One-day-old Cannibal - HELP

[redblack10]

This is my third batch of hatchlings - all pullets. I have never seen this. I brought home 5 Ameraucanas, 2 Rhode Island Reds, and 2 Buff Orpingtons. The smaller Red, within 2 hours, pecked at both Buffs, dragging each, until she had bloodied their vents. I separated the 2 Reds, and all seemed fine for a couple of hours. The aggressor just started in on her Red buddy, until she created a tiny wound behind each eye. I put the buddy back with the others, and added a mirror to the solo Red, who is now chirping miserably. I fear I must eliminate the aggressor, but I would love any advice! Thanks!

 

[applebutter14]

that sounds bad!!! when i got my chicks 1 off them was being a bully by pecking at the other.. what i did to make her stop was i separated her but i kept her in the same cage so she could still see the others, i only did that for about a day, then every time she would peck at the others i would flick her beak, not hard but she new i meant business! and in about 2 or 3 days she stopped,


do you have a red heat lamb bulb? they are supposed to help with the pecking.

 

[redblack10]

I switched immediately to a red bulb, but it made no difference. I like your idea of letting her see the others. I am going to go fix that, now.

 

[applebutter14]

im glad i could help, i hope it works for you.. its sad to see your little ones being mean to each other.

 

[OldMissionChick]

Same with my ducklings, but they are 4 weeks old. One (the smallest of the ducks) started yanking feathers on the other birds. So I put a piece of chicken wire to separate it from the rest of the flock.

 

[redblack10]

I wouldn't mind so much if they were a few weeks old. I just cut an opening in a box for the bully and taped it to the side of the large aquarium where the flock will be for about a week. I gave her a little stuffed animal and her mirror. At least she has stopped chirping. She pecks the glass - so do the others - maybe that will stop her bullying. I will reintroduce the bully, when I move them all to the next pen. this is tough.

 

[applebutter14]

im sorry you even have to do this... ill pray for the little bully to stop being mean. do you have names for your chicks yet?

 

[redblack10]

My granddaughter has begun to name them, but nothing has stuck, yet. My older girls are Spike, Ruby, Ducky, Bandanna, Sponge Pudding, Robin, Alexia, and Grabbly. I plan to try your behavioral approach, before I give up, but I must wait for the three injured ones to heal completely. From your signature, it seems you have a rainbow of birds to enjoy.

 

[applebutter14]

yes! i got them from murray mcmurray hatchery feb. 7th of this year. i'll private message you some pictures of them when they were babies, along with their names.

 

[azygous]

You have done what I would have done in your situation. I know it's terribly frustrating.

In addition to what you've done, if you can figure out a way to darken the light at night to give them rest and reprieve, it will lessen the stress of their environment. I drape a dark red cotton cloth over the brooder to shield the chicks from the light. Even a red light adds stress.

Do you have some marbles? Bright, shiny marbles scattered about the brooder can divert the attention of a high strung chick. I would remove this stimulus at the end of the day, though.

It's good the chick can now see the others. But a chick also needs to satisfy its thigmotactic urges for warmth and contact, especially during this first week. I had a seriously injured chick I segregated from the others so they wouldn't pick her wound, but she was terribly lonely. I did as you did and taped her brooder box to theirs with a pass-though covered with window screen. She could talk to her mates, and at night they would bunch up against the screen on their side and she would press up against them on her side, effectively joining the pile of sleeping chicks. Eventually, out of relentless determination to rejoin her mates, she managed to break through the screen, and I found her in the middle of the pile the next morning. I left her with them and they left her wound completely alone.

It would be good for your problem chick to provide this opportunity, if your can, for closeness and warmth. I don't think you'll have to segregate this chick for more than another 24 hours, though. Try letting it back with the others after a day and night apart and see how it does. Introduce the marbles for diversion, and you may no longer have a problem.

Blu-kote on the injuries will camouflage them so the chicks will leave the wounds alone, by the way.