BUM PICKING TIL BLEEDING OCCURS

[Northern Quebec]

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.

WOW! Sounds like you've got the Disneyland of chicken runs over there. Sounds great. At times I introduce a box then remove it; introduce a platform for a few days then remove it; hang some cabbage like a tether ball, etc. I'm open to new ideas though.

 

[Northern Quebec]

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.

Thanks for the tip. I've read the same thing about a lack of protein. Something I forgot to mention was that I dry the eggshells and then put them through an electric meat grinder with hard high protein puppy food. Every morning I sprinkle some of that on their feed. In the summer they eat a lot of clover from a patch I planted just for them and kale from the garden. They might be missing some greens. I'll buy some kale and check out their behaviour.

 

[Hopulence]

Thanks for the tip. I've read the same thing about a lack of protein. Something I forgot to mention was that I dry the eggshells and then put them through an electric meat grinder with hard high protein puppy food. Every morning I sprinkle some of that on their feed. In the summer they eat a lot of clover from a patch I planted just for them and kale from the garden. They might be missing some greens. I'll buy some kale and check out their behaviour.

It definitely sounds like you do some great things for the girls food wise. The more I hear the more I am confident it's not a food/protein thing and is a space/boredom thing. I hope I'm wrong as that is not as easy of a fix as changing diet.

 

[Hopulence]

WOW! Sounds like you've got the Disneyland of chicken runs over there. Sounds great. At times I introduce a box then remove it; introduce a platform for a few days then remove it; hang some cabbage like a tether ball, etc. I'm open to new ideas though.

My chickens never enjoyed the cabbage enough to play with it. Another thing I do is to use the leftover Thanksgiving display hay bales and put that in the run (under the roof to keep dry to avoid mold). The chickens love tearing that apart for some extra entertainment. I try to put/throw treats in the middle of the hay bales to make them work for their treats as well.

And thanks for the Disneyland compliment It's been added onto twice now so a bit "pieced together" but the hens don't mind!

 

[Northern Quebec]

Now here's an observation...
Today I fed the girls some leftover ham. They gobbled it up. Within 5 minutes they were pecking at each other.
QUESTION: Can giving them meat make them aggressive?
When I think about it, the pecking started around the time that I fed them some dinner scraps of pork chop fat (cooked of course).
Does anyone else out there give your chickens meat?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I give meat regularly.
Mine do not peck at each other.

In the coop mine have 6square feet per bird and 18square feet per bird in the run.

I strongly believe that is why mine get along well.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The crowding issue is simply a matter of numbers, you have too many birds for the amount of space. Both coop and run are small and crowding is a huge contributor to behavioral issues. In addition, because the run is small, it makes it very difficult to add things like clutter (https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/) to keep birds busy and let birds hide from each other, and additional feeders to reduce food aggression. Since you said you aren't planning to expand, you'll need to reduce the number of birds instead for flock harmony.

Also the 4 sq ft per bird in the coop recommendation doesn't work as well in cold climates like yours where birds are unwilling to come out on some days. In those cases it's recommended to go 6 to 8 sq ft inside the coop, in addition to 10 sq ft in the run (which I personally feel is too small).

As far as the issue with treats, the problem when you feed a lot of treats is you're diluting the protein level of the feed (17%) - you either need to cut back on treats or up the protein level to compensate. My birds get maybe 1/2 Tbsp a day per bird in scratch or black soldier fly larva, as a training reward, and greens or fruit when I happen to have them, which might be once every few days or just once a week.

 

[aart]

In those cases it's recommended to go 6 to 8 sq ft inside the coop, in addition to 10 sq ft in the run (which I personally feel is too small).

Ditto Dat^^^

As far as the issue with treats, the problem when you feed a lot of treats is you're diluting the protein level of the feed (17%)

...and the vitamins/minerals/amino acids in the feed.

 

[Northern Quebec]

The crowding issue is simply a matter of numbers, you have too many birds for the amount of space. Both coop and run are small and crowding is a huge contributor to behavioral issues. In addition, because the run is small, it makes it very difficult to add things like clutter (https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/) to keep birds busy and let birds hide from each other, and additional feeders to reduce food aggression. Since you said you aren't planning to expand, you'll need to reduce the number of birds instead for flock harmony.

Also the 4 sq ft per bird in the coop recommendation doesn't work as well in cold climates like yours where birds are unwilling to come out on some days. In those cases it's recommended to go 6 to 8 sq ft inside the coop, in addition to 10 sq ft in the run (which I personally feel is too small).

As far as the issue with treats, the problem when you feed a lot of treats is you're diluting the protein level of the feed (17%) - you either need to cut back on treats or up the protein level to compensate. My birds get maybe 1/2 Tbsp a day per bird in scratch or black soldier fly larva, as a training reward, and greens or fruit when I happen to have them, which might be once every few days or just once a week.

Great advice. I'll cut back on the treats and I'll cut back on the birds. That should bring an end to my dilemna and harmony back in the coop.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND ADVICE.
I greatly appreciate it.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Northern Quebec!