Does apple cider vinegar stop hens from pecking each other?

[MissPrissy]

Pecking is a sign of a couple of problems. Rooster-red pointed them out.

Your chickens most likely need a larger place to live. How many do you have? What size is their hen house? What size is their run?

What are you feeding them? If they don't have enough protein and food available at all times they will seek it out by pick and eating feathers, eating eggs and anything else they can fine to munch on.

 

[nieceharr]

Thanks. Where do I put the hot pick – on the feathers or on the skin? Sorry to sound so ignorant. I’m new at all this.

I have 9 chickens. My coop is 4x8 and my run is 8x8. They get free roam of my yard (1/4 acre) when I get home from work for about 1-2 hours each day. They get ½ grower pellets and ½ layer pellets, which is available to them all day. They also have grit every day as well as a morning treat of yogurt, sunflower seeds, oats, grapes, bananas and lettuce. I’m keeping the new ones in a dog crate within their run. When they are out in the yard, if one of the new ones gets anywhere near (10 feet) the others, one of the others will run over to peck at her or chase her away. I don’t think that it’s out of boredom or low protein. I think that they are in a “click” and will not let the others into their “click”. We have 2 distinct groups of chickens who won’t “flock together”. My rooster takes turns visiting both groups, but usually sticks around the new ones.

 

[nieceharr]

I’m happy to say that when I let my chickens out to roam around the yard last night, there was NO PECKING! They were actually begging at the (outdoor) dinner table together! A few actually stuck around the new ones for awhile. I’m not ready to let the new ones join the others in the coop just yet (they are in a dog crate inside the coop). I think that I’ll try to sneak them into the hen house after dark on Saturday night. Please keep your fingers crossed that they have been accepted into the flock! I’ve been quite upset about this and am very much relieved that they are starting to get along!

 

[mollycat79]

How much protien should they be having? I've seen a mix that is 15%

 

[debid]

How much protien should they be having? I've seen a mix that is 15%

It's better to start your own thread than to bump one from 2008.

During molt, I used a 21% feed with animal protein in it. The rest of the time, 16%. The reason I increased it during molt was that they were picking at the blood feathers on the rooster-bared hens and picking was a problem I'd never had before. The problem was quickly solved with the feed switch.