The First Egg!

The chicks had taken to eating each other’s feathers. Watching this I noticed that it was all completely consensual but they were drawing blood on each other. It had to stop.

Feathers missing from the head courtesy of a friend.

I called to The Referee to come and help me to split up the blood thirsty chicks, which we did and then headed to the pet supplies store to buy some Anti-Pecking Spray.

Having read all of the instructions on our return we took the chicks out one at a time and allowed "a fine mist to fall over them" - they thought we were killing them!

We put them back into their run and watched as they continued to peck each and eat the feathers!!! Well that had been a waste of money!!! 

I made myself a very large cup of tea and then sat at my computer and researched. Protein it kept telling me, they need protein. So I gave them a mashed up boiled egg (if you feed chickens eggs they must be cooked to prevent them eating their own eggs). They were wary at first, but then WOW they went mad. They were pushing each other out of the way and grabbing beak-fulls and then chasing each other around the run trying to get the biggest and best bit. It was hilarious. I mean you could do away with your TV and just raise chicks!

They have since had two more eggs and now it is a race to get into the bowl first so that you can claim the best bits before your siblings get a chance. But the good news is they are no longer eating each other's feathers - although 2 of the (what we think are) cockerels have taken to fighting and jumping on each other's backs - just to keep the other in line I guess. But this is much more preferable to cannibalism, I guess.