baby chicks feather picking (2024)

Are they still in too small of a space?

Do they have something to occupy them? Could you give them a potted grass to scratch in? Do they have a pan of sand to dustbathe in?

I have heard some people make marks on the side of the brooder to give them something to peck.

Mine love anything shiny and we have several things we rotate through. There favorites are a large stainless steel serving spoon, a large silver shoe horn and CDs or DVDs we hang from the rack we placed over the brooder.

Mine also love dandelions and Oak tree "helicopters" (they prefer the green ones).

They are just like little kids and like to have something to occupy them, Although I am not sure who is entertained most by their toys, them or us! We take out their "toys" at night.

They also love to go outside and explore their run - under our supervision (we have not gotten something around the chain-link yet and they slip right through it!). Unfortunately it has been cold and rainy most of this week so their outdoor playtime has been gone the past few days.

Also, do you have roosts for them? By two weeks all of mine were up on the roosts, at 2 1/2 only 2 still sleep on the ground. They love to be on the roosts. There was a little fighting over who got what spot but they seem to have it figured out now.

Have they been exposed to mites by any chance? Inspect them closely for anything moving on their skin.
Get some 'Rooster Booster Anti Pick' lotion and apply it liberally.
Put a mirror in the brooder
A shallow pan of sand for dust bathing.
Hang a feather duster in their brooder for them to get under.
Address labels and other stickers on the wall.
These are all things that have worked for me. Babies do need something to do.

Lozhosq said:

Thanks for all the advice! I read on the internet to give them some protien so I've given them hard boiled egg, which they loved!
At the moment all seems to be going well but I'm scared to go too close to them because they always become scared and I don't want to stress them even more! The're a lot more hard work then I realised!
We also bought two grown one year old hens and they seem to be really happy free ranging in the backyard. It's been one week now and are yet to get any eggs! Isthis normal until the ajust or are we doing something wrong there too?

Click to expand...

The extra protein for the chicks is a great idea. You really should handle the chicks often whether they like it or not. Just hold them up against your neck and talk softly. after they have calmed down let them look in your face while still talking to them. It takes a while but it helps create chickens that you can handle as adults. This is important if they are ever wounded or need extra attention. You don't have to make pets of them but they are a lot more pleasurable to be around if they aren't afraid of you.

You aren't doing anything wrong with the hens. They will quit laying for a while when they are moved to a new location. Do you have a nest fixed for them? You might try putting a fake egg in the nest or even mark a real egg and put it in. Then pick up the hen and show her where the nest is. Seeing another egg in there will often trigger her to want to lay.