Two week old pullets still pecking each others feathers off

[LynneP]

Are they receiving standard starter feed ? Just wondering if their protein level is high enough...

 

[sherrydeanne]

If you don't want to let them run around, how about a few new sticks, some leaves, or some treats to occupy them a bit? Couldn't hurt.

 

[Lucy4]

Quote:
This cracks me up.

One of my orps is a little troublemaker, and dang, she really could use some jailtime.

 

[cmom]

I think a lot of BYC members keep their brooders in their houses. I keep mine out in my barn. I don't know if that makes a difference. I haven't had any pecking issues. I do keep a tray of pine shaving in the brooder so they have something to scratch, peck at and sleep in is they desire. I clean the tray out daily. There are pictures on my BYC Page.

 

[gritsar]

In my admittedly limited experience I believe the sooner you can get them off their heat lamp and outside the better.
They are not hothouse plants, they're livestock.
If Mama was raising them she'd have them out early; always watchful that they weren't getting too cold.
I didn't brood my chicks in the house and I don't ever intend to.

 

[kristenm1975]

Some good questions...and answers. The brooder is outdoors. (I posted a picture of it under the coop section last night, but don't know how to put the same pic here without having to upload it again and use up my space for pics)

As I live on Whidbey Island in the great (soggy) Pacific NW, the temp has been hovering around 40 during the day and around 35 at night, so quite chilly.

I have two clear heat bulbs and one red in the brooder and the floor is 1/2 inch hardware cloth, but with sections of plywood under the heat lamps to prevent injury if they huddle a bit under there.

They are on regular chick starter with no treats, just water. I have a limb for a roost that has all sorts of interesting little bits of moss growing on it and long strips of wide bark peeling off in sections. Sounds like it ought to keep them busy at least for a while.

The main chicks really being pecked up are the darker colored ones, right on their backs. I think its the two austrlorps.

Hope that helps with the questions. I'll try removing one of the clear heat lamps tonight and see if that makes a difference.


Thanks!

 

[Judy]

I'd sure get the white light out of there, esp. at night. Some get away with it but others say it encourages pecking.

Agree with others here, 95-100 for a week old, etc. is way too warm. If they don't pile on top of one another, they are warm enough.

Some people put tea tree oil or Vicks vaporub on pecked spots to discourage more pecking. Idea is it tastes bad.

 

[kristenm1975]

ooh, excellent idea ddawn. I have tea tree oil and that sounds like a nice dual-purpose treatment. Helps heal the wound and sure as heck tastes gross and may discourage more pecking. If I can catch the little buggers tonight, I'll put that on them.

Thanks!

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
Vvaporu on a sore? now THAT's got to sting.. makes my eyes water just to think about it. whooey!!

 

[melissastraka]

If you are in the Pacific NW like me, it is way too cold to take the babies outside on a playdate. Not to mention the rain! I thought it was suppose to be spring? So much for global warming..LOL