Looks like peck wounds or injury. Any changes within the flock (additions/subtractions) or their environment? Normally, I don't do anything for minor scabs.
They free range on 10 acres so it shouldn't be a space issues. We do have 9 17 week olds that were added but they've been together for almost 8 weeks now. The older 5 (34 weeks) seem to pick on the younger ones more than each other or the other way around though and the younger ones don't have the black spots.
They free range on 10 acres so that is definitely a possibility.
I'm located in Colorado and don't add additional light. I personally like to let their little bodies do what they need to do, but only one of them has stopped laying.
I do the same. I was just trying to figure out when the most pecking was happening. Sometimes the reason is the ram tea light added during the roosting time.
Where do they sleep? Roost time can be brutal and that is when most pecking injuries originate.
They sleep in their coop. Plenty of roost space but the younger ones go in there much earlier and settle in well before the older ladies so that could definitely make sense. I also don't typically have eyes on them at that time. I'm just glad it looks like it's from pecking and not something viral. I appreciate the ideas!
