Bullying?

[bobhoke]

Their picking on each other. We separated the ones we thought were responsible. Any help would be appreciated.

Separate them into the freezer.

 

[Chebird]

Do you have roosters? Looks to me that the hens are just being bred.

 

[reluctant farmer]

I agree with Sourland. I'd first get some "Blue Kote" spray and cover the bare patches. The blue tint keeps the chickens from clearly seeing the bare patch and they usually will not peck them anymore. I'd supplement the flock with 20 to 24% protein chick starter or finisher a couple of times a week to be sure they are getting the nutrition they need. The last thing is the amount of space they have and the boredom factor. Give them a cabbage to rip up, give them a pat of straw to tear into if they have little to do. Give them as much room as you have and they will stop bothering each other and be much more happy. Good Luck!
This is my large chicken run, about the size of 1/2 a football field. Fenced because of daytime predators like coyotes, fox and runaway dogs.

View attachment 2046363

Do you have roosters? Looks to me that the hens are just being bred.

No roosters,

 

[reluctant farmer]

Separate them into the freezer.

We don't eat our chickens, we eat the eggs.

 

[bobhoke]

We don't eat our chickens, we eat the eggs.

I hope you have the time to try to change a chickens “behavior” if you’re unwilling to dispatch the problem bird(s). Also appreciate the issue this may become when the hens backs begin to bleed. Chickens are voracious consumers. I don’t know how many birds you have, but this will continue if you don’t change the situation.
Isolate your culprits for two weeks and increase their proton to see if your others feather start to return. Also ensure you have a 15/1 hen rooster ratio. Anymore and you’re asking for these results. You could also have a hyper dominant Alpha hen. I’ve seen all of this. Fastest solution is to dispatch the troublemakers and introduce new birds from your current hens - no incubator.

 

[reluctant farmer]

I hope you have the time to try to change a chickens “behavior” if you’re unwilling to dispatch the problem bird(s). Also appreciate the issue this may become when the hens backs begin to bleed. Chickens are voracious consumers. I don’t know how many birds you have, but this will continue if you don’t change the situation.
Isolate your culprits for two weeks and increase their proton to see if your others feather start to return. Also ensure you have a 15/1 hen rooster ratio. Anymore and you’re asking for these results. You could also have a hyper dominant Alpha hen. I’ve seen all of this. Fastest solution is to dispatch the troublemakers and introduce new birds from your current hens - no incubator.

We did separated the bullies, and we are letting them roam the yard more. My wife wants to try aprons. And we've thought about giving away the bullies. Thanks for info!