Does run need more stuff to help stop pecking?

[HilaryAkin]

I’m having problems with hens (one in particular) pecking my rooster. Do you think my run is big enough and there are enough places for him to hide? There’s too much open space? Any insights would be helpful!!

And as you will see, the rooster in the back with the butt pecking hen! She just follows him around hoping to catch him off guard ugh

 

[Krugerrand]

wow ... unless you have another 30 chickens you're not showing, it's hard to see that space as too small. I'll let people that know better weigh in from a behavior standpoint.

You may want to post this again under Chicken Behaviors.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/chicken-behaviors-and-egglaying.18/

I think some of the behavior experts get tired of telling people their coop is too small and needs more ventilation and so bypass the coop pages.

 

[FunClucks]

You have oodles of run space, if all you have is the chickens shown. Introducing more clutter is a good idea for many reasons, but I don't think it will stop feather picking or aggressive behavior. The rooster has enough space to get away already, but more clutter would help.

Is your bully hen pecking in aggression or dominance, or feather picking? Not sure from your post which it is. IF it's feather picking, is she getting enough calcium and protein in her diet? What's the % protein in her food, and do you free feed oyster shell?

Your best option either way (feather picking or pecking) I think is pinless peepers for your bully hen. If she's the only one picking/pecking him, this should stop the problem. You want to get on top of that behavior ASAP because you don't want other chickens picking it up.

 

[HilaryAkin]

wow ... unless you have another 30 chickens you're not showing, it's hard to see that space as too small. I'll let people that know better weigh in from a behavior standpoint.

You may want to post this again under Chicken Behaviors.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/chicken-behaviors-and-egglaying.18/

I think some of the behavior experts get tired of telling people their coop is too small and needs more ventilation and so bypass the coop pages.

Haha I don't, but I do have 8 more 4 week-ers ready to join them, but putting them in the smaller area with the smaller coop first to get them used to one another. I will have 22 total. Unfortunately, it's already so cold here in Northern Michigan so they're still in their brooder for another couple weeks.

Thank you for your suggestion!! I will post there.

 

[HilaryAkin]

You have oodles of run space, if all you have is the chickens shown. Introducing more clutter is a good idea for many reasons, but I don't think it will stop feather picking. Is your bully hen getting enough calcium and protein in her diet? What's the % protein in her food, and do you free feed oyster shell?

Your best option I think is pinless peepers for your bully hen. If she's the only one picking him, this should stop the problem. You want to get on top of that behavior ASAP because you don't want other chickens picking it up.

Are you sure she's feather picking and not just grooming him? I assume your rooster has a bare/bald spot and you see bloody feather shafts where feathers have been plucked out.

I believe it's 16 or 18% protein. I do put oyster shells out but never really see any of them eating it. They just knock the bowl over ugh.

I have heard of pinless peepers, I will try them out! I did have to segregate the rooster because he was bleeding profusely from the tail. He was isolated a week, came out with some blukote (sp?) on and the one hen kept pecking him tail still so I put her in segregation for a week and didn't seem to help.

 

[aart]

How old are these peckers...and the male?

Here's some ideas:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[HilaryAkin]

How old are these peckers...and the male?

Here's some ideas:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

They’re from the same brooder, 8 months. My older 1.5 year old hens don’t mess with him at all, even when he was bleeding. Immature brooder group? Wait and see?

 

[FunClucks]

They’re from the same brooder, 8 months. My older 1.5 year old hens don’t mess with him at all, even when he was bleeding. Immature brooder group? Wait and see?

Sounds like you have a problem hen. You've tried segregation of both the victim and the bully, time for the pinless peeper, IMO. If those don't work (they usually do), the options are either rehome the victim, the bully, or one or both of them become dinner.

There's an article about bullying that might also be helpful, but it's about hen on hen bullying - not sure how much applies to roosters. But it's got some good ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

 

[Mrs. K]

Once in a while, you get a bird that just does not fit in with the flock. When making decisions always solve for peace in the flock. I too, would try the pin-less peepers, and it that didn't work, I would move the bully out of the flock.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

Not about the bullying, but, try putting the oyster shell in something other than a bowl. I have seen people use something like a plastic bottle with a hole cut in the side and wired to a fence. I use large “cage cups” like for a bird or rabbit cage that clip great onto things like cattle panels.