Lots of aggression issues, what should I do?

[furbabymum]

I'm having issues with aggression. A few of my lower hens are bald on their heads and I feel awful about it. I'm not sure who is doing it either. The guineas are known meaney heads. I've been thinking about eliminating them honestly. There are 3 of them and I've watched them chase everyone off the feed. I feed in 5 different places and they run from one to the other to make sure no one eats. We have started chasing the guineas out, closing the door, then feeding. So the guineas may be the ones and killing them might stop it. Might not though. How can I stop it if it's the chickens who are being mean to each other?

Just for details I have chickens (all hens), ducks (all hens), guineas, peacocks and turkey poults. Will getting a rooster help with the chicken problem? I didn't notice this issue when we had a rooster but the rooster attacked me non stop and thus got his head lopped off.

 

[furbabymum]

Wanted to add that I do keep all my poultry together in a very large barn with a very large run and access to 40 acres to free range. They can all come and go as they desire.

 

[RedDrgn]

I'd recommend spending some time watching them all and figure out who the real culprits are, otherwise, you're guessing and possibly guessing wrong (and therefore not resolving your problem with whatever action you do take).

It could be the guineas, but it could also be any of the hens or a rooster or two (if you have them).

 

[Daisy8s]

Check birds closely for mites that cause feather loss. Do some research so you know what the mites look like, when they come out, etc. For example, one kind lives in the wood and comes out at night to feed on the birds so you won't find it on the birds but they may still be affected by it.

Are the birds of an age to molt? Molting patterns vary. If they molted was their protein increased so they could regrow feathers?

 

[furbabymum]

I'd recommend spending some time watching them all and figure out who the real culprits are, otherwise, you're guessing and possibly guessing wrong (and therefore not resolving your problem with whatever action you do take).

It could be the guineas, but it could also be any of the hens or a rooster or two (if you have them).

The problem is, when I'm out there they are all around me. They know who feeds them that's for sure. The only ones I see being mean when I'm out there are the guineas and they're mean to everyone.

I don't currently have any roosters but I have noticed that since I killed our last rooster the pecking at the lower hens is worse. It's just two hens being mistreated.

 

[furbabymum]

Check birds closely for mites that cause feather loss. Do some research so you know what the mites look like, when they come out, etc. For example, one kind lives in the wood and comes out at night to feed on the birds so you won't find it on the birds but they may still be affected by it.

Are the birds of an age to molt? Molting patterns vary. If they molted was their protein increased so they could regrow feathers?

It's just 2 hens that have bald heads. No noticeable mites on them. They sleep with the other poultry so I don't see how it'd be only them getting mites. It has to be everyone else being mean.

 

[Den in Penn]

I have notice that the friend sometimes are the ones pecking the feathers out of their friend's heads. Sort of a friendly gesture, like preening, gone wrong. I think it perpetuates by them pulling the blood feathers when they come in like they would a pest. Don't really know what to do about it except to go pinless peepers or separate.

 

[Daisy8s]

It's just 2 hens that have bald heads. No noticeable mites on them. They sleep with the other poultry so I don't see how it'd be only them getting mites. It has to be everyone else being mean.

Some mites don't live on the birds. They live in the wood and then come out at night to feed on the birds.

Some birds can be more run down than others and more susceptible to mites.

You mentioned that when you're out there they're with you. First, don't feed them when you go out, they'll quickly lose interest once they're sure you don't have food and then they'll resume their habits. Another key time to watch them is as they're getting on the roost at night. This is when I see where everyone is in the pecking order--it is clearly displayed given who gets the best spot, gets up first, isn't allowed up till the end, etc.

 

[javamilk99]

I ended up getting rid of my guineas this spring, because they were so mean to the other birds. The male was attacking the turkeys, and all of them were attacking the chickens. When my laundry room became an infirmary, I knew it was time to get them gone.