Cickens pecking each other.

[gaited horse]

Some of my girls aare picking on a couple of others what can I do to make them stop?

 

[gaited horse]

Anyone?

 

[PhilErvin]

I have one that picks the chest feathers out of one particular hen. When I see her do it I slap my hands together to startle her. She looks at me and seems to forget for the moment about the feathers. I have had my eye on this hen for a while now. If she continues this pecking thing I think I will have her over for Sunday dinner, she will be the main course.

 

[The Chicken People]

Are they overcrowded? too much light? Lots of reasons for feather picking!

 

[gaited horse]

Quote:
They're not over crowed. they get enough light not to much light. And they don't peck on her when I see them.

 

[ranchhand]

Hi Gaited!

Couple things come to mind-

Is there lighting in the coop? A white light can encourage to pecking.
Are they eating each other's feathers? That can be a sign of not enough protein in the diet.
Do they have plenty of space? Crowding can cause pecking as well.
Is anyone bleeding? That's a BIG issues, because they will kill the injured one.

 

[ranchhand]

Okay, saw the rest. They might be getting just a bit too much light and pecking at night. I moved the roosts farther apart so mine couldn't do that.

 

[gaited horse]

Quote:
They get light from the sun into there coop.
I don't think they are eating the feather tho they pick the two they pick on have no tail feathers any more from being picked on.
They have about three foot indide per bird and 4 feet outside per bird.
They only bleed after being picked on.

 

[gaited horse]

Quote:
They have room to roost but th most of them sleep on the floor.

 

[gaited horse]

Is there anything I can put on the chickens being picked on?