CHICKENS PECKING EACHOTHER

[mavis4]

These photos were taken ages ago and it is worse now

Hi, my hen are all pecking eachother and eating their feathers. I have 4. One of my hens is nearly bold all over if breaks my heart. I have tried pecking spray but nothing has worked. They are not free range but they have a large run. Please help I want her feathers to grow back as she dosnt have many feathers left. What can I do? Thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

How old are they now? Could they be molting? Molting can occur any time of the year, but the first big molt is around 14-18 months and yearly thereafter. What type of feed are they getting, and are they free fed? How large is the run? Here are some good articles about feather picking and cannibalism:
http://articles.extension.org/pages...nibalism-in-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks
https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1095/2902-1095_pdf.pdf

 

[Eggcessive]

Increasing their protein in the diet to 20% may help to prevent pecking if they are lacking protein in the diet.

 

[mavis4]

Increasing their protein in the diet to 20% may help to prevent pecking if they are lacking protein in the diet.

How old are they now? Could they be molting? Molting can occur any time of the year, but the first big molt is around 14-18 months and yearly thereafter. What type of feed are they getting, and are they free fed? How large is the run? Here are some good articles about feather picking and cannibalism:
http://articles.extension.org/pages...nibalism-in-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks
https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1095/2902-1095_pdf.pdf

I got them August 2015. They are all definitely pecking eachother though.