Chick pecking - cull?

[frackmomma]

I have had two new babies for about 5 days and immediately noticed the Speckled Sussex was starting to pick at the others. I kept an eye on them and my husband noticed today that my Welsummer chick is now pecked bare on her back and bleeding! We've separated the injured one and I'll pick up some anti-bac spray and blue kote when I get off work. They have plenty of room in their brooder and are being fed a medicated starter feed.

MY QUESTION - I've heard separating the bully can help. The blinder things won't work because she's so small. If you try separating and after reintegration this behavior continues, would you cull this chick? What other methods would you try first?

My first four chicks weren't mean to each other at all!

Thank you all!

 

[aart]

Don't bother with the blukote, can actually attract pecking from other birds,
and over-preening from the bird it's on.
Separate the pecker(see pics below).

How old are these chicks and what is your brooder like?
What all and how exactly are you feeding?
How are you heating them?
Pics would be of great assistance.

I use this in the brooder to confine a 'problem' chick.
Made of 1/2" hardware cloth:

Or you can just make a 'corral'(lower right) out of the same HC.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Depending on your brooder set up just a wall of hardware cloth as a separator should be fine. Obviously you'd need to provide food, water and heat access to both sides.

Since these are chicks the picking probably started due to curiosity/boredom. It doesn't know any better.

 

[frackmomma]

I tried separation over the weekend and put her back in a few times and she just went right over to the injured chick again and started pecking at the injury!
The brooder is 4'x2', heat lamp on one side so they have access to cooler areas. Feeding purina medicated chick starter with chick grit. I've provided a roost and a tray of peat moss for them to play in.
I'll try to separate in the brooder like the above post says and see how that goes.

 

[frackmomma]

I've got the chick in the same brooder with the others separated now. Question: at what point would you cull/get rid of this chick if it won't stop? I had them all together today for cleaning and she was systematically pulling feathers out of every other chick. Been separated for 4 days now.

 

[aart]

How many chicks total?
What are their ages?
Did the pecking started when you added new ones?

Sounds like a little 'monster'.
If you put another chick with the bully in the jail what does the bully do?
Trying to figure if you've got an incorrigible or not.

 

[frackmomma]

How many chicks total?
What are their ages?
Did the pecking started when you added new ones?

Sounds like a little 'monster'.
If you put another chick with the bully in the jail what does the bully do?
Trying to figure if you've got an incorrigible or not.

I've got 4 chicks in a 4' x 2' brooder and they are about 3 weeks old. They are feed store chicks I got all at the same time. I noticed her pulling feathers the second day I had them but kept an eye on it. 4 days later she had pecked the darkest one bloody. I isolated by herself for 3 days then today made a barrier within the brooder so she could see the others. Between eating/drinking she goes inside out trying to get to the other chicks. She seems neurotic!
I did put my white leghorn in with the bully and she pecked once and I immediately took back out the white leghorn.

 

[aart]

Great description.
I'd say it's time.

 

[frackmomma]

Great description.
I'd say it's time.

Thanks. I think I mainly needed reassurance that this was the right thing to do. I’m giving her to the weekend to shape up.

 

[bruceha2000]

I think the bully has already done enough damage, I'd keep it away from the others, no more chances. Maybe you can find someone who wants a chick and has older birds. This one will have to be raised near but not with them until integration time or it will get a taste of its own medicine.