Hens Pecking each other

Can someone please tell me what to do? I have 8 hens, they have a lovely henhouse and plenty of nesting boxes. Their pen is small but ample 10x10. They have good water and feed and I even put a pecking block of seeds. They still are pecking each other terribly. I don't know what to do. Have you ever had this problem and what did you do. They are good layers and still producing each day. Help please. nancybxyz

how old are they? have you acquired any new chickens lately?

These hens are barely one year old and no I have not added any to the flock all year. I had 10 but a neighbor dog killed one.

& from Louisiana!

Are they missing feathers, bleeding, etc?? Or is it just more that they peck at each other all the time???

and from Ohio. So glad you joined. It is normal for them to peck at one another but drawing blood creates a problem. Once chickens draw blood, they don't stop. If blood has been drawn, you need to put something like Blukote on any wounds. It helps heal and disguise the red color. Otherwise you seem to be doing everything you can to give them something to do. Good luck.

Welcome to BYC. There are several reasons why they peck each other. Overcrowding can cause picking/pecking. Is there enough room for them inside their house? If not, you'll have to expand their house. If you have a light on inside their house at night, that will cause picking/pecking from the lack of sleep. Their diet could be a concern, commercial layer feed is recommended, lay off the treats and scratch. I recommend that you provide them extra protein with gamebird feed which is about 22% protein. There also could be pecking order issues involved. If there's one or two bullies in the bunch causing the problems, remove them for several days, then return them back with the others....that'll knock them down a notch or two in the pecking order. They could be bored...hang a head of lettuce or cabbage in their pen, just above their heads so they have to jump up abit to get a bite...that will keep them busy. Good luck.

& from Alabama. Great advice given. Good luck

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I am having the same problem! However, my flock of 6 is now down to only 5 due to their pecking. My 5 hens have ample space too, 8X8 indoors, and another 8X8 outdoors with perches, cabbage hanging, scratch daily, and my kitchen scraps daily. I put vitamin supplements in their water, they have many perches, and more nesting boxes than birds (but of course they only choose two of the identical boxes). These hens grew up together since they were days old, and I haven't added any additional birds. I tried separating the culprit for two days to "knock them down a peg or two" on the pecking order, and that chicken was pecked to death the next day. =0( Now they all habitually peck one another. I spray poultry anti-bacterial spray on them, and have looked at all my local Tractor Supply and local farm suppliers for some sort of bitter tasting spray, however, no one sells it around these parts. I tried ordering some Blukote online, and it never arrived. =0( I guess it's just some bad luck! I've had hundreds of chickens at any given time growing up, but have never experienced such trouble with my little hens. =0( Any additional advice would be most appreciated!

4-H chicken mom said:

and

from Ohio. So glad you joined. It is normal for them to peck at one another but drawing blood creates a problem. Once chickens draw blood, they don't stop. If blood has been drawn, you need to put something like Blukote on any wounds. It helps heal and disguise the red color. Otherwise you seem to be doing everything you can to give them something to do. Good luck.

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