Pecking?? Need help!

[WhatTheCluck30]

Hello everyone! We have officially made it through an entire year with our first chickens, 3 Buffs, 3 Speckled Sussex. In the last several months we started noticing two of our Speckled Sussex had pink bald spots on their bums. We did some googling and decided that it was probably pecking, we saw no evidence of mites and even dusted the hen house for good measure. We've been keeping an eye on them and started putting "Pick-No-More Coverup Lotion" on the affected areas, hoping it would help the downy feathers grow back. Well the spots have only gotten bigger and now 2 of our Buffs have pink bald areas below their wings! I feel like we make every effort to keep them happy. They're in a fairly roomy Garden Coop, we give them lots of fruits, veggies & mealworms and they're allowed to free range in the backyard 3-5 days a week. They don't exhibit aggressive behavior during the day. Not sure what to do to turn this problem around and I'm so afraid I'm going to find one of my chickens pecked to bits one morning

Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Do they roost at different levels, and if so, can chickens on lower roost reach the ones on a higher roost?

What is the protein % of the feed you are giving? Try increasing the protein temporarily by continuing the mealworms but eliminating the fruits and vegetables. As healthy as they are, they contain little protein so if your layer feed is 16% protein, if they eat lots of those things, that has the possibility of lowering the protein to lower than they need.

 

[WhatTheCluck30]

@ChickenCanoe, we only have one long roost that they all comfortably sit on. I'll check the protein % and report back!

 

[LaBull]

I'd also like to know a solution to this problem. I have just found one hen has had most of her feathers removed over a couple of days from pecking. My girls are 18mths old and always been together so don't know why this has suddenly happened.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'd also like to know a solution to this problem. I have just found one hen has had most of her feathers removed over a couple of days from pecking. My girls are 18mths old and always been together so don't know why this has suddenly happened.

If they have plenty of space, check for lice/mites and protein they are getting.