My chickens keep killing each other!

[lazy gardener]

Please clarify: 3 birds. They are eating a mix that is approximately 50% layer pellets and 50% scratch grain. They are going through approximately 1 to 1.25 gallons of feed per day?

When you have had dead birds, did you find them dead? What did they look like? Any wounds on them in the days leading up to the deaths?

Need pics of your coop, inside and out to figure out the issue.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Scratch has really low protein and is diluting their needed protein. I'd cut that scratch down to a little handful in their bedding per day.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They were bought at our local Tractor supply. The breed is Golden Comets. Their coop is 7ft tall and 12ft long. They have objects to roost on and I feed them non-gmo scratch feed and non-gmo layer pellets. Occasionally I buy them a huge bag of dried millworms for them to eat. They are nearly a year old. I’ve had to seperate them from the others because they were plucking their feathers out and eventually eating their rear ends. Its really odd because in my other chicken coop I have 5 amberlink hens and a duck and I they dont peck each other or fight each other.

Later should be fed as the sole ration, in general layer has a 16% protein, look for something with 20-22%. I have had troubles in the past with Comets and layer ration. Try putting them on a non medicated grower or an All Flock ration with a separate bowl of oyster shells.

I had no luck breaking the habit of feather and egg eating in my comets and removed them. I no longer keep them, but I have learned to feed a higher ration, especially if you feed anything extra.

 

[BriannaM2216]

Please clarify: 3 birds. They are eating a mix that is approximately 50% layer pellets and 50% scratch grain. They are going through approximately 1 to 1.25 gallons of feed per day?

When you have had dead birds, did you find them dead? What did they look like? Any wounds on them in the days leading up to the deaths?

Need pics of your coop, inside and out to figure out the issue.

They eat all the time the only time that they dont eat is when they are laying hens. When I find the dead birds they have had their sides and tail feathers plucked and they begin to physically eat the back end of them. I would take pictures of the actual dead hen where they plucked the area clean and ate part of the bird. They ate it all the way to the point you could see the egg on the inside.

 

[BriannaM2216]

Later should be fed as the sole ration, in general layer has a 16% protein, look for something with 20-22%. I have had troubles in the past with Comets and layer ration. Try putting them on a non medicated grower or an All Flock ration with a separate bowl of oyster shells.

I had no luck breaking the habit of feather and egg eating in my comets and removed them. I no longer keep them, but I have learned to feed a higher ration, especially if you feed anything extra.

My husband really wants to get rid of them because like you said, its hard to keep them from feather plucking and egg eating (luckly they havent started eating the eggs yet) but I will most certainly try that feed ratio first thing in the morning.

 

[lazy gardener]

No signs of injury in the days leading up to the death?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

The problem appears to be that they are feather picking each other and as soon as blood is drawn they go into a frenzy like a school of piranha and eat their hapless flockmate. My suggestion is to cull your 3 remaining comets and start over with some pure breeds. If egg production is what you are looking for try White Leghorns and Plymouth Barred Rocks instead of sex links.

 

[lazy gardener]

I agree with OHLD, but also think you have other issues involved here. Your birds are protein deficient. But, i also think you have a rodent issue. Your birds should not be going through that much feed. It's also quite possible that a predator is killing the bird, and the rest of the flock then move in. Chickens are opportunists. And if your birds are not getting their needs met, they will devour a flock mate who is down. Or, if they are feather picking, the sight of blood can lead to a total cannibalistic frenzy.

 

[BriannaM2216]

No signs of injury in the days leading up to the death?

None whatsoever. I woke up this morning at 0600 to check on them all four were alive went to work, came home at 1700 to a dead bird

 

[BriannaM2216]

The problem appears to be that they are feather picking each other and as soon as blood is drawn they go into a frenzy like a school of piranha and eat their hapless flockmate. My suggestion is to cull your 3 remaining comets and start over with some pure breeds. If egg production is what you are looking for try White Leghorns and Plymouth Barred Rocks instead of sex links.

Hmmm, that was what I was thinking about. Except I don’t know of anywhere that sells pure breeds