chicken killing each other

[henhouse]

I NEED YOUR HELP I GOT CHICKS THE 5TH OF JUNE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE THEY HAVE KILLED ON AND THEN STARTED TO EAT ON IT . DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY THIS IS I HAVE A NEIGHBOR LADY THAT IS IN HER 80'S AND SHE SAID IT MIGHT BE THAT THE CHICKEN IS SICK. WHAT DO YOU THINK AND CAN I STOP THIS OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE

 

[tiki244]

Maybe they are too crowded? Kinda sounds like they might be too crowded. Can you add more information.

Do they have food and water all the time?

If you remove the dead chicks they wont eat them, but chickens will eat other dead chickens if they get the chance.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

If they are crowded or bored they will start pecking on each other. Once blood is drawn, if the chick is left, they will continue and kill then proceed to eat it.

 

[mmajw]

Overcrowding can cause them to peck eachother to death also if one is getting injured some how and the rest see that injury they will quickly turn into cannibals and eat the injured one.

If you notice one has injury remove them immediately, as the others will kill it. How many chickens do you have? How much space are they in? What is their feed? How is their access to water? How is their access to light and outside?

 

[wyliefarms]

We have had chicks die and the others don't try to eat it both layer and meat.

We have also had times when our meat chickens would turn on each other or on get a scratch from someone if they got spooked and then they will peck.

Our solution for this is to feed them liver cut up in strips. Liver is messy to cut up so it is best to have it partically frozen. I do this for a few days and they stop pecking.

I know once we had too many in the pen when this happened.

 

[tiki244]

So wyliefarms, you are saying they gotta have their meat? Hm interesting.

Good point.

 

[henhouse]

thanks for all imput. my shed is about 12X16 and i have 45 chicks in there they are outside from 6:00 till dark . I have them on chick grower and are given fresh water daily and is in front of them 24hr a day. i have about 50 layers and started them out from chicks and never had this problem before my hens are in a different barn from the babys.

thanks again for all your help:

 

[MissPrissy]

The size of your house you are at the very minimum for space for 45 chickens.

When they are bored and over crowded they will begin to pick and peck on the weaker of the bunch. Once blood is drawn they will continue to pick and will eventually kill the injured chicken. Chickens can and will eat other chickens. The world chickens live in is cold and cruel. Perhaps you could hang some heads of lettuce or some cobbs of fresh corn for them to have distractions and something to occupy themselves with.