So, I asked this question in another forum but I still haven't really resolved the issue so I figured I'd post it here too.
I have (8) 3-4 week old chicks from a local feed store. (I say this because only one of the brooders was marked with a hatch date, the rest I'm just guessing are around the same age.) One of my smaller Welsummer chicks is SUPER aggressive to the other chicks. Within half a day's time, she managed to peck 4 out of the 7 other chicks to the point of bleeding sores in several places (shoulder/wing area, back feathers and one has a bleeding beak.)
My chicks are all in their 4x4 coop with a 4x11 run until their larger coop arrives in 2 weeks. I have two feeders and two waterers, and they have plenty of space, roosting bars and boredom busters to keep them occupied. I was also advised to tap her on the back whenever she pecked another chick, which I tried, but by mid afternoon, the pecking was constant and the others were getting too beat up to safety leave her alone with the others. Nothing has deterred the offender, so I finally moved her into a brooder yesterday afternoon.
As of this morning, there are no further injuries on the other chicks, they're getting along just fine. My aggressive chick is NOT happy being alone and I feel so bad, but I can't have her peck all of the others to death.
Help! Any suggestions or info would be appreciated. I don't know what else to do and I've been researching with no real answers.
I have (8) 3-4 week old chicks from a local feed store. (I say this because only one of the brooders was marked with a hatch date, the rest I'm just guessing are around the same age.) One of my smaller Welsummer chicks is SUPER aggressive to the other chicks. Within half a day's time, she managed to peck 4 out of the 7 other chicks to the point of bleeding sores in several places (shoulder/wing area, back feathers and one has a bleeding beak.)
My chicks are all in their 4x4 coop with a 4x11 run until their larger coop arrives in 2 weeks. I have two feeders and two waterers, and they have plenty of space, roosting bars and boredom busters to keep them occupied. I was also advised to tap her on the back whenever she pecked another chick, which I tried, but by mid afternoon, the pecking was constant and the others were getting too beat up to safety leave her alone with the others. Nothing has deterred the offender, so I finally moved her into a brooder yesterday afternoon.
As of this morning, there are no further injuries on the other chicks, they're getting along just fine. My aggressive chick is NOT happy being alone and I feel so bad, but I can't have her peck all of the others to death.
Help! Any suggestions or info would be appreciated. I don't know what else to do and I've been researching with no real answers.
