Picking and it won’t stop.please help I am worrying

[Pioneer Belle]

Hi I currently have ten chickens. They started laying in September. And are laying about 5-7 eggs a day. Although I have a problem going for about a month now they are picking the base of each other’s tails and the butt. I have given them boredom busters. Such as a pecks no block pumpkins, leaves and weeds, mealworms daily, a mirror, hanging string and they have lots of perches. They are feed a layer ration with daily mealworms. I have 4 feeders. Plenty of perch space in the coop and adequate spacing. I have treated for mites just in case. I have tryed spraying the feathers being pecked with vinigar. And now I am using hen saddles to protect that area. Any advice on how to stop. I wish I could let them free range but we have lots of dogs raccoons coyotes and such so not realistic. Thank you in advance. Please help.

 

[coach723]

You have a rooster? The damage I can see in the one picture looks like rooster damage from mounting. In the group picture I think I can see a rooster, but not a good enough view to tell for sure. Also, what are the actual dimensions of your run? It really appears too small for 10 birds if they are in there all the time. Adequate space is determined by the birds actual behavior, and not by a chart on paper. What works for one group may be too small for another. A flock with a rooster tends to need more space so the girls have a chance to say no and run away if they want to.

 

[Pioneer Belle]

I do not have a rooster I do have two brown leghorns though. Lots of people think they are roosters. They lay lots of eggs though. Do you think if I add on space it would help? I am willing to try. I was thinking maybe a chicken tunnel but that would only work during the summer as we get lots of snow.

 

[Pioneer Belle]

The dimensions of the coop are 4 by 6 and I think the run is 16ft by 4ft plus under the coop. Not sure would have to go measure.

 

[LaFleche]

I agree with @coach723 that your space seems too tight for the amount of hens you keep as they are not able to get out of each others faces if need be.

Some of the perches are out of reach for them as the run is too narrow for a safe descend. they will bump into the opposite mesh.

EDA: Maybe you could install a second level to double their run space and provide retreats.

 

[Pioneer Belle]

The ones that mainly go up there are the leghorns as they are a flighty breed they seem to be fine descending. I guess though I will have to add on to waver my problems. Hopefully before winter though.

 

[RainbowHen]

Hi there! Sorry you are having a problem. More space will definitely help. For 10 birds Your coop should be a minimum of 40sq ft (not including nest boxes) and your run should be a minimum of 100sq ft. Add things to block their view of each other. The wider the space the better.

 

[Pioneer Belle]

I have a old tree house I could turn into extra space. Do I will try that thank you

 

[coach723]

I think more space will really be the solution for you, however you can make that happen. When there is no rooster sometimes a dominant hen will do mounting behavior, so that may still explain the bare backs. There also may be feather picking of the fuzzy or bare spots making it worse.

 

[RainbowHen]

Have you witnessed the picking? Have you checked for mites and lice?