Worried!!!

[adeechickluv]

I am sooo worried about my baby chicks! My Plymouth Rock is about a week (and maybe a half) older than the others. She's flighty, aggressive, and incredibly smart. She flies to sit on top of the feeder and rests their all day.
All of my chicks have a habit of pecking at the cedar shavings of their bedding. Especially PR. She has taken a liking to it SO much that she's started to peck at my Buff Orpington, who is around the same color. Or maybe she just likes pecking at her!!

PR flies around abruptly and squawks and then chases poor Buff into a corner until she pecks at her. I have checked Buff but she doesn't seem to have any blood, which is good, but you know ...
I am also guessing that PR is a rooster. She has almost all her feathers grown in at 3 weeks of age. Her comb is growing as well. I'll post pictures soon!
Thanks!!
-Adrienne

 

[triggfamily5]

CEDAR SHAVINGS -- better take that out and put in pine or something. Cedar is BAD for them..

 

[bock]

Quote:
Uhoh, I have always used TSC shavings!

 

[pdsavage]

And use a red light....

 

[adeechickluv]

Gah I'm sorry. I just went down and checked the bedding (from all the complaints) and it IS pine. My mistake. I am using a red light as well.

 

[underground chickenman]

Are they too hot? The temp should be about 95 for the first week and then reduced by 5 degrees per week for about 6 weeks. Those temps are not for the whole brooder. The chicks should be able to move to a cooler area if they want. Which brings up the next question.

Are they too crowded? As they grow, they need more space. I have found that mine do the most picking at each other at that age where they are really getting too big for the brooder, but not quite ready for the coop and outdoors, or around 6 to 8 weeks. Make sure the space they are in is adequate for their size and number.

Are you feeding them something other than starter feed? They need protein and although it is okay to give them treats occasionally, if you give them too much, it can throw off the nutritional balance supplied by chick feed. Also make sure your feeding a good brand. I like Purina Start n Grow, but there are others.

I wouldn't worry about the roosting on the feeder as long as they can't poop in it. I would put in a small roost that is slightly higher than the feeder. They will probably start roosting on that. I also wouldn't worry about the pecking the litter. It's normal for them to peck and scratch in their litter. That's what chickens do.

If the pecking really gets out of hand or causes an injury, you may need to separate the pecker from the peckee.

UGCM