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

[luvmygirlsinAK]

Give them some kind of extra protein every other day. This is what I had to do to finally get rid of the pecking. I give them scrambled quail eggs, or ground sheep meat, or moose liver chopped up every other day. (Just happen to have these things in abundance, you can use other sources as well.) I also add Cod Liver Oil to it, because of the winter, we don't have as much sun as we do in the summer, so they need some source of Vitamin D. Lack of sunshine, or Vitamin D will make not only chickens grouchy, but humans as well.

 

[SussexInSeattle]

Thanks for the advice on the Vitamin D. Now I know what my problem is...

To the person with the problem, I think if your gut is telling you to cull the one or two most aggressing pullets and you have two flocks of over 50 birds, go with what gives you the MOST peace of mind. I had to cull when I only had 5 birds for other reasons.

About just giving layer pellets and wheat, my chickens also hate those layer pellets so what I am doing is giving one full scoop of crumbles and use one tuna fish can of the dreaded pellets along with one tuna fish can of cracked corn to kind of 'sweeten the deal'. They seem to be eating the pellets when it is just a fraction of their feed. I won't buy them again even though the feed store sells the pellets cheaper.

My pullets must think they are royalty because they get all kinds of different foods every single day besides the chicken feed.
Sometimes it is just a loaf of day old bread but if I have time, the list is insane of the things I have offered and they attack! This morning was a pint of white rice that came with last night's chinese food. They went crazy for that! Some mornings it's oatmeal, pancakes or fried eggs. Sometimes it's tuna, sardines or salmon. They like leftover spaghetti with meat sauce. It can be yogurt, cottage cheese, dry cereal. They like berries, bananas and red grapes they go nuts for. They also like nuts! I have given them flax seed, raisins, salad, cabbage, cantelope, and wild bird seed is a huge favorite. I feel like they are missing out on greens so I am trying to find a grocery store that will give me access to wilted greens but so far I haven't had any luck.

You would be surprised at what your girls will eat, I read that someone put out a half watermelon for their flock and when they came home from work, all that was left was a piece of rind the size of a cookie.

 

[basicliving]

I'm sorry you are going through this. I had a feather picking/plucking issue and did a great deal of research on it. Feather picking/plucking is typically a precursor to cannibalism, so the treatment seems to be pretty much the same.

I agree, if you think you have one or more that are primarily the culprits, I would separate them and consider culling or rehoming. This type of behavior can be a learned behavior, and once even one starts it, others are likely to join in.

I would also eliminate EVERYTHING from their diet that is not high in protein for a couple of weeks. Leave the chicken feed, but do not feed anything that is not high in protein. I would feed them eggs, meat, cheese, yogurt, etc.

It sounds as though you do not free range them? You say they have plenty of space - is there grass in their run, or have they decimated it? If there is nothing growing in the run, add raked leaves, straw, something for them to scratch and pick through. Sprinkle what you feed them through out the run and coop litter to help keep them busy. You may consider a feed block or two. The goal is to re-focus their attention OFF of each other.

This is really a very difficult behavior to change once it has started, but I know several people who have had success. It does require a great deal of attention and effort though.

If you can cover the pecked/raw areas with pine tar, that may help. I slather it on rather thickly and it has helped. It is nasty to work with, but apparently tastes even nastier and the pecking stops when I've used it. Be sure to keep it on the areas they are pecking at for a couple of weeks.

I wish you the very best of luck. I know how frustrating and heart breaking this type of behavior in your flock can be.

Take care,
Penny

 

[Pathfinders]

I also agree that added protein will help this issue, as will added salt.

Now, at the risk of being slapped about the head and shoulders, I will tell you the easiest way to add extra protein to your chicken's diets, and one that has been used for many years by many long-time breeders:

Cat food.

Yep, dried cat food. You want to find one that is high in protein (about 30%), and add a judicious amount, not too much, but enough to deal with the craving.

I know some people have issues with this, but it really does work. I have a flock of about 50 or so large fowl, and they get about a cup of dried cat food per day. They adore it. I scatter it and when they see me they come running, as they know I give it to them. It is especially good in the winter for birds who don't have access to the bugs they'd get in summer.

For the most entrenched cases of cannibalism, you can try the Salt Cure shown here:http://www.plamondon.com/faq_healthcare.html

Good luck with this, I know it can be very distressing.

 

[girlsaint]

Have you tried pine tar? If you put it over the raw spot, the others might leave it alone. It's messy but it gives them time to heal....

 

[chilling in muscadine]

Pine tar and the dry cat food are great for this problem. I hang cabbage everyday for them to peck at. In the summer I fill there run will grass clippings and the winter with leaves and straw, scatter some food for them to scratch in. This gives them something to do besides peck each other. I haven't had a problem since taking these steps. Good luck

 

[sugarbush]

Quote:
Stop giving them the whole grain. They like it better than the layer pellets, but it does not provide the protein they need.

I would also switch them to a crumble as they may eat that better than the pellets. And supplementing as suggested previously is a good idea until they stop eating eachother.

 

[chicksgalore]

Okay--thanks for all your tips. Here's what I've done so far: I have the 3 injured girls in a coop by themselves. I gave them cat food and also gave the rest of their group some cat food this morning.

I have the ringleader in the dog kennel by herself for now.

Today I'm going to go buy them crumbles as well as some heads of cabbage.

I save all my scraps throughout the day to give my chickens as well and they love them, although so far, I've just been giving them to the larger group I have.

It sounds as though you do not free range them? You say they have plenty of space - is there grass in their run, or have they decimated it? If there is nothing growing in the run, add raked leaves, straw, something for them to scratch and pick through. Sprinkle what you feed them through out the run and coop litter to help keep them busy. You may consider a feed block or two. The goal is to re-focus their attention OFF of each other.

They are in a large area to roam, but all greens have been decimated. I have added leaves but not lately. I do have some old hay I can throw in for now. I haven't been letting them out to free range (although a couple sometimes get out) because our peas are going to be going in the garden any day and I don't want to let them get used to being out and then shut them up completely.

Where can you get pine tar? I would be into trying that.

Again, thanks for all your help and I will keep you posted.

Another question? What about corn? I have shelled corn available but wasn't giving it to this group because of the silkies--I wasn't sure if they would choke on the kernals?​

 

[cimarron]

we are having this exact problem, i did a search and found your thread and it is very helpful. i noticed last night one of our ameraucanas was missing tail feathers. i pointed out to my boyfriend just now, and we noticed blood on the beak of our BO and a bloody bare spot on the A...! after reading this i am headed to get some high protein cat food and will be making some of the other adjustments.

about 2 weeks ago we switched from chick crumbles to hen scratch and kitchen scraps and a lot of greens from the winter garden that are going to seed, with a handful of oyster shell a day for 7 hens...i think we need to do more to get them their right nutrition. they have a decent sized run but we dont free range them due to hazards. any other tips on diet would be much appreciated.

 

[chutewoman]

You get pine tar at the local farm supply. It is in the horse section. It is the only thing that stopped my chickens from killing each other (they did kill 2 hens, one was a silkie.) Keep a good layer of it on the wound and on the surrounding feathers and after a week they will have forgotten chicken taste good. If they ever start up again, quickly get the pine tar back out and remind them again. The hens need to be together to get a taste of this, supervise them all together for a while, keep the wounds covered with the tar, you will see this does work.