Welsummer chick picking ( pecking ) on other chicks

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

I'm sorry to hear about your aggressive chick! Some chicks are naturally more aggressive than others. This usually changes by the time they grow up (at least in my experience). How much space do your chicks have? Overcrowding occasionally leads to picking. Also, what heat source are you using? Using white heat lamps may increase the risk of feather plucking (red heat lamp is better).

 

[greylock]

They have a red lamp heat source. Right now they are in my air-conditioned garage in a 3 X3 puppy play pen. It seems to be plenty of room for their size this week. I will be moving them outside hopefully next week at 4 weeks old. ( Have to check the weather to see how far the temps are going to drop at night.) This hen has been pulling feathers out of the other chicks since I brought her home at 2 or 3 days old. At that time I did have them in a Large Rubbermaid tub that I set into the 3X3 foot pen in order to keep them warm. They outgrew the tub a while back and are now running around the 3X3. Now that I have her alone everyone ( other than her) sees to be very happy and much more settled. I am hoping she outgrows this as you said she might. I have new chicks about every spring and have never had this happen. About how old are they when they outgrow this nasty behavior?

 

[greylock]

I posted about the Wellsummer chick from hell last week. I have had her separate from the other chicks for a week now. Today I tried to put her back in with the other 8 chicks and she immediately started to attack worse than ever. Once again she was pulling out feathers and upset all the other chicks. I really wanted to add a Wellsummer to my flock but am worried about this one. Do you think I should give it more time or do you think it is hopeless for her? Is there anything else I can try?