CHICKS EATING EACH OTHER???????????????????????

Tahir · **Posted:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:08 pm

Hi everyone, a friend asked me to post this for them. they are having a problem with the chicks eating each other even tho they have plenty of space in there brooder. how can they prevent the chicks from eating each other?

County Lodge · **Posted:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:58 pm

Tell them to dab bluo on any red patches the chicks have pecked on each other. Mostly they will peck around the top of thebeak area or the bottom. You can get liquid bluo in a royal blue bottle in the laundry section at Woolies. Dab some on with a cotton bud and make it nice and blue. The chicks then will stop pecking each other. Once one little chick draws blood or make another chick red from pecking they all start and it esculates from there.

Tahir · **Posted:** Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:07 am

o.k thanks for the information.

Relle · **Posted:** Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:20 am

CL,

does using the bluo being blue stop the chicks from pecking at that area? as apose to the red blood colour?
As this happened to me yesterday and I treated the areas with betadine (being red).

Relle

County Lodge · **Posted:** Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:47 am

Yes it is the blue colouring that stops them. Or should I say it is the red that makes them peck. You can use blue food colouring if you have it or any of the blue antiseptic sprays but not purple as it is too much like red.

I use bluo as I have it to rinse my grey horse with before competition. It hasn't harmed my chicks to date but then I only dab to change the colour.

Relle · **Posted:** Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:43 pm

Thanks CL,

I'll get some to have on hand for next time.

Penola Poultry · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:11 am

an experienced breed gave me a simple reciepe. Mix 1/2 betadine and 1/2 vaseline together! It takes a bit to get it to mix. Then apply this liberally. It disinfects the area and deters pecking as it tastes vile. You can see the birds have one peck and then shake their heads to try to get it off their beaks. Last year i had some problems with feather picking. It is often related to the breed you keep....I have Campines and they are particularly prone to it as they are very active birds. It generally starts becase they are bored. I found that the commercial type steel bottomed brooders are the worst! When i raid the chicks on wood shavings i have no problems. Generally i sprinkle some feed in the shavings and the spend the day scratching for it. It can also be realated to protien deficiency so make sure you use a good quality chick starter or mix for them. For the larger heavy breeds i also give them mashed boiled egg every other day. This gives them a protein boost and they love it.

moonshadow_dancer · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:43 pm

Hi PP,
I was going to Pm you this question, but decided to put it in this post as it may be helpful to others.

I whizz up cat biscuits 26% protein in my mini oscar, I do this for the freerange chooks, peafowl, turkeys etc. Would this be suitable to add with the turkey/chicken starter for the chicks to give them a protien boost :?:

Take Care
Deb :-D

Tahir · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:47 pm

i guess chicks could handle the protein. the person with the problem said that they have settled down now, thanks peoples.

moonshadow_dancer · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:58 pm

Thats Great to hear Tahir, nothing worse then injured chicks.

AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

CHICKS EATING EACH OTHER???????????????????????

Who is on the Forum