Chicks pecking and bullying

[xXChickenTenderXx]

We just got new chicks on Saturday from a local farmers market. We received 4 ameraucanas and 6 of a layer breed, not completely sure what type. Some are older and bigger than the others, the oldest at almost three weeks and the youngest being around six days. We had four smaller/younger chicks, although one died without any indication of her being lethargic, as she was digging eating and drinking like normal. I'm worried about how the older ones seem to peck a lot at each other and resulting in missing down and feathers on almost all the chicks. It doesn't look too serious but it's still concerning. One of the small ones is also getting jumped on and trampled a lot and has been acting lethargic for a few days, but she still eats and drinks. Our brooder is 8 square feet, we have two roosts made out of wood that they like and a covered heating brooder we purchased off amazon. We recently moved to the South and aren't used to raising chicks in a warmer climate so I'm not sure if it's just too hot? Would separating the younger chicks to have more steady growth help?

 

[GodLovesU]

If they are too hot or don’t have water they will beat each other up.I had this problem too,to the extent of fatality.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How hot is it in the brooder?

I'd consider separating the age groups just due to size difference at this point. Once the youngest are a bit older and bigger/steadier then they should be safe to mix back in.

 

[xXChickenTenderXx]

around 90 for the most part, at night it gets to be around 80. They have a good supply of water. The littlest is acting more lethargic today. Is there a way to cool the brooder if it's too hot?

 

[rosemarythyme]

around 90 for the most part, at night it gets to be around 80. They have a good supply of water. The littlest is acting more lethargic today. Is there a way to cool the brooder if it's too hot?

90 should be ok since that's your natural outdoor temperature and they'll need to get used to it to move out - I assume the brooder is located somewhere inside a structure or under some deep shade to prevent it from getting too hot?

 

[xXChickenTenderXx]

90 should be ok since that's your natural outdoor temperature and they'll need to get used to it to move out - I assume the brooder is located somewhere inside a structure or under some deep shade to prevent it from getting too hot?

We have our brooder in the garage. I separated the chick that pecks the most and that's helping I think. We also had to separate the littlest chick, she's very lethargic and isn't eating or drinking. This morning she had a pasty butt so I cleaned that and I've been using a syringe to feed her egg yolk and water. Her balance seems off as she is kind of bobbing her head and her wings are kind of out. Any ideas of how to help her or what could be wrong?

 

[rosemarythyme]

The littlest one does sound too hot with the pasty butt and her wings being held out. Do you have AC indoors? Might need to bring her in during the day (with something like a hot water bottle to provide heat, or the brooder pad if the others aren't using it - which if it's 90 they're probably not) just so she can cool down. I'd consider adding electrolytes and/or Poultry Nutri-Drench as well.