OHio ~ Come on Buckeyes, let me know your out there!

[OHhappychicks]

OHhappychicks,prayers to you and yours.

Thank you so much cabinchicky! I truly appreciate it.

 

[cabinchicky]

Help! loosing my mind here! Goofy barred rocks and black giants are pecking feathers from each other still. They have high protein feed, electro lights,toys, big run but still peck like mad. no bugs on them they are just so aggressive anymore. no peck spray and wound treatment doest stop them either. Only my EEs haven't started pecking like mad hatters yet. Suggestions please!!!I am considering moving them to the freezer to end this madness because nothing is stopping it.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Help! loosing my mind here! Goofy barred rocks and black giants are pecking feathers from each other still. They have high protein feed, electro lights,toys, big run but still peck like mad. no bugs on them they are just so aggressive anymore. no peck spray and wound treatment doest stop them either. Only my EEs haven't started pecking like mad hatters yet. Suggestions please!!!I am considering moving them to the freezer to end this madness because nothing is stopping it.

Try separating your worst offenders. Sometimes a week or 2 away from the others does the trick. If it doesn't, thete's always the freezer.

 

[cabinchicky]

the worst ones all 6 can't be separated. I still have youngsters in pen in the run but yeah freezer is tempting. they peck even while blue coat is on.

 

[cabinchicky]

I really don't want to put them in freezer but I am lost as why its happening. Food is better,electro lights upped, they go out everyday,and they have more than enough toys and boredom busters. They will even peck out their own feathers. I see no mites or lice, pls any clues why they are doing this??? Hubby says it hormones, sigh.I am going to swap my youngsters out of pen and put the three worst pecking ones in. is the best thing to do first. I don't want to loose them, they were very good till late winter, and then the started in. They lay well but the aggression I don't need.Oh and they are getting around 20% protein from feed plus eggs and leftover meat.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I had 3 production reds last summer that tried to pick everyone naked. I tried separating them, they were already getting 20% protein fermented feed. I knew they weren't hungry because I was over feeding & they still had feed in the bowls at all times. Turns out they were just overly dominant. I had gotten them from somewhere where they had been over crowded & it was learned behavior. Very hard to break when there's no actual physical reason for it. I sold them off 1 at a time starting with the worst offender hopi.g. it would stop. It finally stopped when I sold the last 1. I have a couple hens picking now, but it's a dominance issue. Any time I toss new bids in the pen, they begin yanking feathers to maintain their place in the pecking order. I can tell you ehich hens will be the first to go when my new pullets mature.

 

[cabinchicky]

I think its aggression/learned habit now. Rehoming I don't think I can to anyone in family but may check.

 

[Bnemi]

Northwest Ohio, Bryan. 14 barred rocks at home.

 

[cabinchicky]

Bnemi, welcome to the thread!!

 

[big medicine]

I really don't want to put them in freezer but I am lost as why its happening. Food is better,electro lights upped, they go out everyday,and they have more than enough toys and boredom busters. They will even peck out their own feathers. I see no mites or lice, pls any clues why they are doing this??? Hubby says it hormones, sigh.I am going to swap my youngsters out of pen and put the three worst pecking ones in. is the best thing to do first. I don't want to loose them, they were very good till late winter, and then the started in. They lay well but the aggression I don't need.Oh and they are getting around 20% protein from feed plus eggs and leftover meat.

Just out of curiosity, what are you feeding ?

I had something similar with my young birds several years ago when Purina switched to their plant based recipe chick starter. Switched over to a animal protein based starter and it all went away. I suspect they were lacking something in their diet, some thought amino acids.

Sounds like you are trying to cover your bases by feeding extra protein and meat. Might try some of those catfish pellets, or even a little dry cat food. Or it could be like others are saying, it is now a learned and ingrained behavior. Nothing a hatchet won't cure.