Major picking- HELP!

[Chicks Galore3]

I walked into the coop today, and it sounded like a wild animal had gotten into the coop and was eating a chicken alive! I rushed in and the second part was true- but it was getting eaten by another chicken!!!! It was chasing her around the coop, trying really hard to eat the feathers. Several (All?!?!?!) of my chickens are doing this. I am so helpless I am ready to cry! WHY are they doing this and WHAT can I do to STOP IT?

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Please? I have no idea what to do. More protein? More vitamans? They aren't crowded, they have a 10' by 14' plus a 8' by 6' coop.

 

[bj taylor]

i'm not sure what started your problem. boredom may have initiated it. i have read where people have hung a cabbage in a mesh bag where the chickens can "work" on it. they suspend the bag at a height where the birds have to reach a little.
i would use blu kote on any wounds. it's a great product to work to heal the wound, but it also camoflages it so the others aren't inclined to keep picking at it.
you may have a single bird that is terrorizing everyone else. if this is what's happening, you may need to re-home that bird.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I thought i had a single bird, but now I've seem half of my flock pecking. Thank you for your answer!

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Do you guys think maybe the chickens like the taste of feathers, so they are eating them? I also discovered not all of them can fit around the feeder- it seemed the most pecking was when they were waiting in line to eat. So I moved the feeder so they all could get to it.

 

[mg15]

Do you guys think maybe the chickens like the taste of feathers, so they are eating them? I also discovered not all of them can fit around the feeder- it seemed the most pecking was when they were waiting in line to eat. So I moved the feeder so they all could get to it.

I have one 40 pound feeder that hangs in the coop. For free feeding at any time.
I make mash in the a.m. and I have FOUR bowls, dog bowls, saucers from plants, etc.
all around and in different places so that everyone has a chance at a feeding of the mash (I call it mash, crumbles mixed in warm water).
Then I put out pots of grown tall wheat grass. It works pretty much of the time. Something for everyone.