Chick pecking - cull?

[jolenesdad]

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:
View attachment 1703467

Or you can just make a 'corral'(lower right) out of the same HC.
View attachment 1703471

Omg @aart I love this problem chick separator.

 

[DobieLover]

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:
View attachment 1703467

Or you can just make a 'corral'(lower right) out of the same HC.
View attachment 1703471

Juvenile detention facility! Cool.

 

[frackmomma]

I got more feed back from another long time chicken owner who says to keep them separated until they are bigger and try integrating outside where they will have more room. Maybe I'll wait longer to cull.

 

[aart]

I got more feed back from another long time chicken owner who says to keep them separated until they are bigger and try integrating outside where they will have more room. Maybe I'll wait longer to cull.

I was kinda thinking the same thing.
Had 3 groups of chicks at one point with a 6 week age span,
took weeks and weeks to integrate them all. In a split brooder at night and day pen during the day. Had a couple nasty ones, that got put back in brooder when they got mean in day pen. No singles tho.

 

[frackmomma]

I have two groups now,four 9 weekers in my garage and these four 3 weekers. Perhaps when I start integrating them all, the bully will shape up. I’ll give it more time.

 

[SueT]

What about putting the bully in with the big kids? Maybe they'd teach her some manners....

 

[bruceha2000]

I don't think chickens think that way. I have a 2015 EE that was bottom of the flock. When the 2017's came along you'd think she would hang with them, nope, chased all of them and still does, same with the 2018's. She has no friends but she can't really beat up on the newer birds because she gets chased by the older ones.

 

[frackmomma]

What about putting the bully in with the big kids? Maybe they'd teach her some manners....

They are SO MUCH BIGGER. Won’t they kill her?

 

[bruceha2000]

Possibly, you would need to set up an integration arrangement where she would be on one side with a small access opening that the bigger girls can't get through.

 

[frackmomma]

Possibly, you would need to set up an integration arrangement where she would be on one side with a small access opening that the bigger girls can't get through.

Yes my hubby and I are formulating a plan for this. We want all the chickens outside as soon as the little ones are weaned off the heat lamp.

Tried putting the bully back in with the others last night and she immediately went and pulled out feathers from the other chicks and ate the feathers. What is wrong with this defective chick?? She's also making her comb bloody by trying to get to them through the wire.

I started feeding her some mealworms with her chick starter food to bump up her protein.

I'm still seriously considering culling her if she can't be integrated. I'm hoping the older ones will keep her in line.