Hen pecking

[Chescochickens]

I’ll head down there later and take a picture of the inside of the coop. There are two windows and vents on either end of it but it’s been really hot and humid here. We live in Southeastern PA and temperatures have been in the 90s recently.

On a positive note, the speckled Sussex has been much easier to catch so I am able to put blue Kote on her more frequently and see some feather regrowth so it appears to be working as a deterrent.

 

[Chescochickens]

Forgot to respond about the feed: I have been feeding them Organic Purina Layer Crumbles with 16% protein. I also give them mealworms, scratch, oyster shell, and grit every morning to keep them busy. I’ve been incorporating kale and cabbages too. In the evening I throw in any scraps I have from the kitchen that day. Open to suggestions if you think food could be part of the issue. Thanks!

 

[aart]

Forgot to respond about the feed: I have been feeding them Organic Purina Layer Crumbles with 16% protein. I also give them mealworms, scratch, oyster shell, and grit every morning to keep them busy. I’ve been incorporating kale and cabbages too. In the evening I throw in any scraps I have from the kitchen that day. Open to suggestions if you think food could be part of the issue. Thanks!

I would cut out the veg and scraps and get a higher protein feed.
Were they on organic feed where they lived before you got them?

 

[Chescochickens]

Ok! A grower feed then? I live near several feed stores and a Tractor Supply so one should carry something with higher protein.

They were on layer pellets (don’t remember the brand) at their prior home and apparently never ate them and only ate scraps. They seem to like the Purina feed and are always eating which is an improvement.

 

[aart]

A grower feed then?

Maybe or an 'all flock'.
Learn to read the nutrition tags sewn into the bottom of the bags that show the percentage of protein, calcium(the 2 most important), and other things.
Layer feed has 3-4% calcium, others only 1-2%.
You can always provide calcium in the form of oyster shells, instead of buying a layer feed.
Also look at the manufacturing dates so you don't buy feed that is more 6 weeks old,
the fresher the better.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

To help with pecking, I would suggest some enrichment as well. I use hen healer any time my girls have a wound. It’s a blue paste. To help train them to return to the coop, start feeding same time every evening so they associate the time with feeding and you with the feed. Then when you let them out, bring the food at that time so they follow you down, and continue repeating. Soon they’ll know

I hope I rememner this when the time comes. Think I should pin this too. Thank you.

 

[Jalloway]

I hope I rememner this when the time comes. Think I should pin this too. Thank you.

I was just thinking of this post earlier. I had let my girls out in the yard and soon as they saw me come out later, they waddle ran as fast as possible assuming I had food

 

[Chescochickens]

Maybe or an 'all flock'.
Learn to read the nutrition tags sewn into the bottom of the bags that show the percentage of protein, calcium(the 2 most important), and other things.
Layer feed has 3-4% calcium, others only 1-2%.
You can always provide calcium in the form of oyster shells, instead of buying a layer feed.
Also look at the manufacturing dates so you don't buy feed that is more 6 weeks old,
the fresher the better.

I’ll see what Tractor Supply carries next time I’m there. I never thought to buy another type of feed and just supplement with more oyster shell. Thank you!!

Also, here are pictures of the coop. It’s narrow but the roosting bar is pretty long so I would think they have enough space.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Very narrow coop but if they're roosting ok then I guess it works.

Run looks nice but is a bit sparse. You could probably use a little more clutter to keep them occupied: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/ but mind the scale of clutter vs narrowness of your space, so birds to don't cornered or forced too close to others if being pursued.

 

[Chescochickens]

Very narrow coop but if they're roosting ok then I guess it works.

Run looks nice but is a bit sparse. You could probably use a little more clutter to keep them occupied: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/ but mind the scale of clutter vs narrowness of your space, so birds to don't cornered or forced too close to others if being pursued.

Thank you for taking a look! I added more logs and long branches this morning based on your suggestion and they already seem more entertained. I’ll add some hay bales too.