Mom pecking at chicks, please help (with photo)

[Chelsea-85]

Dears all,

I have a broody hen hatching 5 chicks. Now, the chicks are 23 days old. Until yesterday they did not have any problem and mom did her best protecting them. But, this morning when I woke up, I heard noise, once I went to the coop, I saw the mom pecking at two of the chicks brutally, the head of the two chicks were badly injured (see the photo of one of the injured chicks). I separated the mom temporarily until I get an answer from you guys.

What should I do to cure the injury?
What should I do with the mom? Shall I separate her from the chicks?

Please, help.

Regards

 

[dawg53]

Remove the chicks from the mama and other grown birds and put them in a brooder.
Provide the chicks a heat lamp, chick starter and fresh clean water.
For the wounded chicks; gently apply a 50/50 mixture of water/betadine using a cotton ball or soft gauze. Then gently apply neosporin as needed until healed. Observe for picking and pecking by the other chicks. It that happens, provide a separate area in the same brooder with food and water for the wounded chicks. You can add Poultry Nutri drench to their water to bolster their immune system. Provide it for no more than 7 days. It is rich in minerals and vitamins and can cause diarrhea.

 

[Chelsea-85]

any help please?

 

[Chelsea-85]

Remove the chicks from the mama and other grown birds and put them in a brooder.
Provide the chicks a heat lamp, chick starter and fresh clean water.
For the wounded chicks; gently apply a 50/50 mixture of water/betadine using a cotton ball or soft gauze. Then gently apply neosporin as needed until healed. Observe for picking and pecking by the other chicks. It that happens, provide a separate area in the same brooder with food and water for the wounded chicks. You can add Poultry Nutri drench to their water to bolster their immune system. Provide it for no more than 7 days. It is rich in minerals and vitamins and can cause diarrhea.

Thank you very much dear, I just saw your reply which is really helpful. What about the hen? I have only that hen and the 5 chicks. Should she be alone? The temperature outside is about 15 or less at night, do they survive outside without their mom?

Thank you again

 

[HeatherlovesherBirds]

No they need heat lots of it and they need to be away from her she will kill them. 75/80degrees is idea for babies also depends on weeks old.

 

[HeatherlovesherBirds]

You can get a plastic tote put shavings water and chick feed in there and a heat lamp preferably in your house like laundry room basement somewhere away from the mother cannot be near them... Hope you get it a figured out.. good luck!

 

[Eggcessive]

The hen will need to be by herself, since she was injuring the chicks. She will break from being broody over a couple of days. The chicks will be fine without her. I would not let her brood chicks again. Since they are 3 weeks old they may be able to be brooded with 80 degrees in a brooder. Use a thermometer in the hottest area, and it needs to be large enough to get away to a cooler spot. A mama heating pad might be something to explore. Here is a link about this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

 

[Chelsea-85]

No they need heat lots of it and they need to be away from her she will kill them. 75/80degrees is idea for babies also depends on weeks old.

Thank you so much dear, you mean they will not survive outside with 15 Celsius degree? The chicks are 23-day old now.

 

[Chelsea-85]

The hen will need to be by herself, since she was injuring the chicks. She will break from being broody over a couple of days. The chicks will be fine without her. I would not let her brood chicks again. Since they are 3 weeks old they may be able to be brooded with 80 degrees in a brooder. Use a thermometer in the hottest area, and it needs to be large enough to get away to a cooler spot. A mama heating pad might be something to explore. Here is a link about this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

Thank you dear for your reply. I appreciate it. Do you think that she will be able to cope with them once they grow enough after a couple of weeks for example? Or she should be separated forever?

 

[HeatherlovesherBirds]

Nope not forever but at least until they can fight for themselves... Chickens do have pecking orders and they will peck at each other... I do mind when they are like 3 to 4 months old I also put a fence in between them but I have a lot of birds... Then when they get used to each other I let them go together...I have done it this way...it seems to work. Good luck !!