Cannibals! Need Help

Basically all my hens have become cannibals, they are picking each other apart non stop. All of them have feathers missing, most of them have significant loss on legs, neck and tails. Some even have combs pecked off.

I purchased saddles, but they don't help. I'd show you pictures, but it isn't pretty.

Diet consists of Layer pellets, scratch, and lots of table scraps. The have constant access to fresh water, Oyster shells, and grit as well.

Here is the info:
25 Hens (all are about 15-18 months old)
- 9 Golden Buff/Sex Linked
- 3 Rhode Island Reds
- 3 Barred Plymouth Rocks
- 2 Australorps
- 3 Speckled Sussex
- 3 Golden Laced Wyandotte
- 2 Easter Eggers

Coop inside dimensions are 10' x 16'
Run dimensions are 14' x 25'

I just don't know what to do, If I had to pick the "bullies" they would be all 9 of the Golden Buffs. Their egg productions is still constant, but if this keeps up, I do not think any of them will make it though the upcoming winter.

- any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated.

I think they need more space. Cut out the scratch and scraps so there is more protein in their diet. What brand of feed are you using? How much protein ?

I'm suggesting that you put them on a multi-flock 20 or 22% protein feed. I'm also suggesting that you switch them to fermented feed. Continue the oyster shell. I'm guessing that they may have some nutritional needs that aren't being met. In addition to that, do they have things to entertain themselves with in both coop and run? Think about making things multi-level in the run, set a pallet up on a few cinder blocks, give them some hay bales to explore, piles of leaves. Hang a cabbage from a string for them to peck at. give them a flock block. Give them plenty of places for the pickees to get away from the pickers. How much roost space do you have? A lot of the feather picking happens at night on the roost. If they are getting scratch and table scraps, they are definitely not getting enough protein. And, you may have a deep seated behavioral problem on your hands now that will only be fixed by culling the bullies.

Do you actually see the feather picking going on? If you don't you might want to casually observe them when they are on the roost, as they settle down for the night. And if you never see the picking going on, you might consider that you have a mouse or rat infestation. Mice are known to chew feathers off to line their nests while birds are sleeping, but... with bare skin, I agree, the birds are probably doing it to each other.

To answer you both -

We aren't giving them anything specifically for protein and the layer feed is just a basic brand from the local feed store. I would like to provide more outdoor space for them, just haven't got around to it. I guess that needs to be a priority.

I guess I need to look for the suggested High Protein feed - there are entertainment items in the run, but if I expand, then I will create more entertainment.

I do see the picky going on, not much during the day, but mostly on the roosts. I don't believe that it's mice or rats. I am afraid that its more behavior now and will be difficult to stop.


On a side note, I didn't realize daily scraps would be bad for them...

EDIT: Here is the Feed I use: http://blueseal.com/product/?id=178

Try Flock Raiser (Purina) or a similar feed, or a game bird feed if you can find one. Cut way down on treats and scratch feed for now too. I no longer get sex links or production RIRs because of issues with feather pecking and aggression in the hens. Life is much better without them! Some individual birds will be a problem, and some family lines will also be difficult. Can you separate out or remove the problem birds? Mary

Check this out:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/673137/device-to-stop-pecking

Here is one source....
https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/chicken_health

To install them, you use a cirqclip pliers (spell?) -- when you squeeze the handle the pliers spread the ends apart not pinch the ends together....

HTH

very interesting!!!

Hen peepers work well too.

Coop space isn't bad, if that 10 x 16 is all open floor space.

BUT.... how much roost space do you have?
They need about one foot of roost length per bird to get settled.
Roost should be wide and stable and easy to get up and down from.

They most probably aren't getting enough protein.
Layer feed is usually minimal protein for laying eggs.
Growing and molting birds need more.
IMO they need animal protein too, I just switched to a feed with animal protein in it and I think they are doing better on it.



I like to feed a 'flock raiser' 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and all molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer.

Use Blu-kote spray. It's an integral part of my chicken supplies. Once a bird gets pecked the red area is a target for all the other birds to irritate it. Blu-kote is a spray that is antiseptic (anti fungal and anti bacterial) to prevent infection but also is dark blue which covers wounds so birds don't keep at it.

I was late getting the grow out coop and pen built this year by a day, two birds got pecked and within 1/2 a day turned to more serious wounds. Sprayed them and voila no more pecking. Well, put them in the new living space too but the red wound being covered stopped chickens from running from four feet away to peck at ones back.