- Jul 31, 2011
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Somebody please help! I inherited chickens with my new property in the southern Arizona desert. When i first saw the house and decided to buy it, there were 9 chickens all in a large approx 16 x 16 x 8 coop. When i came back a few months later to settle on the property, there were four chickens in separate fenced enclosures within that original coop. When i asked why, i was told "they were fighting with each other." Shortly after that, before i moved in, a dog dug it's way underneath the coop and killed three of the chickens.
So when i finally moved in, there were six chickens, four in enclosures and two free-ranging within the coop. I noticed those two were pecking at each other some, but not a lot. I thought i'd try leaving the other three out, one at a time to see how they did. I left the 'little' one out (I think she is a bantam, but have no idea what any of the others are). The three seemed to get along fine, but then i noticed the gray one pecking on the little one. I would shoo her away, but one morning i went in and the whole side of the little one's face was all bloody! My heart dropped (she is my favorite) so i picked up the gray one and put her in the spare enclosure and told her she was NEVER getting out again! But now the little one and the other one (a solid black one) peck at each other and the black one hardly has any feathers and the ones she has seem to be broken, although i never see loose feathers in the coop. I have been told that if they peck each other, they are lacking protein. I talked to one of the local feed stores and they recommended a different feed, which i tried, but the chicks wouldn't eat it, or ate very little of it. I would like to have a new coop built, but would love not to have all the chicks in separate enclosures - it must be boring for them and more work for me! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!!
Also, i seem to have a problem with ants or mites or fleas or something - i am being eaten alive when i'm in the coop, as i am sure the chickies are too. I got some DE and spread it around on the ground rather heavily today. Any thoughts on that too??
Thanks everyone!
City Girl trying to be a Country Girl!

Also, i seem to have a problem with ants or mites or fleas or something - i am being eaten alive when i'm in the coop, as i am sure the chickies are too. I got some DE and spread it around on the ground rather heavily today. Any thoughts on that too??
Thanks everyone!
City Girl trying to be a Country Girl!
