Tetra Tints are cannibalizing each other

[HerbLady79]

I bought 8 Tetra Tints and 8 Leghorn chicks a week ago from TSC. Tonight i checked on the chicks and the Tetras were pecking each other very aggressively. They had started on one of the leghorns ( it had a bit of blood on its tail area) .... I segregated the two species and applied Blue Kote to their wounds. Im not sure what else to do at this point, any suggestions? Is this normal for Tetras? I normally keep RI Reds so thought id branch out. Was this a mistake? Should i go ahead and cull them?

 

[Pyxis]

Sounds like they need more space. Chicks can get aggressive with each other if they're fighting over space. Blukoting the wounds was good, but you may want to get a bigger brooder and see if that helps. Also, do you use a white light or a red light? White lights can cause pecking so if you use one I would switch to red.

 

[HerbLady79]

We use red light.... Each breed has its own home right now. What a crazy night! They are cute little things.. I hope they calm down. I cant stand the thought of losing one because of this!

 

[HerbLady79]

We culled all the Tetras.. They wouldn't stop fighting.. Only two weeks old and they were trying to kill each other. I will never again make that mistake! They had plenty of room, food, and fresh water. The chick leghorns are happy now at least! I still cant figure what went wrong... I'll probably never know its a sad day.. But i learned my lesson

 

[Laingcroft]

Sorry you had to cull them. It may just be the breed. I noticed that the Tetra Tints at Tractor Supply last year all had blu-kote where they had been pecked. Every one in both brooder bins. Not worth the aggravation and losses in my mind.

 

[HerbLady79]

Thanks... I've learned my lesson! I'm gonna do a little research before i buy .. It's not worth the emotional stress!

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
this kind of behavior is avoided by large egg companies by debeaking the chicks, but I would not bother in debeaking the chicks,