Help, Layers always fighting!

[Dephora]

I agree with everyone else. 30cm per chicken is not enough. They need minimum 1.2 meters each. That should really help with attacking eachother. Also as others said they need some roosts.

That looks like some bad bumblefoot, their bedding is getting too wet and not drying out, a lot of chickens in one room will do that. Is that the only one with it? What bedding are you using?

 

[cluckmecoop7]

They are way too crowded. They need to go outside. Chickens are meant to be OUTSIDE. They are not dogs or cats.

 

[reelmza]

I agree with everyone else. 30cm per chicken is not enough. They need minimum 1.2 meters each. That should really help with attacking eachother. Also as others said they need some roosts.

That looks like some bad bumblefoot, their bedding is getting too wet and not dryin,g out, a lot of chickens in one room will do that. Is that the only one with it? What bedding are you using?

Bedding is a north nigerian groundnut peel, the big size saw waste is the only alternantive and i cant get it in my town, but ill try use some softer material

 

[Dephora]

I raise them for commercial purposes mam, theres a lot of free rooms ill distribute the layers evenly tomorrow... and about the sand its not big deal..... i can take it out every month and put new ones

thanks!

I use sand in my coop as well. It is a very good bedding material because it dries very quick. Moisture or wet bedding is what causes bad health problems. I change it completely once a year. I rake the poop out daily. In a coop with good ventilation and drainage you could do 10-12 cm. But if you are going for along time between raking/cleaning or the air flow is bad you should do even deeper. 25-30 cm.

 

[reelmza]

That's very nice. I was wondering if you could make any money selling the young layers and setting up other people to also sell eggs?

yes but that would need brooding equipments and other stuff, i dont have that mucj money for now. but hoping

 

[reelmza]

Hello realmza.

1)Your chickens are fighting because they do not have enough space. In your picture.... There are too many chickens in that room. You must cut the flock in half. And that is how many chickens can be in that room. BUT....IF YOU BUILD MANYROOSTS.....then you can have more chickens in the room.
Your chickens will fight to the death of it is not done properly. They will kill eachother. They are competing for space, comfort, and food. The aggressive behaviour will get worse. And the aggressive chickens will also teach the other chickens to be aggressive as well. Act fast...before the damage gets worse.

2) All chickens must have roosts/perches. This is not an option. This is absolutely required.
Look on Google for easy perch ideas. You DO NOT need to spend money.
You can even use trees and large branches from outside to make roosts/perches. But you must make them properly. The perches give them more space. And also....they make the chickens feel safe and less stressed....they have a natural instinct to sit up on a perch...off the ground, to stay safe from predators. I understand there are no predators there.....but the chickens do not understand that. It is a natural instinct...and they absolutely need the roosts/perches. If you provide the proper amount of perches for the chickens...this will also help with their aggression. It will lower their stress and aggression.

3) if the chickens do not have access to the outside ground(alot of space outside)... Then you must build a sand box....or a dirt box. This is another mandatory thing for chickens. You MUST have it. You must allow them to dig and scratch in the sand box or dirt box. Again....this is a natural instinct. If you do not allow them to have this ...they will get stressed....it can also make them aggressive. Build the box to lower stress levels and lower aggression.

4) Use Hay or straw on the ground of your coop. If you do not have access to Hay or straw....use long grass from outside that has been completely dried out. It must be completely dry before you use it or it can grow mold and make your chickens sick. If you do this....it will help your chickens feet. Your coop can not be wet.....if there is too much urine....or too much water...on the ground....then you must fix this problem as well.

Please let us know how it goes.

If you do everything correctly you should start seeing positive results with the aggression in the chickens within 2 weeks. And after a month.....most of the aggression should be gone. Let us know if you need people to show you pictures of proper coop space....proper roosts/perches ....and proper bedding.
Everyone would be happy to show you pictures.

Thanks for the idea nova, i will try and do all these you stated. o have already, reduced the population of the room and put it some dirt too, i will try and make the roost for them tomorrow.

thank you very much!

 

[Nova Scotia Homestead]

Thanks for the idea nova, i will try and do all these you stated. o have already, reduced the population of the room and put it some dirt too, i will try and make the roost for them tomorrow.

thank you very much!

No problem reelmza. Let us know if it
has improved. We are all excited to see your progress

 

[Nova Scotia Homestead]

Thanks for the idea nova, i will try and do all these you stated. o have already, reduced the population of the room and put it some dirt too, i will try and make the roost for them tomorrow.

thank you very much!

Also...let me know if you would like me to show you a VERY affordable brooder idea.

 

[LaFleche]

i splitted the chicken into two. 35 in the big room and 13 in the smaller room, the smaller room had 4 layers initially in it so i added 9 to make them 13. out of this 13 about 7 spend the whole day on their roost, but the beating has reduced alot.

That is certainly good news!

Did you put some feeders and water dispensers on the second level near the roosts so the weaker ones can have their share too?

 

[Sequel]

Can you post some pictures of your set up? It sounds like they need more space.