Help I have a mean chicken and also not laying

Hi.

The 9 month olds should not be molting. It is true they don't lay when they molt. But I also don't think they start again until day light starts increasing.

It is not true that the oldest will always be the top. But it can take a while for the dynamics to work themselves out. Chances are they may be stressed.

Some questions... what are you feeding including treats, how big is coop and run, free range, supplemental lighting?

It is barn yard politics until it becomes focused to the point of causing harm.

 

Chickens require more space than what is stated......Your pen is small and Boredom brings on aggression ............


Enrich their lives by building a nice size run......


Cheers!

 

What does feather fixing feed do... I mean how?

All those snack may be decreasing your nutritional value and causing some of your problem. Layer feed is low in protein. I would go with a 20% protein or higher like Purina Flock Raiser. It has only 1% calcium so won't be harmful to the non layers. And provide free choice oyster shell on the side for layers. That should also help to grow in feathers. Too much calcium as in Layer feed can cause long term kidney issues in non layers.

Sometimes when I have a girl come up missing for a couple of hours, she is hiding a nest.

You might consider putting the aggressor in a time out, look but don't touch pen for a couple days and then reintroduce.

 

Feather Fixer is a marketing scam ...errrr...hook.
It has higher protein(18% I think) but still has quite a bit of calcium.
When it first came out it exuberantly touted it's proprietary mite repelling attributes...it strangely no longer advertises that.
Was later speculated by users that the "proprietary mite repelling attributes' was the addition of a sulfur component.....
....which is a proven pest deterrent, but sheesh.

Agrees that an 'all flock' type feed and oyster shells on the side is the way to go.
I like to feed a flock raiser/grower/finisher 20% protein crumble full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

 

I think they would greatly benefit from more space. That looks really small and cramped for 4 hens. Your smallest brahma needs plenty of opportunity to get away and relax where they wont pick on her.
Is the part connected with a tarp their coop part? Or run?
How many square feet is the part not covered in a tarp?