One chick is attacking another chick

[cafarmgirl]

OP mentioned they free range with the broody.

I would try the anti-pick spray or I would separate out the aggressive chick for a time out. Keep it out several days and then try putting her back out and see how things go. I'd remove the aggressive one, not the one being attacked. If you take the one being attacked out you will have a much harder time getting it re-integrated. Pull that aggressive one, give her a good time out for a few days and see if she has an attitude adjustment when she goes back.

 

[Eamon CP]

Thanks a million will do!!

 

[centrarchid]

OP mentioned they free range with the broody. 

I would try the anti-pick spray or I would separate out the aggressive chick for a time out.  Keep it out several days and then try putting her back out and see how things go.  I'd remove the aggressive one, not the one being attacked.  If you take the one being attacked out you will have a much harder time getting it re-integrated.   Pull that aggressive one, give her a good time out for a few days and see if she has an attitude adjustment when she goes back.

Free-range on a well managed lawn can be very similar nutritionally to a sawdust covered floor. Or if area is extensively picked over by adults.

 

[CollegeChicken]

I am having a similar problem..I have several chicks and for some reason the little white crested black polish is getting picked on. He is being pecked where his crest feathers are emerging on his head. Interesting thing is that although they are a mixed bunch I have two other polish chicks ( one buff porcelain, and one Silver Spangled ) and no one else is picking on their emerging crests....The chicks turned two weeks old today so I moved them into a pen that was twice the size of their baby pen and added a long food trough made for chicks instead of just a feed dish. Im hoping with all the extra room and the long feeder with plenty of feed holes, that it will keep everyone distracted and poor polish chick will get left alone!

 

[Brooke78]

I'm having the same problem I have a little barred cochin that is smaller than all the others it peeps all the time and is now being pecked at ! When I take it out it just peeps louder and nonstop ! It almost seems as if it's become an outcast any suggestions ?

 

[happyhens1972]

ANTI PECKING SPRAY!

 

[CollegeChicken]

use medication on the chicks wounds like the purple antibacterial spray commonly used and available at feed stores, or silver sulfadiazine which works AMAZINGLY well on birds...apply it at night and shut off all lights except for the red heat lamp bulb. The combination of using soley red lighting and applying the cream should keep the other chicks away from the area for the night. During the day chicks need adequate lighting to promote good appetite and activity. That is why I use the red bulb/medication treatment overnight only. It is ideal to figure out if one chick inparticular is THE bully and if so remove them for a few days. Removing the victimized chick is the last thing you want to do because often times trying to re-introduce them can be a disaster. If the chick is getting badly injured then it must be separated. IF at this point it is a mild case of chronic bullying then do three days of the nightly treatments described above. Hopefully the chick will heal enough for the other chicks to lose interest in it.