I think my chickens are killing each other

[kell]

I am totally on board with removing the culprit. I am also looking at poultry blinders until I can rectify the situation. We got another five inches of snow, so their little run is all they will go out in. My husband was all excited when he thought the rooster was doing it, so he could take care of him. He was totally bummed when I told him it was a hen. I am looking for a home for the two barred rock hens this week, perhaps I will offer them as a trio with the barred rock rooster. I love Edward though. He is a beautiful rooster.

 

[kell]

Well, We had to cull the rogue hen today. Figured out who was doing the pecking, and when she bloodied another hen and then started in on the rooster, I knew she had to go. The rooster was afraid of her and she was pecking the hell out of the side of his head. Hopefully, this ends the problem. Esme is still in the basement healing. She is doing fine. I will probably release her back into the flock next week after the bitter cold ends.

Stay warm! Kelley

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi Kell, sorry you had to do that, but for the flocks welfare you have to do what you have to do... I know they will all be happier for it..

 

[xchickenpetx]

i have had a problem with my chicken eating the rectums out of other chicken and them dying it's canabilism not a preditor and one a canabal always a canable....put some of the stuff you put on trees when you prune then a large amount on the skinf where they are pecking and it will help heal the wounds and the pickers beak will be black. cull the bad chicken asap!!!!! we have lost over a dozen from this and it's disgusting!!!!!!! also try red lighting for your heat source!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

xchickenpetx glad to have ya.. thank goodness I haven't had that yet and I surely hope I never do. It's very disgusting for sure.

 

[kell]

Thanks x, I have a red light already. I have been putting blue-kote on my hens and it is working. Also wanted to let you all know. I purchased a chicken waterer heater and it rocks!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

That bluekote is great stuff and I think those heated waterers are too...

 

[dmiravalle]

First off, not all predators leave tracks, rats, and small predators will only leave tracks in a light snow. Anything they can fit their nose through, they can fit their body through. Also, look for loose dirt that the chickens might have scratch over that is actually a hole.

As for hens attacking each other, we had a RIR that would attack and kill another hen laying an egg in what she deemed as her nest box and it was a nasty bloody affair. Even though I always have many nest choices, they all insisted in laying in this one box. Needless to say, we ate the hen. Turn abouts fair play right??

But it did take a long time to figure it out, she wasn't hen pecking the other hens. And no one we knew would believe a chicken would kill like this. But occasionally, I believe, not all animals read the behaviour books.

Sorry about your losses. I personally vote to get rid of the problem birds, there are to many nicer birds that would love a good home.

PS - if you read about some of the breeds they don't handle confinement well. Just a thought???

 

[Whimsy]

Quote:
Kell I up the protein for my birds by feeding them finely chopped cooked meat scrapes, tuna I also give them the huge tubs of greens from Sams.

 

[Carolyn]

Whimsy addressed the protein which was what I planned to do. In giving them extra fruit, etc you may be further diluting the protein ratio and that is probably the most important nutrient in stopping this problem. Eggs, yogurt, cat food are good sources. Good luck. I had feather picking and egg eating develop as a problem one winter before I started letting them free range behind an electric net fence. We planned the coop and run with the recommended square footage but I don't think those recommendations always allow enough for them to spend all their time in a run. Having something to scratch and play in such as a pile of leaves seemed to help mine aggravate one another less. I guess snowbound chickens get cabin fever too. Hope things work out. I hope you turned the lights off at night after getting the heated water because not sleeping may make them worse.