Should I be concerned?

[scrambledmess]

I bought 10 pullets from TSC. Well, one of them is constantly attacking the others. It has pecked off the growing tail feathers of two of the other pullets. I have them in a large plastic storage tub. Is this tub too small already? Do you think this chick is stressed? Or do you think it could turn into a bullying hen and pick on the others all the time?

This picture was taken just a few minutes ago. The chick that is doing the pecking is the black one with the yellow beak. I don't know its breed.

 

[HennyJenny]

Scrambled - that seems like a lot of growing chickens in a smallish space. If she's bothered by the close quarters and that's why she's pecking - it won't get better until they get more space. If the space is big enough - maybe they are just working things out. The fact that she's picking tail feathers would bother me some.

Jenny

 

[silkiechicken]

I'd probably get them at least a 3x4 kennel or something at that size. They look about 3 weeks old. Had two at that age in a 18 x 18 box for one night for travel to Washington, and they picked each other bloody on the backs in just 12 hours. Just squirted some blue kote on them and let them go live in a 2x4 outdoor brooder and since have grown feathers back without picking.

 

[Terri O]

What temperature are you at? Sometimes if it is too high they will pick at each other.

 

[scrambledmess]

I have another tub. I will see what others say. But I quess, I will need to go get another waterer and feeder and seperate them tomorrow.

 

[scrambledmess]

I am not sure the temp. I have a white light on them. They sleep under the light, but don't huddle real close. They don't seem to prefer one spot over another in the tub other then when they sleep.

 

[Makenziejh]

I had that problem too. I had about eleven chicks in a tub, they were fine for the first couple weeks, but then a couple of the larger ones started picking on the others. I eventually took the trouble chicks and put them in a seperate tub with a couple others. The fighting stopped and they were happy

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I'd give them more space and switch to a red light.

 

[chickpip]

Quote:
One of the big reasons I personally don't use white lights is because it causes pecking etc. I would switch to a red heat lamp you can find at the pet store. I would also give them some more space? GOOD LUCK!

 

[scrambledmess]

Thanks everyone for your quick responses. We will be fixing things tomorrow.