BUM PICKING TIL BLEEDING OCCURS

[Northern Quebec]

Sorry for the confusion. The second measurement includes the nesting boxes because they sometimes choose to move in there early in the morning. The coop includes 3 boxes 12 inches deep by almost 40" wide.

 

[Eggcessive]

You do not need a lightbulb in the coop unless you want them to lay eggs through the winter. They really only need 12 hours of daylight to lay eggs. Many have a small light come on at 5 am on a timer, then shut off after daylight. Then the chickens come into roost without the light and go to sleep. But that light being on at 5 am means they will come off the roost, expecting to go outside and eat and drink. Since it only gets light at 7:30 to 8 am in winter, your chickens would be bored for almost 3 hours, so may peck each other.

But a lot of people do not want to use light to push them to lay during the winter months, to give them a break. It is another controversial topic where you will get more advice than you want. I had a large coop, and chose to use a small 60 watt bulb for 3 hours a day. I am glad that I did since many of my chickens stopped laying after 2-3 years old.

I would reconsider making your coop bigger. Your run is okay, and could be added on to. My birds would go on strike if they did not get to free range every day.

 

[aart]

Crowding and diet.

I feed them grain from La Co-op Fédéré which has a minimum of 17% crude protein. Their treats include chopped cabbage, hot oatmeal, grapes, pumpkin halves, sunflower seeds, millet, table scraps like pasta, rice, etc.

Quit all the extras, it is diluting the nutrition of the feed.

 

[ValerieJ]

I don't think having no light in the coop is causing aggression. The reason some people have a light come on in the morning hours to lengthen the day is because they want eggs through the winter.

 

[Northern Quebec]

Crowding and diet.
Quit all the extras, it is diluting the nutrition of the feed.

WOW! Really? That's the first time I've come across that kind of information.
Can you tell me what you feed your chickens please? If I'm overdoing it, I'll gladly slow it down. Keep in mind, what I listed is not a daily thing. One day might be cabbage and pasta, the other pumpkin and rice, etc...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

AH HA! The LIGHT issue. Kept coming back to me during the night. Short answer is NO, there is no light in the coop itself, just in the enclosed run. Last night I did a lot of reading, watched webinars and learned that the bare minimum of 14 hours of light (16 hours is better) is not being adhered to here. I knew that but for some reason, I chose to overlook it. So we've got to install a lightbulb in the coop - and fast.
Also, in the enclosed run we have two LED "daylight" bulbs - each 100W. Something else I read - a light too bright might cause aggression. So I might have a problem there as well.

QUESTIONS: What wattage should I place in the coop?
What wattage should I place in the enclosed run?

I don't know about lighting inside a coop or run - I don't add any additional light for the ladies, so have never looked into that.
I was just wondering if that may be part of the aggression problem though.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I agree they are crowded.

Your added heat in the coop....what heat source are you using?

If it is a heat lamp that will keep them awake with the light from that.
No sleep makes for very grumpy girls.

 

[Hopulence]

It definitely does not sound like you are giving them too many treats. I do not believe that is it at all.

I agree with the others who have mentioned the space issue or the light issue. Mine do not get out every day (work, life, weather, etc), but my run is a combined ~150 square feet (and 6 feet high) with plenty to jump on/over, a hung thick tree branch to swing on, and little passageways from one extension to another to run through. They may be bored if there isn't any entertainment in the run either.

I have 11 hens that have gone through 2 introductions of new hens (original 5 plus 3 more plus 3 more) and have not had this issue.

 

[ValerieJ]

WOW! Really? That's the first time I've come across that kind of information.
Can you tell me what you feed your chickens please? If I'm overdoing it, I'll gladly slow it down. Keep in mind, what I listed is not a daily thing. One day might be cabbage and pasta, the other pumpkin and rice, etc...

Those are not unhealthy treats, but they are carb based. I would make sure they made up less than 10% of the daily diet of your chickens. Then I would offset it with high protein feed, such as all flock or flock raiser, with OS on the side. I have heard they will pick at each others feathers when they are not getting enough protein.

 

[Northern Quebec]

I agree they are crowded.

Your added heat in the coop....what heat source are you using?

If it is a heat lamp that will keep them awake with the light from that.
No sleep makes for very grumpy girls.

I have two heat sources. One is a 150W lizard heat lamp, the kind that heats but doesn't project light which is controlled by a thermostat. The temperature is maintained at 7 celsius (44F). The other source is what I call my heated floor. It's an electric blanket on the floor. The blanket is covered by large tight-fitted ceramic tiles so the girls can't see the fabric from the blanket. Also the tiles are placed upside because there is more texture on that side than the finished side. A thick layer of maple shavings covers the tiles. This really helps maintain a well-rounded heat in the coop. The blanket stays on for ten hours so I turn it on at 10pm. By the time the timer's done, the girls have come down into the enclosed run.