One chick pecking others feathers constantly

[ChickaChicka1]

I have 5 Barred Rock chicks in the brooder right now. They are all about 1.5 weeks old (almost 2). There is 2 of them that don't peck anyone else at all, but the other 3 keep pecking everyone's feathers growing in, specifically on the two that don't peck. Especially one, Chickadee, who also seems a bit smaller than the others. It's not even the tail or wing feathers she's pecking, just the down they still have on their butts.

It's not to the point of bleeding, as none of them are pecking the other chick's flesh, just the down. However, I do want to know if there's a way to stop the feather pecking. They have plenty of room (more than 1 sqft per chick), food, water, a heat plate, and some sticks/small branches. So there's really no reason, but Chickadee is constantly pecking their feathers.

Any ideas to make them stop would be amazing! Thank you!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

How big is your brooder total? At this age they usually need more space than just 1 sq ft per bird. Once they reach that 2 week mark they are very active and need more room. What feed are you feeding including any extras?

 

[ChickaChicka1]

How big is your brooder total? At this age they usually need more space than just 1 sq ft per bird. Once they reach that 2 week mark they are very active and need more room. What feed are you feeding including any extras?

Their brooder is two plastic totes (30 gallons each I think..) connected by a tunnel. So each is just a little under 6sqft, which gives each of them at least about 2 sqft. They seem like they have plenty of room, but they all huddle in one corner and then peck each other.

In one of the buckets is a brooder heat plate, and in the other is the chick waterer and feeder. And I'm feeding them Nature's Best Organic Chick Starter/Grower Crumbles from TSC.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I find that chicks can get bored just as easily as adult birds. Even at that age with 2 sq ft per chick, they may still be anxious for more space or more enrichment.

Do you have a chick safe area already set up outside? Have they already started getting grit or do you have suitable sized rocks in the environment? If weather is agreeable I would start taking them out for some outside time. Or you can bring the outside in by giving them a dish with dirt and clumps of weeds from outside.

 

[McChooky]

My young leghorns and welsummers have chased my doms since a year ago. The Dom's stay on the roost late in the morning and go to be early .They go out of their way to avoid the young hens now but
a year ago my doms chased the young ones.(they were integrated 6 months in a look but don't touch run) My flock consists of 13 hens in a covered L shaped predator proof run with multiple coops, roosting bars,poop boards, 2 feeders ,multiple nest boxes and and 3 waterers plus they free-range daily. New hens will fight to rise in the pecking order and if they don't draw blood I try not to interfere.I did get rid of 4 of them.

 

[Altairsky]

I don't think space is the problem, my brooder is less than that and I kept 5 week olds in there. Maybe it's a diet problem. I would give them scrambled eggs (one egg per day for a week) and see if there is any improvement. Sometimes chicks get deficiencies from their egg because the mother was on a poor diet. If it doesn't improve, try giving them green leaves to shred and peck. If it still doesn't improve it might be a genetic bad habit and won't breed the bullies.

 

[McChooky]

I don't think space is the problem, my brooder is less than that and I kept 5 week olds in there. Maybe it's a diet problem. I would give them scrambled eggs (one egg per day for a week) and see if there is any improvement. Sometimes chicks get deficiencies from their egg because the mother was on a poor diet. If it doesn't improve, try giving them green leaves to shred and peck. If it still doesn't improve it might be a genetic bad habit and won't breed the bullies.

My leghorns have no qualms with harassing or bullying others to get what they want.I've seen them jump on the backs of the Doms to intimidate them.They'll also scurry underneath them while the Dom's are on the nest stealing their spot

 

[McChooky]

I have 300 SQ ft and 14 chickens

I have 5 Barred Rock chicks in the brooder right now. They are all about 1.5 weeks old (almost 2). There is 2 of them that don't peck anyone else at all, but the other 3 keep pecking everyone's feathers growing in, specifically on the two that don't peck. Especially one, Chickadee, who also seems a bit smaller than the others. It's not even the tail or wing feathers she's pecking, just the down they still have on their butts.

It's not to the point of bleeding, as none of them are pecking the other chick's flesh, just the down. However, I do want to know if there's a way to stop the feather pecking. They have plenty of room (more than 1 sqft per chick), food, water, a heat plate, and some sticks/small branches. So there's really no reason, but Chickadee is constantly pecking their feathers.

Any ideas to make them stop would be amazing! Thank you!

Chicks need room as they grow from week to week and develop quickly