HELP!! Chickens attacking & killing each other!!

ChicKat had great suggestions....I would add that during cold snaps, birds need a lot more protein. Cannibalism can be caused by lack of proper nutrients..either lack of protein or lack of calcium. Are you feeding a good quality, well balanced chicken feed? Scratch is not chicken feed...it literally is "candy corn"...high carb with little nutrition. You probably are, but some people mistake scratch for actual feed, and that could cause the nutritional imbalance, especially in winter, that can cause severe feather picking.

You didn't say how old the birds were, but I am assuming they are laying age? If so, I would increase their layer protein to at least 18% if not 20%. If they are still non-laying pullets, be sure they are getting at least 18% chick start or all purpose feed.

The other cause of cannibalism can be over lighting. Are you lighting the coop to increase egg production? Too many hours of light, or light at the wrong time, or even the wrong colored light can increase irritability and cannibalism.

Also, make sure there is enough space for them to roost (4 sq foot per bird) and forage in the run (10 sq feet per bird) even during the winter time. They also need a dry place to dust and get rid of the itchy, buggy build up. If you don't have dry ground, create it by putting a bin or kiddie pool down and filling it with soil. Place poultry dust or wood ash on top of it to help them stay parasite free.

Sometimes birds of a flock to stick together, and color can matter, but if these birds have been raised together and are just now starting to brutally feather pick, something has upset their balance.

One other thought, molting can make for very cranky birds with higher protein needs. If they are molting, I've found Nutrena Feather Fixer to actually work to help get them through molts faster. It is high protein (18%) and good calcium with nutrients to help build strong feathers. I've noticed a difference when I've had my birds on it during molt.

LofMc

What I think that you are seeing is the normal and usual process of maturation. When chickens become adults they begin acting like adults.

Also a dukes' mixture of birds is asking for trouble because every chicken that you own has vastly different looks plus a whole array of abilities to either defend itself or else become an aggressor.

A rainbow of feathers may look pretty if you are watching a John Wayne movie and the birds are dodging a stage coach in a dirt street at high noon, but it (in my opinion) leads to one breed, age, or type of chicken ruling the roost and turning on the other parts of your flock. It is almost always a mixed flock of hens when problems of this type are reported.

I have keep large numbers of young birds together but a sudden rain storm that caught the flock outside and soaked them, changing their physical appearance resulted in a battle royal breaking out and myself running around sticking hens and cockerels under every 5 gallon bucket and cardboard box that I could lay hands on until I could arrange better quarters after dark. So Lady of McCamley has something when she suggest that the molt changes flock dynamics.

We need help one of our chickens is being pecked by the others, we 5 all together.

I experienced this issue for the first time this year. I had 8 laying hens and a Roo and everyone got along... no new additions for over a year. I was up working in the garden and saw the gold colored hen fluff up and attack one of the black ones (can't remember the breeds ). It was more violent than the usual pecking order stuff. The roo intervened and chased the light hen away. After that, all the other chickens began attacking her whenever they could. I separated her twice to allow the neck wounds to completely heal. The third time I tried to integrate her, they finished her off quickly.

They are free ranging with about a 1/2 acre of space, plenty of shrubs and bushes, and dusting areas. Quality feed plus they get to forage in my garden and berry patches. Something just snapped in them - first time in 5 years of raising laying hens. Based on the info in this post, we had a very cool month of May here, so maybe that is what got them going. Or perhaps she was considered an outcast by the rest of the flock due to some transgressions (may eating eggs or something) and handed out chicken justice.

Another first (potentially related?) for me is that I've got a broody hen sitting on eggs. Perhaps the removal of the trouble maker has caused the hens to feel more secure and start trying to hatch some of their own?

As others have said in other threads - sometimes natural behavior is hard to watch / understand, and can be brutal. But chickens have survived for millenia doing this so it's probably best for us humans to let it play out and keep replenishing the flock from time to time.

My 4 ladies have a nice new coop to call home. The old coop has been removed and they are laying, eating and drinking in the new coop (they free range in the backyard all day) but they refuse to go inside at night. They hunker down in the window wells or next to the back door that leads into the house. I've tried putting them in there and closing up the coop; did this for a week but we don't put them in there they won't go voluntarily . In the old coop they put themselves to bed and we never closed up the coop at night- no predators to worry about and then we didn't have them making a raucous at 5am to be let out. I've tried just locking them in the side yard where the coop is hoping they'll migrate in there at night but they don't.

The evenings are warm so I'm not too worried about them but wondering how else I can get them to roost in there at night. The coop is much bigger then the old one (one of those feed store specials in a box). The roosting bars are higher up and we put in poop slats with sand under it. I thought maybe they didn't like the slats so we removed those. Still no go. Then thought maybe they don't like the sand so covered that with some wood shavings. Still no go.

I'm at a loss. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I am having a terrible problem. I have lost 3 chickens in 3 weeks, actually two of those in three days. The coop is a distance from the house but we saw three of the young chickens attacking one of their sisters. All from same shipment and suppose to be the most docile. Lots of area to roam 48 x 48 outdoor enclosure for 25 chickens. Only 4 old hens left, a rooster and the new chickens. I have no clue exactly who is causing the problem and its impossible to separate bad ones without that information. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

herseim said:

I separated them. There was a cold snap. I'm hoping that just made them angry and a few days in the clink will sort them out.

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. I'm glad that I'm not the only one with a chicken jail.

I'm having trouble with my hens chasing my pullets around. I'm afraid that one of the little ones will get hurt. I free range, have plenty of treats and toys to keep them occupied, along with a very large coop. I have no idea how to make them get along.

Squeakydubioudcarbon said:

. I'm glad that I'm not the only one with a chicken jail.

I'm having trouble with my hens chasing my pullets around. I'm afraid that one of the little ones will get hurt. I free range, have plenty of treats and toys to keep them occupied, along with a very large coop. I have no idea how to make them get along.

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Did you have them separated for the first couple of weeks in a look no touch pen?

Yes, they were separated for about 45 days. They got to know each other during the mandatory outside time. Every one seemed to get along for two weeks and then all Hell broke out.