pecking

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Steve612

Steve612

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I am new to this site but I have had chickens years ago but just got into them again. We have 11 hens and they just started pecking each other. We have pecking blocks in there pen and hanging blocks also but they still peck at each other. How do I stop this?
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

How often and intense are they pecking each other? Since chickens develop a pecking order there will always be a little pecking each day. However, bullying is when they hunt down or peck a chicken non-stop. To deal with this either increase their space, get rid of the bossy hens, put hideaways in the run/coop or give them lots of boredom busters. (Dirt, hanging treats, leaves, stumps, roosts, etc.)

Hope it ceases!
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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Mountain Peeps X2 Make sure they not only have things to do, but make sure they have enough space. 5 square feet per bird in the coop, 10 square feet in the run. Any less and they can start picking on each other. There is a pecking order and if you don't have enough watering and feed stations, the lower ranking birds can get picked on.

So plenty of space, more feed and water stations, things to do and the rest is pecking orders. If you have a specific bird that is a bully, you might need to give them a time out for a couple days to a couple months. You can also use pinless peepers on the bully to stop them from being too aggressive.

Good luck with your flock and welcome to ours!
 
Welcome to BYC! You've gotten some good advice and a good link from TwoCrows and Kelsie2290. How many square feet is your coop (and if they are confined, your run)? Overcrowding can quickly lead to aggression, feather plucking, and even cannibalism.
 
Hello I am new here and don't know where to go to start a question. Is this the right place or am I on someone's forum !
 
Well we bought 12 chickens about 4 months ago. There is one nice rooster that has always let me pick him up. A few days ago the alpha rooster got really mean and we had to put him in a cage by himself. Though he is still near the chicken coop with the other Chickens. I think there are 3 more roosters but I am not positive one is. Well the nice one that I have always been able to pick up has started pecking me and has drawn blood 3 times. Why did he start pecking me?
 
Chickens mom, you are in the right place but, it is best to start a new thread for yourself rather than piggy back on someone else's thread. When you have your own thread replies are meant for you, so you will get your own responses and attention rather than sharing with another thread starter.

It's no crime but it gets confusing for all parties .
 

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