Cannibalism--3 Now and I Don't Know What To Do!

[Pathfinders]

Ok, just fwiw, "scratch" is not an appropriate feed for chickens if it's all you feed them. Think of scratch as a treat, like cookies or ice cream. You wouldn't expect a child to be healthy if all you fed him was ice cream, right?

Buy a good quality, age-appropriate feed for your birds. Do not give them extra corn, wheat, oats, or other grains, by doing so you dilute the protein percentage.

Giving small amounts of green produce is ok, but again, too much and you throw off the calculated nutrition in the feed.

For now I'd stick with crumbles, as it will entice them to eat it, down the road you might be able to switch back to pellets (what brand of feed are you using?)

But really, adding grain in just messes things up, I'd really avoid doing that. Pine tar is all very well and good, but ideally you want to fix the nutrition issues that are causing this, not have to treat the symptoms, right?

 

[chicksgalore]

Update: I decided to free range the chickens today including the instigator to keep them busy and keep them busy it did!

I am going to get some of that pine tar since it would be so much more convenient to keep them all together. I am also going to keep the instigator for now but keep a close watch. If she starts up on any of the other hens, then she'll be gone. I got them a cabbage today--will give that to them tomorrow...

 

[mtnhomechick]

Be thoughtful with the " instigator" . I think it's a seasonal, molting thing. They will all do it at some point. I believe you can work with this situation and keep your girls. Several of mine were doing this and now none of them do it. JMHO.

 

[chicksgalore]

Just an update: everyone has been behaving and healing up nicely and growing back feathers. I enclosed my barred rocks (who seemed to be the worst at the pecking) for about 1-1/2 weeks and in the meantime, I mixed a bunch of my older hens in with the group that was getting pecked. I didn't see any pecking after this and after a few days, I even added the injured girls whom I watched very closely and they have continued to heal wonderfully. Then, when I did let the barred rocks out, they were in a different group and have not been terrorizing anyone. So, I am thankful I didn't get rid of any chickens and that they're all working out/getting along now. I do want to do some research on feed so I can have a better understanding of what they need and what they are getting. This has been a learning experience for me. Thanks for all the interest.