I have four hens who have lived together for quite some time, but recently one of them (not even the dominant bird) starting pecking at the others' feet and legs incessantly, until they bleed. The pecked birds have become so wary of her that they spend a lot of time laying down, and if standing when she approaches they sink to their bellies so she can't get their feet. I've cleaned the feet of the injured birds, applied neosporin, and covered the wounds with vet wrap so the wounds don't attract the attention of the pecker. But she continues to peck the uncovered parts of the toes and legs until they bleed. I've now separated the pecker from the others. I'm planning to keep her separated until the others heal and then reintroduce them. But I want to get to the root of this issues so I can make sure it doesn't happen again. Unfortunately I've changed a number of things in the last few months which makes it hard to figure out what the cause is. I've done some research on cannibalism and have a few ideas of what could be causing this, but I'm hoping that some experienced folks can lend me a little wisdom and point me in the most likely direction.
1. Heat. It's recently gotten into the 90s every day here. The coop is mostly in the shade, but in the late afternoon the sun does shine in most of it.
2. New feed. About two months before the cannibalism started I switched feed brands. The newer feed is locally made and closer to get than the old feed, which was the Nutrena NatureWise. I'm concerned that the new feed might not have the adequate protein or salt or other nutrients, which may have caused the cannibalism.
3. Scaly leg mites. Just a few days before I witnessed the cannibalism I noticed all the hens legs were looking pretty beat up and upon closer examination I saw the scales were raised, which made me suspect scaly leg mites. I began treating their legs with vaseline mixed a little bit of tea tree oil. In retrospect, the cannibalism may have already started before the day I noticed the scaly leg mites (cannibalism could be what caused the legs to look beat up). I've treated the coop, roosting area, and nesting boxes with diatomaceous earth and have changed all the shavings in the nest boxes (now pine and cedar shavings mixed), and have continued to treat them for scaly leg mites with either vaseline or antibiotic ointment (for those that have been pecked).
4. Free ranging. My hens have always been confined to a coop until about 2 months ago when I started letting them free range in the backyard for an hour or so before sunset. They really love this and would like to be allowed out a lot more often. I'm wondering if "taste of freedom" they've gotten has made them discontented with life in the coop and has brought on boredom.
Two other things have changed lately as well, both of which I attributed to the summer heat, but also thought could be due to scaly leg mites: the hens are laying fewer eggs, and they are eating less. Just thought I should mention those in case it could be connected.
Any advice is welcome. Thanks.
1. Heat. It's recently gotten into the 90s every day here. The coop is mostly in the shade, but in the late afternoon the sun does shine in most of it.
2. New feed. About two months before the cannibalism started I switched feed brands. The newer feed is locally made and closer to get than the old feed, which was the Nutrena NatureWise. I'm concerned that the new feed might not have the adequate protein or salt or other nutrients, which may have caused the cannibalism.
3. Scaly leg mites. Just a few days before I witnessed the cannibalism I noticed all the hens legs were looking pretty beat up and upon closer examination I saw the scales were raised, which made me suspect scaly leg mites. I began treating their legs with vaseline mixed a little bit of tea tree oil. In retrospect, the cannibalism may have already started before the day I noticed the scaly leg mites (cannibalism could be what caused the legs to look beat up). I've treated the coop, roosting area, and nesting boxes with diatomaceous earth and have changed all the shavings in the nest boxes (now pine and cedar shavings mixed), and have continued to treat them for scaly leg mites with either vaseline or antibiotic ointment (for those that have been pecked).
4. Free ranging. My hens have always been confined to a coop until about 2 months ago when I started letting them free range in the backyard for an hour or so before sunset. They really love this and would like to be allowed out a lot more often. I'm wondering if "taste of freedom" they've gotten has made them discontented with life in the coop and has brought on boredom.
Two other things have changed lately as well, both of which I attributed to the summer heat, but also thought could be due to scaly leg mites: the hens are laying fewer eggs, and they are eating less. Just thought I should mention those in case it could be connected.
Any advice is welcome. Thanks.
