Crazy Chickens

[nolanwethington]

Help! I have 8 chickens that are all starting to act badly. I have had them for about 5 months, but just recently they have started to peck both at me and each other. Instead of running to me they run away from me. Some are starting to lose feathers. They are starting to act crazy! Is this something I am doing or are they sick?

Note: My chickens have not started to lay eggs yet. They are all pullets.

 

[KendyF]

Help! I have 8 chickens that are all starting to act badly. I have had them for about 5 months, but just recently they have started to peck both at me and each other. Instead of running to me they run away from me. Some are starting to lose feathers. They are starting to act crazy! Is this something I am doing or are they sick?

Note: My chickens have not started to lay eggs yet. They are all pullets.

I wanted you to know someone has seen your post.. Although I have never heard of this, the questions that come to my mind... Are they eating and drinking normally? when you say pecking, how bad, how often..? Are they ever just showing normal chicken behavior? What kind of coop do they have?

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I would say after checking the feed and water maybe try to get some electrolytes for a small boost. Also with the feathers have you checked them for any kind of bugs. I could be way off here, but it seems that when I see feathers go missing they have mites or something so I make sure they can take dust baths and regularly spray them.

What kind of set up do you have? Is there enough room for them to move around and keep occupied? Maybe try hanging cabbage for them to jump and peck at or get a flock block.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that other people will have input that will help.

 

[mortie]

There is also a juvenile molt that some chickens go through as teenagers. Could be that they are just reacting to their changing hormones and stuff. How big is your coop/run? Any free range?

 

[nolanwethington]

Thanks for the cabbage idea. However they do not have have bugs. I think they have plenty of space in and out of there coop. And yes they are free ranged.

 

[nolanwethington]

Changing hormones sounds right. Has this happend to anybody else?

 

[mortie]

Mine are going through a juvie mini molt. They are almost 17 weeks old and most of them enjoy being handled by me less than they did a few weeks ago. They are squabbling a little more. Honestly it all sounds pretty normal to me.

 

[nolanwethington]

Ok well thanks guys. This helped alot!

 

[memphis]

Mine got a little way right before they started laying. I would just sit in a chair & hand feed them. Spend time with them. They should out grow it. Mine did. What breed are they ?

 

[lovemy6hens]

Mine were about that age when they suddenly lost a lot of feathers. If you can see areas on them without feathers, that may be more of a concern.