enough coop space - but they need to get out of the coop or they'll go crazy. If they haven't had a run or been out of coop since mid-March that's the problem.