10 chicks hatched under a broody 2 days ago. All were doing great.
Today I heard on chicks cheeping a lot.. so I went to take a look at them.
I found one bleeding from both its wings.
The other chicks (or mother hen) have stripped the back of each of its wings or all the fluff and emerging feathers and both wings are covered in blood.. It also has small wounds under each 'arm pit' area.
Its the only chick that this has happened too. All the other are perfect.
Why did this happen? Why the wings and why both of them?
In the past I sometimes has a chick or pullet get a bit plucked around the base of its tail. But never any blood or lasting damage.
I have taken it out and housed it with 'old faithful' mother hen who just loves any babies.. and she is doing a great job as a foster mum.
The chicks seems very bright and I am sure its going to recover.
I was just shocked that this happened and don't understand why.
Is there anything I can do to prevent this happening again? Can I put something in the pen to keep them occupied pecking at?
Thanks.
Today I heard on chicks cheeping a lot.. so I went to take a look at them.
I found one bleeding from both its wings.
The other chicks (or mother hen) have stripped the back of each of its wings or all the fluff and emerging feathers and both wings are covered in blood.. It also has small wounds under each 'arm pit' area.
Its the only chick that this has happened too. All the other are perfect.
Why did this happen? Why the wings and why both of them?
In the past I sometimes has a chick or pullet get a bit plucked around the base of its tail. But never any blood or lasting damage.
I have taken it out and housed it with 'old faithful' mother hen who just loves any babies.. and she is doing a great job as a foster mum.
The chicks seems very bright and I am sure its going to recover.
I was just shocked that this happened and don't understand why.
Is there anything I can do to prevent this happening again? Can I put something in the pen to keep them occupied pecking at?
Thanks.