2 week old chick pecked badly!!

[UllaBee]

We woke up this morning to lots of squawking, and found one of our chicks being chased and pecked by the rest of the chicks. Thankfully she can really run, that's how she got her name, "Road Runner" (even though it isn't very feminine). Once picked up we noticed that she was bleeding pretty badly from the neck.

It was hard to get a good look with her moving so much, but I am pretty sure there is no open wound (as in a cut), but there was a fair amount of blood. We washed it with an antibacterial wash, and applied neosporin the best we could. Is that enough? By the way "she" turned 2 weeks yesterday (according to the hatchery's "hatch date"). Here's a look at it:





And we made her a temporary chick hospital to seperate her from the rest:



*1. My first question is, what happened? I know it is normal for them to do that once they see blood, but what started it???

I don't think it's overcrowding,because two days ago we moved them from this 1.5' x 3' trough:



to this 5'x3' brooder that my (incredibly awesome) husband built:



So they should have plenty of space (btw, there was no real pecking going on even when they were in the small one).
We keep the top on it when we are not there so they don't fly out, but we were careful to only staple the wire mesh to the outside so there would be no rough/sharp edges. I have looked and can not find anything sharp in there.

*2. How long will she need to be seperated? The poor thing is lonely and keeps calling to the others. Is it safe when there is no longer any blood? Or do we need to wait for the feathers to regrow? I would hate to put her back, only to have them rip it up again.

3. Now that they are 2 weeks old and the temps are above 80 here, can I keep this one with me so I can keep an eye on her? I know i'ts warm enough, but will the breeze from an open window or air from a fan (indirect, of course) hurt her, or is the breeze only bad if it's cold out?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

 

[Leslieb118]

I had some that pecked on 3 of my chicks. I had to keep them separated for quite some time, because even though I put Blue Kote on them to discourage it, they still got pecked. Only in a different spot. I had 1 instigator in that brood that just wouldn't leave those 3 alone. It would be ideal if you could put a couple of chicks in with the lonely one, but if you did that, you'd need to put blue kote on the chick first and find a couple of chicks that aren't bullies. The chicks I separated did not pick on each other at all. I also switched the brand of chick starter I had them on. The one they started out on had 20% or less protein in it. (I can't remember exactly). I switched to one that had 24%. All of this is only my experience though. Someone else may come along with a better idea. Good luck!

 

[UllaBee]

Thank you for your response! So you think the lower protein makes them peck? I will have to check our feed to see what it is. I did think of moving over another chick or two in with her, but I was afraid that all of them would want to pick with that much blood. I don't have any Blue Kote, hadn't even heard of it until today (read about it in another thread). It sounded like it was used for an antiseptic, but is sounds like you are saying that it will discourage picking, so would that be because of the color? Does it disguise the wound then?

 

[Leslieb118]

Chickens are attracted to the color red, and they are cannibalistic as well. Once they draw blood, they don't stop. I had 3 white birds covered in purple, and it's still growing out at a little over 3 months. You can get Blue Kote at Tractor Supply and I'm sure most other feed stores. I wouldn't move any chicks in with her unless you put some on her. Even if they're not the ones that started the picking, they'll be attracted to it and continue to do so.
Low levels of protein are associated with feather picking, so I checked the protein on the feed bag and it was either 18 or 20%. It was a medicated chick starter. I found a different brand that had higher protein in it and I didn't have any problems after that.

 

[UllaBee]

I won't be able to get blue kote until tomorrow, and this poor chick just keeps chirping and won't settle down unless I hold her, but I need to do something around here! Not to mention she keeps trying to fly off, and I don't want her to get hurt anymore or poop all over my house! lol I'm also afraid that she isn't eating/drinking while I keep holding her.

 

[Leslieb118]

Do you have a little stuffed animal you can put in with her? Maybe she'll snuggle up with it until you can get a couple of the others in with her.

 

[UllaBee]

I'll try that! What a cute idea!!

 

[Leslieb118]

I hope it works!!

 

[UllaBee]

I did check the feed and it is 20% protein. There have been no other incidents beside this one (before or since). Some of the chicks sort-of peck at each other, but not really biting or pulling any feathers out, it looks like they are just grooming each other. No one minds it, or runs, or pecks back or anything. I think she must have gotten hurt somehow and then they all pecked because of the blood. I just can't figure out how she got hurt to begin with.

I also gave her two small stuffed lovies in her box, and after chirping for a while, she finally settled down between them and got some sleep. She seems better today. I still haven't made it to the store yet for the blue kote, I have waited all day on the inconsiderate washing machine repairman who said he would come around noon, then 12:30, then running a couple hours behind... and now its after 6 and I am giving up!!!

Thank you for all the advice yesterday.

 

[peepmommy]

I can't really help, but I usually will hang a feather duster in the brooder, just enough for the little ones to get under it... Good replacement mom