pecking leading to health issues and death

[smcmillan]

I have 30 layers that run in a 20X 40 area, associated with their coop. their pecking (Attacks) have resulted in loss of feathers, bleeding and even death. I have 3 acres next to me that I can open a closed-in walk ( 8 feet) into the field and perhaps that will keep the pecking to a minimum

 

[Ducksandchickens]

Yes. Make a bigger run!

 

[sylviethecochin]

800 feet is plenty of room for thirty chickens. I'm more curious as to the protein percentage of your feed. If hens aren't getting enough nutrients, they will often seek them out in the form of other chickens.

EDT: Welcome to BYC!

 

[rebrascora]

Free ranging will almost always improve pecking issues but comes at a risk from predators, so you need to weigh up the risks against the benefits. And domestic dogs can be one of the worst offenders. There are also risks of crop impaction if they haven't had access to grass before and it is not very short.
Are you sure that the deaths have been caused by pecking and not some disease or ailment and pecking has either occurred as a result of them being sick or after death. It is normal behaviour for chickens to want to run a sick bird out of the flock, to prevent spread of disease. In an enclosure, the sick bird cannot get away and can get pecked to death, but may still have died of the ailment anyway. Pecking order squabbles happen and blood is sometimes drawn. I have a couple that have been at it for a few days now.... spring is silly season.... and there have been bloody combs, but they will figure it out.
How old are your girls? Have they all been brought up together? Adding new birds to an existing flock can cause aggression and needs to be managed carefully. Providing interesting things for them to do in the run and creating perches and stumps for birds to get out of the way of bullies can help. Hanging cabbages and throwing weeds in for them to scratch through and peck at can all improve behaviour.
Apologies if you are already doing some of these things but it is not really possible to know someone's set up from just one short post.

 

[rebrascora]

Also plenty of food and watering stations will help ease tensions.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

800 feet is plenty of room for thirty chickens. I'm more curious as to the protein percentage of your feed. If hens aren't getting enough nutrients, they will often seek them out in the form of other chickens.

EDT: Welcome to BYC!

Cannibal syndrome comes from food quality and quantity some times. I agree. I forget the per bird ratio.. 1/2 lb per day? (for non free range). So 15 to 20 lbs should be included with the program?
Attacking the egg boxes for a food source would be a tell tale sign as well.
I like to feed pellets. They seem to expand in their bellies and fill them up faster. But pellets make mine drink a lot more.