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Feather Pecking

Parsnip

In the Brooder
10 Years
Feb 8, 2009
11
0
22
I have a problem with feather pecking in my small flock of layers. I only have 7 hens which were rescued from a commercial free range laying unit at the end of their laying cycle. 6 of the hens show signs of having their feathers pecked out and there is some bleeding whereas 1 hen is fully feathered and clearly in charge. I have witnessed her pecking at the other 6. What should I do?
If think this is probably a bad habit picked up in the commercial flock but worry that if I remove her another bird will start the pecking to establish herself as the boss. Help!
PS they are laying beautiful eggs.
 
Are they too crowded? Once I got mine into a bigger run/coop they quit picking. There will always be a dominant hen, that's the "pecking order"!
 

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