theres allways a bully.. Updated

[gabrielle1976]

I no longer think Peeping is cute.... the poor things are gonna peep themselves to death. I dont get it Atilla was the one that pecked everything in site so why is she now soooo upset by being by herself and the other one didnt start peeping till she had been at it for awhile so i think red would stop peeping if Atilla would... Heres to Ear plugs...

 

[SussexInSeattle]

As I stated, they are flock animals and were hatched to be with other birds. You need to understand that Atilla does NOT know that she is a killer. All she knows is that she needs to find her way back to her flock and the way they do this is a series of calls. ALL of this is simply nature. It is not a daycare in there of little humans, they are animals with all the animal instincts. If you really are having this bad of a time, maybe you could get the feed store to take them all back in the morning? Just be sure to tell them that the one has killed another chick so someone can trim it's beak.

 

[JudyH]

I am keeping my little MEANY separated for a while. I've read here on the forum that some people have done this for a day or two and then added the mean chickie back to the rest of the group and it does well again.

 

[flakey chick]

See if you cant use some kind of see-through divider, maybe cage wire? Maybe just cut a window or two in the cardboard divider.

 

[gabrielle1976]

Thank you evryone for all the advice and saport.

Regardless of how fed up I get when I am tired animals are not disposible and I would not just give them away for conveniance.
I reinroduced atilla with red for they peepd way into the wee hours of the morning:/
They slept well and no one is hurt this morning but I willl still be going to get the red light and when I leave I will seprate them again till I get back.

 

[L*A*G*]

the smallest 1 is the bully

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Quote:
This may sound strange, but I would not be so certain that 'Atilla' is a killer. sick birds are often the targets of pecking. The dead chick may have been ill before Atilla began her own onslaught! a weak or sick chick is not able to get away from a bully, or becomes weaker sooner.

I would want to know a lot more about your brooder. What are you feeding? you mentioned egg?! what is your brooder? cage, crate, room? What temp do you have the brooder at? is the light a heat light or just a bulb. Where are you taking your temp reading from, under the light, or on the edge of the brooder?

There are a lot of variables here that can cause the death of chick in very little time. and just because attilla was pecking at a sick chick doesnt mean she killed it. The fact that she was pecking at it does possibly point to many other things tho. Chicks peck at things to get a taste. lots of different things for them to peck at will diminish the amount of pecking they do on each other! Veggies, (Broccolli is a good one!) will give them something to pick at. Scratch feed spread out on the brooder floor is also stimulating!

Find out what Atilla is searching for as chickens are not 'mean', just doing what instinct tells them.

Good Luck.

 

[gabrielle1976]

I have them in one of those really big utility tubs the round ones. I have a heat light / lamp its a clear one will be picking up a red one today hopefully<was gonna walk down cause i dont drive but irs raining pretty bad and i wont walk with my 3 year old in the rain at 35 F> so hopefully I will get a ride.
I have a thermometer in there for an hour at t a time every time I go in there I dont leave it in cause im afraid the chicks will manage to break the glass on it or something but it reads between 95-97 at chick level after it warms up <the feed store told me they should be at about 95 for the first week>.
They have a feeder and a waterer, they have the chick scratch the feed store sold me that I am devious about cause it seems to be just smushed corn , so on my next trip to get the light I will be asking htem about chick feed in more detail and makeing shure its the right stuff. Someone told me I could give them smushed up egg so I did last night. they are 5 days old today, if its safe ill get them some brocili and give them some more egg today as well.
Oh and they have hay for bedding. About two inches on the bottom of the tub.

 

[gritsar]

Gabrielle, sorry about losing the little one. I had a feeling it would come to that.
I think switching to the red bulb will make a world of difference.
Just make sure the feed you get is chick starter, not scratch. A feed store employee should at least know the difference between the two and get your red heat bulb and let us know how it goes.
ETA: I would skip the brocolli right now. To feed that you're going to need some grit and you have enough to handle just trying to get those chicks straightened out. Chick starter, clean water, and a red heat bulb would be good starts.

 

[gabrielle1976]

Thank you.

Atilla also seems to think that Red's toes are little juicey worms but so far she hasnt hurt them at all.
Im trying to track down my sister to see if she can pick up the stuff from the feed store on her lunch break science she works about 3 blocks away.
Do you think its a good idea for me to keep them sepret while I am gone or would that be to stressfull science red seems to be holding his own with attila at the moment?