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

[Pioneer Belle]

Yes I have witnessed the picking it is so sadtreated for mites as a precaution already

 

[Cee]

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. View attachment 2397681View attachment 2397681View attachment 2397682

Do you have any girls not missing feathers? Those are most likely the culprits.

 

[LaFleche]

Do you have any girls not missing feathers? Those are most likely the culprits.

Probably the two Leghorns.

 

[Pioneer Belle]

I have one hen the smallest one she is the leader. I separated her for a week but nothing changed

 

[Cee]

I have one hen the smallest one she is the leader. I separated her for a week but nothing changed

Oh boy. I did that too. It helped a short while and then mine went right back to pecking again. For sure try the other suggestions. If that doesn't help, you can try pinless peepers as a last resort.

 

[Pioneer Belle]

I am going to allow them out supervised every week or so until I can expand. Will they be mad though when I make them go back in? I’d this a bad idea? It is my only optio though. Thoughts they will never be fully free range as our beagle would kill them also other predators.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Letting them out when you can is better than nothing - it will give them an outlet for a little while.
They may complain if they can't go out, but chickens complain about a lot of things.
Hopefully you can give them more space when you can. I think this will help with your picking problem.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I am going to allow them out supervised every week or so until I can expand. Will they be mad though when I make them go back in? I’d this a bad idea? It is my only optio though. Thoughts they will never be fully free range as our beagle would kill them also other predators.

We trained our flock to come back to the coop with meal worms and music. We started by playing the Chicken Dance Song in the run everytime we gave them mealworms. They now come running whenever they hear the song.

 

[BDutch]

Good thing to make another coop and divide the flock or just add space to give them more room. Hope it isn’t too late bc sometimes when chickens have a habit of picking feathers its not easy to stop this. Not even after giving more space. (Not my but someone else’s experience).

Therefore I would seperate all peckers in one coop/run and all easy going chickens in another coop/run if possible. Changing the group dynamics may have a positive effect.

In general:
Some breeds like leghorns and other flighty breeds need much more space then the easy to handle breeds.

 

[chicken_party6]

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. View attachment 2397910View attachment 2397912

it’s your roosters fault