Feather pecking

Shox820

In the Brooder
Mar 3, 2025
31
25
26
St Petersburg, FL
My 7 hens will be 19 weeks old tomorrow. A few have been doing the submissive squat for two weeks. Others are just starting. I noticed two of them today are feather pecking. They are on 18% protein layer feed, get black soldier fly larvae here and there, not daily, they have over 20 sq feet of space per chicken. Is this just hormonal behavior? These eggs won’t come soon enough.
 
I wonder if they are just getting bored.
Do you have clutter in the run?
They have a 4 tier tree perch that is floor to ceiling, a literal piano to peck at and sit on, a big swing, a large branch, treat toys, and dust baths. I am working on a little garden bed with mesh over it for them to pick at. Would love other enrichment ideas.
 
Okay that’s good.
Then, it could very well be hormonal/pecking order establishment.
You didn’t state the breed, but I’d assume they are close to laying their first eggs.
Some breeds do take a while. My Speckled Sussex hens take much longer than the production breeds.
 
Okay that’s good.
Then, it could very well be hormonal/pecking order establishment.
You didn’t state the breed, but I’d assume they are close to laying their first eggs.
Some breeds do take a while. My Speckled Sussex hens take much longer than the production breeds.
The one i noticed doing it the most today is a Silver Laced Wyandotte. The other is a Blue Copper Maran. My welbar isnt feather pecking but she has been squatting for two weeks lol. They have all been super vocal recently too. Like enough to make me run out there and them to be staring at me like “what?”.
 
Enrich their diet since they can't free range. Just layer feed with BSFL once in a while isn't enough.
They do get veggies pretty regularly. Whole cabbages, lettuce, and cucumbers are their favorites. I forgot i do that too. And a high quality berry scratch every morning. They say not to give too much of that so they only get like 1/4 cup daily which seems like nothing to me lol. But I dont want to over feed either.
 

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