Picked On Chick, New Chicken Mother Needs Help

NanazChickenz

In the Brooder
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Yesterday morning I fed our 10 chicks, about 8 week old, all appeared well. By evening , noticed the back of one named Bear had a large bare spot. I observed another chick, Goldie, pecking at Bear so all the new feathers had been pecked off. The ends of the feathers remain in the skin like when you don't get all of a sliver removed.
My questions, do I need to remove remaining feather ends and how long before new feathers grow back?
I believe the chicks have out grown the stock tank they are currently living in. I have removed Bear and another chick to another container. My daughter and I are building a very large coop but we are about a week out from completion.
 
Greetings from Kansas, NanazChickenz, and :welcome. Pleased you joined our community. I wouldn't remove the ends of the feathers....they will grow out on their own. Plus you don't want even a drop of blood to show up or the others will really go after that one. You did the right thing by separating that one out to a different brooder. If a skin wound ever does develop, a product called Blue Kote is effective in deterring further picking. Once they're in the big coop the problem may have resolved itself with the greater area - the picked on one will be better able to get away. Close confinement often results in what you're seeing with Bear and Goldie, If you're still having issues after the move to the coop here's an article on the pecking order that may lend some understanding https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/a-guide-to-understanding-the-chicken-pecking-order
And if Goldie continues after Bear or starts in on others, here's an article for that https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bullying-behavior-in-chickens
Best of luck to you!! :)
 
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Hi and welcome to BYC - you have some great advice and links from redsoxs already so I'll just say hello!

All the best
CT
 
Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you.

I think that working on a larger space for them is a great way to start, and I would also strongly recommend applying an anti-picking solution (such as Pick-No-More) to the area.
 
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Good threads to check out. I really believe that a larger area for them will help.
 

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