White Wyandottes getting pecked

[KLCRollins]

We have 8 chicks...4 white wyandottes and 4 red sex links...that are about 4 weeks old. I noticed today that the tail feathers coming in on the wyandottes are red and a little bloody. They are in a 6x2 brooder. Should I try and put Pick No More on the wyandottes? Is it possible they need more protein? Can you give chicks BOSS? Is that too small of a brooder?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[applefalls]

Are you using a red light with little other light in the brooder? The red will help disguise the blood.

 

[KLCRollins]

Thanks for your reply!

We were just using a regular bulb, but we decided to go ahead and remove that. I think I've about decided that they are just bored. The bottom of their brooder is wire, so they have nothing to scratch around in and spend most of their time just sitting (or pecking one another) when they aren't eating. I put a tray of play sand inside, and plan on letting them out in a small enclosed run during the warmest part of the day. Hopefully that will end their boredom.

 

[applefalls]

Good thinking! You can put a few bricks and sticks in their area, too, to give them a playground to occupy them.