Pecking

[CashewVulture]

My chickens are currently living in cramped quarters and are plucking feathers from each other. A lot of them have bald spots. They will get a much bigger coop/run later this year but until it is finished and ready to live in, I need to stop the feather pecking. I do provide hanging treats and scraps to keep them busy but it’s not enough.

I know chickens dislike citrus so if I were to mix citrus essential oils (lemon and/or orange) in a spray bottle with water, how much would I use? What ratios?

I want to make my own anti pecking spray because I can’t find any where I live

 

[nuthatched]

What's their diet, including treats?

 

[CashewVulture]

What's their diet, including treats?

They eat grower feed. The treats I give are eggshells, black soldier fly larvae, mealworms, oatmeal, sunflower seeds, radish leaves, and raisins.

 

[nuthatched]

They eat grower feed. The treats I give are eggshells, black soldier fly larvae, mealworms, oatmeal, sunflower seeds, radish leaves, and raisins.

Cut out all treats, it may help.

 

[BoundlessLove]

How many chickens do you have in the coop and what size is your coop?
Do you have a run?

 

[Shadrach]

My chickens are currently living in cramped quarters and are plucking feathers from each other. A lot of them have bald spots. They will get a much bigger coop/run later this year but until it is finished and ready to live in, I need to stop the feather pecking. I do provide hanging treats and scraps to keep them busy but it’s not enough.

I know chickens dislike citrus so if I were to mix citrus essential oils (lemon and/or orange) in a spray bottle with water, how much would I use? What ratios?

I want to make my own anti pecking spray because I can’t find any where I live

I think your asessment is probably right. Their diet as you describe would seem adequate. I've known chickens get fed a lot worse without resorting to feather pecking to supplement diet deficiencies.
You describe their current living conditions as cramped. As you are aware, I assume from your post, cramped conditions create stress and feather pecking can be the manifestaion of that stress.
I don't think there is a chemical solution and the only effective way to prevent this is to provide them with a lot more space.

 

[CashewVulture]

How many chickens do you have in the coop and what size is your coop?
Do you have a run?

One rooster, six hens. forgot the exact measurements but it’s definitely too small. I do free range them a minimum of 1 hour per day though. When they free range, they have 10 acres to walk through