Chicken Started Attacking

[Outsider]

I have 3 easter eggers. They are all around 1 year old and have been together their whole life. All of a sudden one of them started attacking one other chicken. It will chase it inside the coop and continue to attack. They were all laying eggs wonderfully. Now I am finding eggs in random places. Egg production has fallen since this started. What should I do? I don't have much experience with chickens. I wanted them for eggs and also for my kids.

 

[aart]

Hmmm....hard to say what's going on.

How big is the coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Also what all and how exactly are you feeding?

Oh, and..... Welcome to BYC! @Outsider sorry you're having troubles.
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
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[Outsider]

How big is the coop and run, in feet by feet?

The coop is 10 ft X 10 ft. It is 2 ft off the ground so they can go under it. The run is 15 ft X 15 ft. 2 nesting boxes, 2 little giant automatic watering systems.

Also what all and how exactly are you feeding?
I am feeding them chicken scratch with cracked corn, sunflower seeds, and split peas. I crush the egg shells and throw it in the feed bowl. We give them some fruit sometimes.

I don't have pictures at the moment. I will work on that.

 

[Outsider]

I made a mistake. The coop is 6ft X 6ft not 10 X 10.

 

[aart]

Space sounds OK.

I am feeding them chicken scratch with cracked corn, sunflower seeds, and split peas. I crush the egg shells and throw it in the feed bowl. We give them some fruit sometimes.

This may be part of the problem, scratch is rather low in nutrition.
What is the protein percentage on the scratch?

 

[Outsider]

16% Protein

 

[Outsider]

I was using a feed made by Texas Natural. Non GMO Non Soy. This feed is 18% protein. I was going through 50 Lbs every 6 weeks or so. At $30 a bag. So I switch to a cheaper feed but that was 3 months ago before the one chicken starting pecking and egg production dropped.

 

[aart]

16% Protein

More than the Typical scratch then(usually about 8%) sounds like cracked grain layer feed. 3-4% calcium?

Not sure what your girls problems is, might have to separate her if she can't be nice.

 

[Outsider]

Yes. Label shows 3.5-4.5%. I am disappointed about egg production. Should I do something different?

 

[aart]

Not sure what to tell you.
If the attacks started after the feed change maybe get a small bag of chick starter crumbles for a protein boost.
Maybe ferment the 16% cracked grain feed, the vitamins/minerals/amino acids in the fines can sift down to the bottom and soaking of fermenting them helps get them into the birds.
Might have to separate the bully, at least for part of the days.