Update 10/3 Baby chicks pecking each other and themselves.

crittermom · 08-27-2008, 09:02 PM

I have baby chicks that were born on August 12th. They were shipped to me and were doing fine until I put them outside in a pen a few days ago. They seem to be losing their newly formed tail feathers and some other feathers because they peck at each other and they peck at themselves. Why? Do they have some type of mite? What should I put on them to stop this? Need advice.

Ferronsgranny · 08-28-2008, 10:30 AM

The probably have lice. Get Seven dust and put it on them. Separate the most aggressive from the rest. I had at one time 4 separate pens for my chicks until they got older.

chris6351 · 08-28-2008, 11:15 AM

Do you have a heat lamp on them? They should be kept at a certain temp-I believe it starts at 90 degrees and goes down by 5 degrees per week, which means at 2 weeks they should be at around 80 degrees. If they are to cold or to hot they will peck! You could google chick care or go to Murray McMurray.com and get info.

Sunlei · 08-28-2008, 12:57 PM

I kept mine inside- in the brooder untill 5 weeks. Like the above poster said the temp will start them pecking. Once there's blood the flies and more pecking makes it worse.

They like to go outside, for the first 5 weeks I'd go outside and get grass, leaves and dirt grass clumps. The baby chicks loved to get that suff in the brooder.
It was like excited chicken wars, all of them wanted the clover flowers first!

They never pecked each other but even today one hen will get something good and run away with it to keep from the other hens.

crittermom · 08-31-2008, 06:24 PM

Thanks for the information. I had a heat lamp on them at night, but not during the day (VA humid weather----they would be "broilers"). They seem to be pecking less---will keep an eye out and buy some Seven dust, just in case.

crittermom · 10-03-2008, 08:57 PM

Out of the 12 chickens I received--- 10 are survivors. Sadly, during one of our recent hurricanes, one of the chicks was mauled by her "sisters"---I mean, killed, murdered, cannibalized. I freaked.......

my husband split the cage in half, plus we have a third cage now too---the one cage holds 2 babies, one holds 5 and one holds three

I researched and found that light colored chicks should not be placed with darker ones, that different breeds should not be housed together (now they tell me

)

I also took pads of hay and put one in each section (the chicks love to forage through the hay looking for cracked corn and scratch that I throw in once a day)---I read that this foraging keeps them from pecking at each other---seems to have worked!

I am happy to report that no one else has died and they look great---getting their feathers back etc. Thought my experience might help someone else.

BabyMay · 10-03-2008, 09:03 PM

Glad to hear they are doing better. Got any pictures? I love baby chicks.

DebT · 10-04-2008, 01:06 AM

A great resource for information on all things chicken is Backyard Chickens.com. I visited this site a lot when we hatched baby chicks for my daughter's Ag Science project last year. Post some pics when you can!
Deb

crittermom · 10-05-2008, 05:54 PM

That's exactly where I got my information. I love that site. It has really good information about everything "chicken".

kyryah · 10-11-2008, 01:01 PM

Also try using a red light rather than a white light, and provide them with fresh green grass and veggie scraps. I keep different breeds together, along with light and dark chicks with no problems. Usually pecking is a result of over crowding or a diet deficiency, or the light being too strong and irritating.

Kristina

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08-27-2008, 09:02 PM
crittermom Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,528	Update 10/3 Baby chicks pecking each other and themselves. I have baby chicks that were born on August 12th. They were shipped to me and were doing fine until I put them outside in a pen a few days ago. They seem to be losing their newly formed tail feathers and some other feathers because they peck at each other and they peck at themselves. Why? Do they have some type of mite? What should I put on them to stop this? Need advice. __________________ Peace!! I wish the people of the world could get along as well as the animals in my backyard. Last edited by crittermom : 10-03-2008 at 08:59 PM.

08-28-2008, 10:30 AM
Ferronsgranny Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Big Creek, MS Posts: 2,050	The probably have lice. Get Seven dust and put it on them. Separate the most aggressive from the rest. I had at one time 4 separate pens for my chicks until they got older. __________________ Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

08-28-2008, 11:15 AM
chris6351 Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New England Posts: 105	Do you have a heat lamp on them? They should be kept at a certain temp-I believe it starts at 90 degrees and goes down by 5 degrees per week, which means at 2 weeks they should be at around 80 degrees. If they are to cold or to hot they will peck! You could google chick care or go to Murray McMurray.com and get info. __________________ Chris "THERE IS NO KEY TO HAPPINESS, THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN"

08-28-2008, 12:57 PM
Sunlei Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 950	I kept mine inside- in the brooder untill 5 weeks. Like the above poster said the temp will start them pecking. Once there's blood the flies and more pecking makes it worse. They like to go outside, for the first 5 weeks I'd go outside and get grass, leaves and dirt grass clumps. The baby chicks loved to get that suff in the brooder. It was like excited chicken wars, all of them wanted the clover flowers first! They never pecked each other but even today one hen will get something good and run away with it to keep from the other hens.

08-31-2008, 06:24 PM
crittermom Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,528	Thanks for the information. I had a heat lamp on them at night, but not during the day (VA humid weather----they would be "broilers"). They seem to be pecking less---will keep an eye out and buy some Seven dust, just in case. __________________ Peace!! I wish the people of the world could get along as well as the animals in my backyard.

10-03-2008, 08:57 PM
crittermom Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,528	Update 10/3 Out of the 12 chickens I received--- 10 are survivors. Sadly, during one of our recent hurricanes, one of the chicks was mauled by her "sisters"---I mean, killed, murdered, cannibalized. I freaked....... my husband split the cage in half, plus we have a third cage now too---the one cage holds 2 babies, one holds 5 and one holds three I researched and found that light colored chicks should not be placed with darker ones, that different breeds should not be housed together (now they tell me) I also took pads of hay and put one in each section (the chicks love to forage through the hay looking for cracked corn and scratch that I throw in once a day)---I read that this foraging keeps them from pecking at each other---seems to have worked! I am happy to report that no one else has died and they look great---getting their feathers back etc. Thought my experience might help someone else. __________________ Peace!! I wish the people of the world could get along as well as the animals in my backyard.

10-03-2008, 09:03 PM
BabyMay Coming two Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,906	Glad to hear they are doing better. Got any pictures? I love baby chicks. __________________ Animals don't need a reason to love.

10-04-2008, 01:06 AM
DebT Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Mcdonough, Georgia Posts: 29	A great resource for information on all things chicken is Backyard Chickens.com. I visited this site a lot when we hatched baby chicks for my daughter's Ag Science project last year. Post some pics when you can! Deb

10-05-2008, 05:54 PM
crittermom Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,528	That's exactly where I got my information. I love that site. It has really good information about everything "chicken". __________________ Peace!! I wish the people of the world could get along as well as the animals in my backyard.

10-11-2008, 01:01 PM
kyryah Halter broke Join Date: May 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 67	Also try using a red light rather than a white light, and provide them with fresh green grass and veggie scraps. I keep different breeds together, along with light and dark chicks with no problems. Usually pecking is a result of over crowding or a diet deficiency, or the light being too strong and irritating. Kristina __________________ When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don't be surprised if they learn their lesson.