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

 

[CashewVulture]

Hello again! My hens seemed to have stopped plucking feathers. I rarely see them doing it to others. My rooster however, has never stopped. He is the best rooster ever in every possible way except for this! I decided to let him free range 5 hours every day. But he still plucks! He doesn’t do it aggressively or anything, he just gently pecks the hens repeatedly until feathers come out. Then he calls them so they can eat the feathers. The hens don’t mind AT ALL.

But my hens look hideous from all the pecking! They are all rough and crusty now. I love my rooster and wouldn’t sell him, so what should I do? Any vitamins or supplements that could help?

 

[Bawkbok]

That is a very small space for so many birds. I'm amazed feather picking is your only problem.
I can't answer your question about your rooster as we've never had one.
Perhaps your feed store has or can order some no pecking spray. You have to be careful to not get it on their face. We have some but have never had the need to use it. I've heard it works wonders in situations like you're experiencing.
I would like to offer a suggestion so please don't be insulted. With so much land it's a shame they can't take advantage of it. They are probably bored and don't get much exercise. I was trying to think of a way for you to offer more yard space until you can expand their run later in the fall, as mentioned.
Is it possible to search for some free fencing (any kind) in your area from someone that might be looking to get rid of it if you pick it up? Often times people replace old fencing, expand, etc. and want to get rid of rusting items so rather than disposing of it they start what I call a 'bone pile' and there it sits when someone else could use it. We know someone who had a new fence installed but had no way of removing the prior chain link so the installer offered to remove it for free in lieu of digging up trees and stumps, etc. Free fencing for him for the labor. You never know what you might find. Put the word out, check bulletin boards at the grocery store, feed store, post office, etc.
Your flock is pretty. Wishing you the best.

 

[CashewVulture]

That is a very small space for so many birds. I'm amazed feather picking is your only problem.

It is. This was supposed to be a coop for them as chicks but things didn’t go as planned and their “real” coop isn’t built yet.

Perhaps your feed store has or can order some no pecking spray. You have to be careful to not get it on their face

Good idea. I think I will try this!

I would like to offer a suggestion so please don't be insulted. With so much land it's a shame they can't take advantage of it.

No worries! My other flock, is free range. I let them out late in the morning and bring them in myself a few hours before sunset. This flock is older and experienced and have survived many many attacks, I trust them more being free range. My flock with pecking issues are young and inexperienced and don’t have great reflexes.

The other problem is that we live near a popular hiking trail where people are allowed to bring their dogs. Most people let their dogs off leash. We have had numerous dogs run onto our property before and kill our free rangers. We also have coyotes and bears, and they have been a problem in the past, but they are easier to scare because they are wild animals. They also don’t go killing 3+ chickens in the span of 2 minutes.

Is it possible to search for some free fencing (any kind) in your area from someone that might be looking to get rid of it if you pick it up?

This is a good idea as well. It would probably be complicated though because it’s hard to find flat enough places to be able to set a fence.

But until then, how many hours should they free range minimum?