Pheasant Chicks

[Belgianhunter 2]

Hi,

Last year I had some problems and lost a lot of chicks to pecking.(especially in the first few weeks)

So how do you guys keep the little chicks from pecking each other ?

Is it because of a special feeder pellet or some straw?

Would love some help, it's awful to see them die.

 

Kind Regards

[Skull Hooker 185]

Hi. Got the following off a website. Hope it helps

 

Infra red lights can help a little by reducing visibility of any redness as the birds will very quickly start to pick on an injured pen mate. Deep bedding in brooder boxes and chicks pens can also be useful to cover chicks toes as they can be pecked and hauled at as if they were a mealworm, which they look rather like.

Overcrowding of pens encourages this behaviour which is likely to start from the natural curiosity of chicks which will peck at everything they see. If the birds are given other things to peck instead the problem can often be averted. Any greens with long stalks could be hung up to attract their attention.

Places for chicks to hide and perches for the birds can also make the area more interesting and therefore keep the birds busy and give respite to chicks which might be victimised. It is vital however to keep watch for any sign of a bird being picked on as it takes very little time for a chick to be scalped or killed by the offender. Also if a chick is spending much of it's time in hiding it should be removed and kept with smaller birds as it may not be feeding even if it seems to be unhurt.

Birds can be debeaked (the tip of the beak is removed) to make it harder for them to grip another chick or beak bits can be used for the same reason. These keep the beak open slightly and although the birds may seem uncomfortable with them on for the first hour or so they soon get used to them and they are certainly better than an injured bird. If birds are injuring others it is necessary to do something and unfortunately we can not keep all chicks on their own, at least not for long. If using beak bits it is vital to use the correct size so that the bird is not hurt and the beak can continue to grow properly. They are a short term measure only which will hopefully break the bad habits of the offending chick.

Feather picking can be caused by poor diet, although this is not always the case, so it is best to make sure the chicks are started off with a good quality feed. Often it is feather picking which leads to worse things when the culprit sees blood. The colour red certainly seems to attract the birds (they will usually eat red berries before trying others). If we do get an injured bird we spray the injury with terramicin which will help the wound heal. The spray is blue and will stay on the bird for a long time. The blue colour seems to discourage the other chicks from continuing to peck at the injured bird. It may be that it tastes pretty bad too but usually the bird is not touched as long as it has been sprayed.

Prevention is much better than cure and if you can keep your birds occupied with things other than each other it helps greatly.

[Lab 10,979]

That pretty much covered it.

 

Light is a big issue, you really don't want them to see too much.

[burnie69 376]

As much light as you can for the 1st 2-3 days so they as much food and water inside them. After that the light will needs reducing massively either by closing windows or covering windows. If not they'll start pecking. Either toes,vents or eyes. All people bit at different ages. Some start as early as 8 days or before in some cases. I like to get em as near to 3 weeks as possible. These will stay in the poults until being caught up and removed before taking to release pens. In most cases around 7 weeks of age. Ive tried not biting over the year's. Either reducing numbers in sheds, putting brash (christmas tree tops) in the runs. They look great until around 5 weeks and then they start feather pecking each other. This is when you end up with bare backed pheasants. A bit is a little plastic C shape device what clips painlessly into the nostrils and sits between the the upper and lower beak preventing beak closure. Within minutes of being fitted birds as used to having it in and can eat and drink normally.

[Lab 10,979]

Don't overfill your feeding trays. The dimple trays are designed so they can see the dimples which helps them to pick and start feeding.

[Lloyd90 509]

I saw these things called 'blinders' on a video about phezzies on youtube, like a small clip that stops them seeing forward but they can see at the sides

 

Google them hope I've explained it right

[Lab 10,979]

I saw these things called 'blinders' on a video about phezzies on youtube, like a small clip that stops them seeing forward but they can see at the sides

 

Google them hope I've explained it right

There called 'specs' and there for cock birds at laying time. Not sure if your still allowed to use them.

[Belgianhunter 2]

Thanks for all the responses!

 

I'm particularly looking for something to keep the chicks busy in the first, second, third week.

I'll have about 20-30 chicks in 2 boxes from around 3ft by 5ft each with a red lamp, drinker and some food.

 

Last time I used "sawdust", is that any good or are there better alternatives?

Could I maybe use straw or hay to keep them busy?

Last time I had a lot of trouble with chicks pecking out each others intestines out. Anybody else have had a problem like that?

 

Kind Regards

[Lloyd90 509]

 

I saw these things called 'blinders' on a video about phezzies on youtube, like a small clip that stops them seeing forward but they can see at the sides

 

Google them hope I've explained it right

There called 'specs' and there for cock birds at laying time. Not sure if your still allowed to use them.

 

 

Yes mate, just found them online. Some are called 'specs' and have coloured lenses, and some are opaque and called 'blinders' it seems.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blinders_%28poultry%29

 

Why wouldn't they be allowed any more ?

[danw 1,748]

It's only the specs that pierced the septum you can't use anymore clip on ones are still available no use to chicks though seems to me he needs to manage their light correctly since the problem is 0-3wks.

[Belgianhunter 2]

It's only the specs that pierced the septum you can't use anymore clip on ones are still available no use to chicks though seems to me he needs to manage their light correctly since the problem is 0-3wks.

 

Last time I had them just in the living room so there was much light, now i was thinking to put them in a shed so there should be less light.

Or do you mean the light from the red light bulb?