Wellsummer chick attacking other chicks

[greylock]

I bought 9 chicks 4 1/2 weeks ago. I wanted to try a Wellsummer and so bought one. Well, the minute I put them all in their pen she started pulling feathers on the others. By 3 1/2 weeks old she was drawing blood on the other chicks. I put her in a cage by herself for this past week. The other 8 chicks were much calmer and seemed to enjoy life more.. Today I tried to put the Wellsummer back with the others. She immediately started pecking at and pulling feathers on the others and had to be taken out within minutes of putting her in. The pens are next to each other. . Is there anything I can do? I have never had this before. The 8 chicks are in a 3X3 foot puppy play pen so there should be plenty of room for their size. Thanks for any help.

 

[cicknmama]

I bought 9 chicks 4 1/2 weeks ago. I wanted to try a Wellsummer and so bought one. Well, the minute I put them all in their pen she started pulling feathers on the others. By 3 1/2 weeks old she was drawing blood on the other chicks. I put her in a cage by herself for this past week.  The other 8 chicks were much calmer and seemed to enjoy life more.. Today I tried to put the Wellsummer back with the others. She immediately started pecking at and pulling feathers on the others and had to be taken out within minutes of putting her in. The pens are next to each other. . Is there anything I can do? I have never had this before. The 8 chicks are in a 3X3 foot puppy play pen so there should be plenty of room for their size. Thanks for any help.

she may not be getting enough protein or some kind of deficiency. If you could maybe put vitamins in her water and feed her mealworms and see if her behavior might change. Not an expert,but that's what I would try.

 

[greylock]

Thanks. I will try that. The food I am feeding is Chick Starter with 21% protein. I will get some meal worms tomorrow.

 

[azygous]

I have two suggestions. One is behavior modification. Chicks are usually "disciplined" by the mother hen pecking them on the back of the neck when they get out of line. If you take the time to discipline this chick when she goes after another chick, chances are you can very quickly get her to stop this behavior. The longer it goes on, the more it becomes habit.

I would also get some Poultry Nutri-drench and give it to her to correct any nutritional imbalances she might have. She could be lacking in some specific minerals that this might correct, and it could transform her behavior.

Either or both can't hurt any.