Feather Pecking Hereditary?

[Chwicks]

Stop the BOSS.
What size is your coop?

You think 1 cup of BOSS amongst 14 chickens 1x/day is the problem?

The coop is 150 sq ft. The run is 150 sq ft too. Both have several roosts. Two roosts that are 10’ long in the coop. Multiple long roosts in the run too.

 

[Chwicks]

Measure the coop and roosting space. You might need to reduce your flock size.
Get the pin-less peepers ASAP.

I think feather picking is a behavioral issue caused by over crowding or poor feed considerably more often than genetics. The pin-less peepers have stopped this for a lot of owners.

I would go ahead and hatch the eggs I wanted

The peepers are on the way. In theory, our coop and run are sufficient for the amount of chickens we have in there. Coop is 150 sq ft. Run is 150 sq ft. There’s probably a total of 40 feet of roosts spread out between the coop and the run. I don’t have a problem reducing the flock size though. We’re getting more eggs than we need at this point.

 

[Kiki]

You think 1 cup of BOSS amongst 14 chickens 1x/day is the problem?

The coop is 150 sq ft. The run is 150 sq ft too. Both have several roosts. Two roosts that are 10’ long in the coop. Multiple long roosts in the run too. View attachment 1979619

No it don't think it is the problem but it could be part of the problem.

 

[Kiki]

Have you checked them well for lice and or mites?

 

[Chwicks]

Have you checked them well for lice and or mites?

I have, but I’ll check them again. These are my first chickens, but I’m assuming I would see the mites upon inspection. I’ve done searches online and read books on how to look for them. I’ve got the powder here to treat them, but I just haven’t seen any lice or mite.

 

[Kiki]

I have, but I’ll check them again. These are my first chickens, but I’m assuming I would see the mites upon inspection. I’ve done searches online and read books on how to look for them. I’ve got the powder here to treat them, but I just haven’t seen any lice or mite.

You may not see mites during the day so check them at night with a flashlight.
Lice...look at their butt area for little whitesh bugs.


What powder do you have?

 

[Chwicks]

You may not see mites during the day so check them at night with a flashlight.
Lice...look at their butt area for little whitesh bugs.


What powder do you have?

Ok. Thanks.

Gardstar Garden & Poultry Dust by Y-Tex.

 

[aart]

Is that pic the run or the coop?
Both are approximately 10-15'?
Space doesn't sound like the problem.

You may just have some bully birds.
Might try isolating the bullies for a time out.

Might want to clutter up the run:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Oh, and...aggression may be hereditary... or not.
Crapshoot.
As is getting colored eggs out of your stock. 50% at best.

 

[Chwicks]

Is that pic the run or the coop?
Both are approximately 10-15'?
Space doesn't sound like the problem.

You may just have some bully birds.
Might try isolating the bullies for a time out.

Might want to clutter up the run:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Oh, and...aggression may be hereditary... or not.
Crapshoot.
As is getting colored eggs out of your stock. 50% at best.

I missed your comment earlier because I was responding to another forum member.

This is the run. Yes, both coop and run are 10’x15’. I’ve been rotating chickens in and out of the isolation space/brooder. It’s just so crazy here. I’ve been trying to get this under control, but I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle. I sat out there for a long while today to watch them and identify the worst pickers. I was going to try and wait for the peepers, but I’m running out of isolation space. I’ve got two in the garage in separate dog kennels (one is a picker, one is a pickee with a wound), my cockerel in the brooder (one of the girls was pecking at his waddles and caused them to bleed - I’m not sure which one inflicted the initial injury) with another girl (injured on her comb) and the rest are together in the general run/coop area.

Our temp is 1 degree here, so I couldn’t spend as long as I wanted out there, but I’m going to take some decisive actions tomorrow morning. I’m about to head back out there and observe some more now so I can get a good feel for which chicken(s) is the main offender. I have one isolated, but there has to be another one.

Thank you for the link. That thread should be really useful. I’m going to scour through it later today.

I truly appreciate your help, and apologize if I was curt with you earlier.

 

[aart]

I truly appreciate your help, and apologize if I was curt with you earlier.

I didn't notice if you were, I've got tough skin.

Not fun thing you've got going on, especially at that temp...hang in there.