Hens pecking each other, I've tried everything- im feeling frustrated!

Jenab26

In the Brooder
Aug 22, 2018
26
30
44
Watertown, NY
I've got 7 chickens, 8 week old, 5 definitely hens, 2 not sure yet. Littlest runt isn't growing well and the others must have started pecking her, went to let them out one morning and she had a huge swollen open wound on her neck! It's been about 2 weeks now and she is slowly healing, but not growing and we've been doing antibiotic spray and blue kote. This morning I noticed 2 of my others have small pecking wounds as well! All are close to their ears/neck. Blue koted those as well! They have a 10*10 run 8 ft tall, as well as their 5*5 coop and the room under that to roam. I've got a chicken swing, toys to put treats in, a couple stumps they can jump around on, water & food inside and out...I'm not sure what's going on at this point!
Tonight I noticed a patch of feathers from a chicken so they must have gotten into it some time today as well! It also looks like the 3 newly pecked ones have slight swelling on their ear area, but I can't tell for sure as this is my first flock. All are eating drinking & pooping fine. Any insight will be appreciated!
 
What breed(s) do you have? I have put Pinless Peepers on bullies and that stops the pecking....it fits adults, not sure about 8 week olds.
peepers.jpg
 
What breed(s) do you have? I have put Pinless Peepers on bullies and that stops the pecking....it fits adults, not sure about 8 week olds.
View attachment 1522328
I'll look into that!
I've got 2 buff orpingtons (those were hatched so not sure sex yet) and they are a week older than the others, 2 barred rock, 2 speckled Sussex and 1 partridge Plymouth (which is the one that seems to have stopped/extremely slow growth. She's about half size of the others
 
Right now they are getting a mix of mostly starter and a little grower to slowly switch over. They get a handful of mealworms scattered, a couple handfuls of clovers, a couple tomatoes or berries or other garden scraps daily. Grit as well.
Right now they are in the run because I'm too nervous to let them free range!
 
You might have to start. You've got some breeds that bore pretty easily. Speckled sussex for example are little balls of forageing energy. Grass time might help your runt grow. Do you fear predators or are you afraid you won't be able to get them back?
Right now they are getting a mix of mostly starter and a little grower to slowly switch over. They get a handful of mealworms scattered, a couple handfuls of clovers, a couple tomatoes or berries or other garden scraps daily. Grit as well.
Right now they are in the run because I'm too nervous to let them free range!
 
What about roosts? I find my higher ranking girls will peck at lower ranking girls to make them leave that roost bar. Do you have multiple places to roost in your coup. A lot of pecking goes on at roost time if a girl tries to sleep near someone of higher rank. Complicated social order thing!
 
You might have to start. You've got some breeds that bore pretty easily. Speckled sussex for example are little balls of forageing energy. Grass time might help your runt grow. Do you fear predators or are you afraid you won't be able to get them back?
We've got 1.75 acres, I'm more nervous about the neighbors dog (is outside all the time and has an electric collar, the road, and basically them just getting too far & birds picking them up We've got a big 'L' shaped fence area around the coop and run..if I could figure how to keep them around there I'd be good. The Sussex and one of the Plymouths are the ones that I noticed the pecks on. The partridge is the runt of the group, and she seems to hold her ground with the others fairly well!
 
What about roosts? I find my higher ranking girls will peck at lower ranking girls to make them leave that roost bar. Do you have multiple places to roost in your coup. A lot of pecking goes on at roost time if a girl tries to sleep near someone of higher rank. Complicated social order thing!
Last night was the first night I noticed them actually perched on the roosts! The Sussex we're perched tonight when I went to close them in for the night. They have 2 different roost bars to sit on, one slightly higher than the other. As of right now I'm building some for the outdoor run.
 
I'm also wondering if it has something to do with morning time, we are getting out to let them into the run around 7, 7:15am. We don't have an auto door, would that have something to do with it?
 

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