CHICKENS ARE PECKING EACH OTHER

[AlexandraChickens543]

Hi,
I'm new here and I noticed a while ago that my chickens buts were red and missing feathers so I added scratch to their meals upped their protein intake and treated for mites- NOTHING HAPPENED. So today I decided to let them out and I realised they are pecking each other! What should I do?????
-Alexandra

 

[coopintheburbs]

I read that chicks obsess over things and peck at their obsession and that the best thing to do is to give them a surrogate to their obsession. Since it's feathers your chicks are obsessing with maybe put some stuffed animals in the brooder? If they start pecking at eyes, put some shiny things in the brooder like marbles.

Especially since they're picking at vents, you'll definitely want to redirect their attentions before they go cannibal on ya!

 

[AlleysChicks]

Don’t mix in scratch, they will pick through their feed to eat the scratch and not eat as much feed. What is the protein % you’ve been feeding? Also how many birds and how big is their housing?

 

[Eggcessive]

Scratch will decrease the protein ratio, so feed them layer feed as 90% of their diet. All flock or flock rsiser will increase the protein to 20% temporarily. A lack of protein, boredom, and too little room can lead to pecking of feathers or vents, which can lead to cannibalism. Do you chickens get out, and do they have enough room?