Chicken issues

[LotteMay]

Hello, Can anyone tell me what this could be? I always clean the coop out, they have access to dirt baths everyday, and its mite free.
I have 6 chickens and i think she maybe being pecked? They have access to my garden for an hour in the morning and 4 hours in the evening... They have to stay in the coop for part of the day as Mr and Mrs Fox like to visit and i would be worried if something happened.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You mention they have to stay in the coop for part of the day - does that include a run as well? How much space is that?

Looks like picking - the second photo - what part of the body is that - the back? Do you have a rooster?
They are lice/mite free? Have you checked your birds and housing at night when mites come out - those don't live on the bird, they live in housing.

 

[LotteMay]

It fits six of them, i can't extend it anymore... I'm not allowed a rooster as i live in a built up area... And its her back, its hard to get a photo as she doesn't sit still for long enough. Its all mite free. Me and my dad clean them out, (which they hate) and we always make sure its mite free. I checked all my girls and they don't have any mites on them

 

[Roo5]

Do the birds have to stay in the coop all day or get excess to the run as well all day?

 

[lomine]

What are the actual dimensions of the coop? If its a prefab coop that says it fits 6, chances are it's not big enough. You didn't answer the question about if you have a run or not.

If the chickens are locked in the coop for most of the day they are probably very stressed. Likely this hen is the lowest in the pecking order so she probably gets the worst of everyone's frustrations.

 

[LotteMay]

Sorry, the run is connected wi

What are the actual dimensions of the coop? If its a prefab coop that says it fits 6, chances are it's not big enough. You didn't answer the question about if you have a run or not.

If the chickens are locked in the coop for most of the day they are probably very stressed. Likely this hen is the lowest in the pecking order so she probably gets the worst of everyone's frustrations.

The run is connected with the coop, the stay inside between 8am-4-4.30pm, myself and family work. As soon as i'm home they have the run of my garden till bedtime.

 

[LotteMay]

Sorry, the run is connected wi

What are the actual dimensions of the coop? If its a prefab coop that says it fits 6, chances are it's not big enough. You didn't answer the question about if you have a run or not.

If the chickens are locked in the coop for most of the day they are probably very stressed. Likely this hen is the lowest in the pecking order so she probably gets the worst of everyone's frustrations.

The run is connected with the coop, the stay inside between 8am-4-4.30pm, myself and family work. As soon as i'm home they have the run of my garden till bedtime.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It fits six of them, i can't extend it anymore... I'm not allowed a rooster as i live in a built up area... And its her back, its hard to get a photo as she doesn't sit still for long enough. Its all mite free. Me and my dad clean them out, (which they hate) and we always make sure its mite free. I checked all my girls and they don't have any mites on them

Sorry, the run is connected wi

The run is connected with the coop, the stay inside between 8am-4-4.30pm, myself and family work. As soon as i'm home they have the run of my garden till bedtime.

Can you post some photos of your coop/run?
Fitting six of them doesn't give us an idea of actual size - can you give us the dimensions?
What do you feed - type of food (all flock/layer?) including treats?
If it's her back too and you have no rooster - you have a picking problem.
Picking can be caused by lack of space and boredom and occasionally nutritional deficiencies.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think it is lack of space causing this issue, and letting them out in the garden does not make up for too tight of quarters in the coop. How old are your birds. Pecking is a common problem at about 6 months of age, what was enough space for chicks, is not enough space for full grown birds.

As stated above, the prefab set ups, grossly over state how many birds can fit. You might pull out two or three birds, and see if the ones left, relax. Sometimes it is hard to recognize tension in a flock, until you see it relax.

If you do nothing, the pecking will get worse, and more than likely another bird might be pecked too. If it is the size of the coop causing the problem, then you either have to get a bigger coop, or less hens. Wishing they will all get along will not work, even when you do let them have time in a bigger area.

MRs K

 

[lomine]

Sounds like it's a prefab coop and run all in one. As Mrs. K stated, you'll either need to give them more room or reduce your numbers. It's not a permanent solution, but in the mean time you may want to consider getting an electric net fence. It will allow them to be out of the run while you're at work and protect them from most predators.