Chicken pecked to the bone

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rosy5427

rosy5427

Hatching
Oct 15, 2016
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So I have about 6 or 7 egg laying chickens and recently one was pecked on the back of it's neck deep to the bone level. We've isolated her and taken care of her wound but now the other chickens are pecking each other as well. What is the cause of this? My theory is that there is a pest somewhere on them that they're trying to get rid of but I'm not sure. I'm just really worried about them :(
 
Welcome to BYC. Pecking can lead to cannibalism in chickens. If they are over crowded or don't get outside their coop to roam, if they don't get a balanced chicken feed with 16-20% protein, suffer from mineral deficiency, or if a new chicken is added to the flock they may do this to the point of death. Some breeds can be a little more aggressive. Most hens according to chicken manuals need 4 square feet of room in a coop or run, but most chickens do appreciate getting outside daily at least for a few hours. You may need to watch their behavior to see if there is one particular hen doing the bullying. Sometimes they will all gang up on a weak or sick chicken, or a certain breed or color. I would place her back with the others in a crate or cage so they can all see each other, while she is healing. Vetericyn or plain bacitracin ointment is very good to apply to the wound. Here are links about cannibalism:
https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1095/2902-1095_pdf.pdf
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/830/cannibalism-by-poultry/
 

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