I think my chickens are killing each other

[txliss]

My granddad raised egg chickens in the '50s. My Dad said that when the chickens were too crowded, or had too little protein in the feed that they'd fight, then cannibalize as soon as they saw blood. He'd go in the next morning and find a beak and feet - nothing else. Had the same problem with hogs. If that had been a predator problem, there would have been far more deaths at once.

Grandad was fanatic about animal health and safety, so he never lost many in a year. His solution was to change his feed ratios when the birds couldn't go outside. Try raising the protein percentage and give them stuff to keep 'em busy - hanging cabbages, etc... Blue Kote any injury right away. I hope you figure out what's going on with your birdies!

 

[Zoey]

We have mongooses, here, they are vicious, and they can squeeze through tiny holes, usually theuy eat the chicks, ducklings, goslings, and eggs, but they occasionally do take on a full sized chicken..

I agree, though, in this case the hens are doing it ...

Be sure they are getting enough to eat and enough protein.. Chickens can eat 2 to 4 POUNDS of feed a week, so it's important to not let them run out of feed during daylight hours... vthe protein level should be a consistant 16%, scratch is usually 8 % or less, if they are eating a bunch of that it will drop their overall level of protein intake ... Scratch should take up less than 10% of their entire diet ...

 

[kell]

It went well today. Everyone is alive and enjoying the cabbage heads I tossed in. I went out to two local feed stores to find blue-kote and no one had any, so a friend of mine is going to TSC near her home about an hour away. I locked them in last night and put the red light on and all went well. Thanks for asking!!

 

[kell]

I am going to keep these birds busy eating lots of extra fruits and veggies, in addition to their laying pellets and cracked corn. As we are going to have another 16 inches of snow tomorrow, they won't be seeing grass for a long time, but the run is covered and has lots of hay in it, so they will be fine. As long as they are alive I am happy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Glad to hear everyone is well. Just read on the predators thread about a racoon getting into the egg hatch so it can happen. This one had latches the coon turn the latch and helped himself.

 

[kell]

This coop is locked up like Fort Knox, especially since we put a lock the egg door last night. I've seen skunks around, but with an 80 lb. Bernese Mountain dog, they tend to stay away now. Nothing has been eating out of the garbage can either, so ...

 

[Miss Lydia]

yep if I saw an 80lb. Bernese Mtn. dog I believe I'd stay away too. I love those dogs always wanted one. use to go to alot of dog shows years ago and feel in love with that breed.

 

[kell]

Update on my flock.

No predators killing my chickens. I opened the coop and found two hens attacking another hen. Esme had her head crammed into the corner of a nesting box, and the two hens were pecking her bum. All of her downy feathers were gone, from her legs to her tail. She was bleeding a lot from her bum. I took her into the house and cleaned her up. Sprayed her bum with blue-kote and but her under a heat lamp in the brood cage. Laid an egg with a blood clot on it today and was eating fine this morning. Tonight she appears to be blind. Didn't see me come up and was flailing everywhere until I held her. Still eating, but can't get her to drink. Bum looks good, but there is bruising on her face. Not sure if she will make it. What do I do about this with the flock? They get a head of cabbage everyday since this started, to keep them from being bored.

 

[greekbioguy]

sorry about your looses i would suspect you had some sort of predator but since you say you don't then the cause for this trouble is overcrowding. i would suggest to reduce your flock by half for the space you have for them, or you can offer them a far larger space by adding a new coop and run

 

[Miss Lydia]

I would suggest to take one of the hens that was doing the pecking out for a while, sometimes that will upset the pecking order and stop the problem, Can you let them out during the day at all. I know it's cold but they need some outside time. You girl that was attacked , she needs lots of time and TLC. I wouldn't put her back in till her bum is healed. You might even consider finding homes for the culprits if they don't stop, but I'd try seperation first.