Chickens pecking each other: How do I stop them?

[Birdsong 82]

Is that the run that they’re in or is that the yard that they Are in

 

[Birdsong 82]

So that looks like a pretty big run. And they are all huddled together in the pic. Did you give them something good right there ? Usually when my one hen jumps and plays pecking order the others stay away. They don’t look particularly uptight in the pic.

Could be just the moment. Do you have pics of the damage?

I don’t think that is the run the chickens are in I think the run is that fenced area on the right. I think that’s the area she can let them out and when she can be there. But just like anyone else she can’t be there all day I’m sure she either has to work or has some kind of agenda. I think that’s the dilemma is they can’t stay in that big area because of Predators. I was wondering how big the coop and the run is that they stay in all day

 

[KaseySnow]

Yes, I am a working illustrator and need to be in my studio working, I cannot just hang out and watch chickens all day, as much as I would like to!

Okay, here are more pictures. After taking these I put the hen savers on the two browns that were the worst pecked.

This first one I call Ditzy is the worst off; she also had signs of pecking on her wings. It's hard to tell in the picture, but her flesh is very red.:

This is Sprinkles, the second worse:

And Satchmo, just has a little spot at the base of her tail, maybe half an inch in diameter and the skin looks dark and not recently pecked:

Here is the coop/run. It's hard to see in the image, but that whole area to the left with the wheel and the tree is included in the run:

And here is the length of the yard they get to graze in. I try to let them out for an hour a day at least, sometimes a little longer:

 

[Wyorp Rock]

"They" say a picture is worth a thousand words...
Like you have mentioned you thought boredom was the cause of the pecking, I believe your are correct. That and being in too small of a space.

I see no where in that space where you can make any changes. You will just have to do the best you can. Your friend put you in a predicament, it will either be dealing with feather loss/pecking or one getting carried off/kill or injured by the fox or whatever predator is lurking around.

The saddles may offer a small amount of protection, but there are 6 large fowl in there.
I love my Rocks they are great birds, I don't think I'll ever be without that breed but those girls have strong personalities.

The only other thing I can think of is to speak with the owner to see if they can arrange for someone to come build a larger, secured run while they are gone or install electric fencing. EF won't deter the hawks, but will usually take care of fox/dog for at least a while.
Just my thoughts.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

For some reason I started thinking about there already being saddles for these poor birds when there isn't a rooster. The owner must have already had a chronic pecking problem and has been using saddles to try to prevent it.

That's way too small for those poor chickens. That extra space should definitely be made more secure for them so they have access to it always. The protein content of their ration should be higher, in my experiences sex links can become protein deficit and they will turn to egg and feather eating to try to fix their own deficiencies.

If this continues for much longer it could quickly turn into cannibalism. It takes just one drop of blood sometimes.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Those birds have just gained access to that area. There is too much green. How long has your friend had these chickens? They look 6 to 8 m/o. Looks like they are young and establishing the pecking order.

 

[KaseySnow]

The run is L shaped, not sure if you guys saw my comment on the picture. There is more room than just the tall space in front of the coop that you put in the red box. The little area off to the left is also chicken run area. All along that brick wall, basically, is fenced off for them.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

That's way too small

x2

 

[Eggcessive]

They definitely need to expand their coop and run. The long section of fencing is pretty flimsy and useless against predators, since it doesn’t have posts supporting it every 4 to 6 feet.

 

[KaseySnow]

Those birds have just gained access to that area. There is too much green. How long has your friend had these chickens? They look 6 to 8 m/o. Looks like they are young and establishing the pecking order.

It has been raining a lot, it's usually much more brown than the area outside of the fencing. I let them out into that area once a day for an hour, that's all the time I have. I believe they are about a year old, but will double check.