Mean chickens!

[Cindychicks]

My chickens molted and are STILL missing lots of feathers and looking very nasty. There are some VERY mean chicks that have caused harm to others so much so that I had to separate 2 to heal up. It seems 1 or 2 of the chicks cause damage and then ALL of them start pecking the backs of the injured chicks until they are bleeding and limping. HELP!

 

[lazy gardener]

How many birds? How old? What breed? What is the temperature high and low where they are being housed? Supplemental heat? What is the s.f. of their coop/brooder (exact measurement L x W). What are they on for feed, including protein % and mill date?

 

[Cindychicks]

I have 20 birds that are mixed as I started with 10 of my own, and then inherited 4 and another 8 from people who decided they needed to, "get rid of their chickens". Two of my original 10 were killed by a skunk that squezed into the coop. I have since fixed that problem with stucco wire everywhere. I do know I have 6 Leghorns, 1 Amercaucana (she's from my original batch - years old?), 2 Sexlinks? that look like the Orpingtons, 5 Rhode Island Reds, 4 Plymouth Rocks-I think because they are a speckled black and white, 2 black ones - maybe Australorp. The newer chicks are around 2 years old, I believe. I feed them high protein (16-18%), they always have a, "treat block" to pick at, plenty of oyster shell and greens several times a week when I have them. I have put golf balls in their nesters. I have separated the two injured chicks in an area within the coop. It gets up to 100 degrees in the daytime and down to the 70's at night. Since we live on the mountain, I can't allow them to free range. I have an 8X10 Lifetime shed for their roosting/nesting and an 11X11 fenced area attached to the shed.

 

[lazy gardener]

Your coop space is sufficient, but your run is only big enough for 11 birds. And, even with adequate space in the coop, your birds may not use the coop now b/c it is too hot. IMO, crowding is your issue. Check the protein content of the treat block. If it is less than 16%, they are most likely diluting their nutrients with the block. Poor nutrition and crowding are almost always the cause of feather picking and blood letting, which if not curbed, can lead to cannibalism. You might consider converting the run to deep litter management to give them improved activity choices. Do a thread search and you will find plenty of information about how to get started.

BTW, I know it's a silly case of semantics, but word choice and use is very important when it comes to receiving the correct advice. When you say chicks, the mental image it conjures up is baby chickens, not adults. Also, if you put general location in your profile, you are more apt to receive appropriate advice.