South Carolina

[RedBugPoultry]

I have four baby chicks, hatched out 9/15, so they are three weeks old. They are still too young to sex, but I think two maybe cockerels and two are pullets. The two that I think may be cockerels are a cross between my wh. Amer. roo and one of the BLRW hens. Here's the problem: I've never seen chicks this young be soooo aggressive! To the point where the two AMxBLRW are drawing blood and terrorizing the other two chicks (AM x EE). They have plenty of food, fresh water, and lots of room (48 x 28) with a 48" roost about 6" high.
I have separated them for now, but that's not a good long term solution. Any ideas?

Kpenley might be close on your problem, what are you feeding the chicks? Chick food? What ever you do don't mix any scratch in with their food as it brings out the already strong foraging instinct in the EE's. Also, some breeds get bored really easy due to a high energy level and without anything else to do they start feather pecking which turns to cannibalism(sp). This can be escalated also by the chicks being too warm, causing them to get even more likely to pick on their less aggressive pen mates. Splitting up is probably the best method if you can not get them in a bigger pen where they can dig, eat some grass, and just get away from each other. I had to get blinders for a pen of young birds this summer due to their feather pecking of each other. Sometimes it is just the breed....

 

[KPenley]

How do the blinders work?

 

[samouw]

Kpenley might be close on your problem, what are you feeding the chicks? Chick food? What ever you do don't mix any scratch in with their food as it brings out the already strong foraging instinct in the EE's. Also, some breeds get bored really easy due to a high energy level and without anything else to do they start feather pecking which turns to cannibalism(sp). This can be escalated also by the chicks being too warm, causing them to get even more likely to pick on their less aggressive pen mates. Splitting up is probably the best method if you can not get them in a bigger pen where they can dig, eat some grass, and just get away from each other. I had to get blinders for a pen of young birds this summer due to their feather pecking of each other. Sometimes it is just the breed....

Hmmm...I think you might have hit on it. They still have the brooder light on 24hrs, but perhaps it's time to turn it off except for night. They are inside - in my kitchen, so the warmest room in the house, too. They are on medicated starter and I've raised a bunch of chicks on this stuff and never had a problem. They do get oatmeal "treats" when they are out for their 2x daily run around the kitchen, but they don't get any scratch yet.
At any rate, the most aggressive on has been named, appropriately, Mohammed Ali.

Thanks, guys! I'll let you know how it goes over the next couple of days.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

How do the blinders work?

I use non penned blinders that kind of clip on to the birds nose. It keeps them from being able to chase the other birds so they can get away. It does not keep the bird from eating and if another bird is laying down they will reach over and grab a feather from the unsuspecting subject. The only real problem is I usually have to put blinders on everyone in the pen because when the mean birds can no long chase the others the less aggressive birds start picking back. It really does work though to keep birds from getting injured from feather pecking.



I had to leave these on the birds in this pen for a couple of months. Once I got them big enough to turn out and in a pen where I could turn them out I took off the blinders and the problem was done. I would not turn them out loose with these unless you have a really problem rooster--it works good on those too!

 

[KPenley]

Thanks RedBugPoultry! That makes sense!

 

[leirob007]

I have four baby chicks, hatched out 9/15, so they are three weeks old. They are still too young to sex, but I think two maybe cockerels and two are pullets. The two that I think may be cockerels are a cross between my wh. Amer. roo and one of the BLRW hens. Here's the problem: I've never seen chicks this young be soooo aggressive! To the point where the two AMxBLRW are drawing blood and terrorizing the other two chicks (AM x EE). They have plenty of food, fresh water, and lots of room (48 x 28) with a 48" roost about 6" high.
I have separated them for now, but that's not a good long term solution. Any ideas?

well actually they are three weeks too old to sex. so now you have to wait till the saddle feather come in.
I always advocate pulling the chicks away from the mothers and putting them in a brooder box with starter grower.
that minimizes that problem down to nothing.
I also try to keep my breeding lines as pure as possible. random mixed up bloodlines seem to enhance the trouble

 

[samouw]

well actually they are three weeks too old to sex. so now you have to wait till the saddle feather come in.
I always advocate pulling the chicks away from the mothers and putting them in a brooder box with starter grower.
that minimizes that problem down to nothing.
I also try to keep my breeding lines as pure as possible. random mixed up bloodlines seem to enhance the trouble

Yes, thank you, leirob007

These chicks were incubator-hatched, so were never with the mother. They are in a brooder and are being fed chick starter. I'm not sure which problem you are saying that would minimize?
I also keep my breeding lines pure - these are bred with the intention of creating Easter Eggers and are all in my egg layer pen - not in one of my true breeder pens.

The heat suggestion has worked! I've been able to put Mohammed Ali back in with the other three and they all seem to be getting along fine now - as long as the heat lamp is turned off.

 

[samouw]

What kind of food are they eating? I've heard that some chicks peck others because they need more protein. Could they be too hot? I hope the wounded chicks are healing in separation. *hugs*

Thank you.

You nailed it with the "too hot". Turned off the brooder lamp and they are back to being sweet little chickies.

I usually keep the brooder light on until they are just past two weeks old. Then up to three weeks and until 4 weeks, I turn it on at night and any time during the day if they are piling. That's why I like having them in my kitchen, so I can keep an eye on their progress. But, somehow - I lost track of time with these guys and forgot they were already three weeks. Sheesh - getting old is not for the faint of heart! LOL

 

[KrisH]

I am glad the first presidential debate is over, but why do the news people feel they have to tell me what I was supposed to have heard, or what they meant?

just saying


RobertH

 

[KPenley]

Thank you.

You nailed it with the "too hot". Turned off the brooder lamp and they are back to being sweet little chickies.

I usually keep the brooder light on until they are just past two weeks old. Then up to three weeks and until 4 weeks, I turn it on at night and any time during the day if they are piling. That's why I like having them in my kitchen, so I can keep an eye on their progress. But, somehow - I lost track of time with these guys and forgot they were already three weeks. Sheesh - getting old is not for the faint of heart! LOL

So happy for your safe babies!