pecked to death, in mourning

[genabeana]

This is not a question, really a blog-like posting to lament the passing of the cutest little chick, who in 2 days time was pecked to death......to the bone. I am so disgusted by my chicks right now. Which is OK, I've had quite a few get killed by various predators over the past 3 years, now for the first time, if one gets killed by a hawk or a random rare dog, I don't think I'll even care. It's a chicken eat chicken world out there, and nature is a cruel mistress. This cute little chick had literally no skin or meat on it's tail and died. It was so cute, speckled with grey legs and sort of reminded me of a turkey!

I saw blood on it's behind 2 days ago, but last night it had a bone for a tail instead of flesh and blood. I seperated it from the others then, but it was too late.

Gosh darn chickens. I'm not fond of them at all right now.

 

[chick on a stick]

Poor little chickie I noticed today that 3 of my chicks have bloody spots above their tails where they have been pecked by the others. I sprayed the wounds with blue cote, sprinkled baby powder on all the chicks and have a red light on them. I am praying that they leave the hurt ones alone. I may end up having to seperate them.

 

[MeowCluckBark]

aww I'm so sorry for your loss of your cute baby chick. Sometimes those silly chickens jsut don't seem to know common sense.

 

[epeloquin]

I am so sorry for your loss. they are so cute it is hard to see them doing something like that. Just try to remember it is just their instinct. they're not evil

 

[naakte]

I am having a huge issue with pecking amongst coop #2 the white leghorns. One chickie has a pulpy bump with no tail feathers. I took her out away from the others and sprayed blue stuff (that blue stuff is not so attractive on a white bird) she seems to be doing fine just very ugly at the moment.

coop # 1 the brown egg layers are super good to each other and most walk up to greet me and will sit on my arm ect. such a joy to have. God they are getting so big!!

Donna In branson

 

[matlock585]

That was happening with mine and I posted and got told to treat them for coccidiosis(A parasite born from their poop). It happens when they are in the brooder around all that poop. I did treat mine and only lost 2 of 20 but I have one still "in the hospital" due to being prolapsed from all the butt pecking it had to endure before I caught what was going on. That one is still healthy but I can't return it till the big red sore is gone, so I'm using hemorrhoidal ointment to treat it. The Medicine I used was corid powder ( 20% ) got it at tractor supply, it's for calves. Use 1/2 tsp per gallon for 5 days. It cost me 20 bucks but it saved my birds. You may have that going on. Mine all had diahrea before I treated them, but now after the treatment, they are doing fine. Already running the yard at only 5 weeks old.

 

[Katydid2011]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Chicks/chickens are very attracted to blood. In my opinion, it's best to separate the picked-on or injured one the moment you see even a spot of blood and keep it separate until the injury heals. I say that wanting to be helpful, not as a chastisement.

I hope you don't harden your heart. Nature is cruel and beautiful. The cruel part will always break my heart.

 

[laughingdog52]

I have 4 white leghorn chicks about 4 weeks old. I noticed some blood(picking) on one of them, I will have to check them again when I get home/maybe seperate some. I never had any trouble with the other breeds. They all have done great-friendly, etc. Thanks for the info.

 

[genabeana]

Laughingdog!!!

The "peckers" are white leghorns! The dead chick is not.

 

[SIMPleChick]

SO SORRY!!! I have 1 brooder and multiple ages of chicks, they have ALL gotten along without a problem until the last 2 and it seems NONE of the chicks have accepted them, so I built a little cover, cave type area, under the light with food and the waterer right next to it for the 2 new babies to hide under when they need to! I just can't believe how sweet they can be one second and mean as hell the next!!!