Orpington’s bullying?

[Jennyhen890]

Evening everyone,

I have 14 2 week old Orpington chicks, (4 Gold Laced, 6 Buff and 4 Lavender).

They’re in a very large brooder that I made so plenty of space, they eat like there’s no tomorrow and they have always been very switched on- lots of eye contact but always jumping at each other, squaring up and pecking.

That being said all has been fine until today. I have had to separate the Lavenders as all 4 of them have wounds, one a huge gash on its neck. Luckily I check on them regularly.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I find it strange that it’s just the Lavenders that are the victims so to speak.

Could they be bored? I added two old aluminium pie trays and a large toilet roll tube to peck at about a week ago, which they seem to enjoy but this has still happened to the Lavenders since.

Also, when the lavenders are healed up do you think I should reintroduce them to the buff and Gold Lace?

Thanks for any replies.

 

[Poultrypro1]

Maybe they do not have enough food holes for all of them to eat at the same time so they might be fighting to get food. You could probably reintroduce the lavender Orpingtons after they heal. My baby chicks also used to playfully fight but they are probably just playing rough.