picking/pecking other chickens

[Chullicken]

I found my Red Sexlinks to be quite aggressive as juveniles. The Blue Kote seemed to help stop the feather pulling. I had a bunch of purple butts running around at one point. Once one of my Black Australorps became head hen, the Red Sex Links chilled out. It probably helps that they have a large area to free range & a lot to keep them busy.

Funny about the Australorp. I have one and they constantly do battle for flock supremacy. Definitely think as you said for a home flock, Sex Links and the like really need more space and to be kept constantly busy with themselves or issues arise.

 

[hkid22]

UPDATE:

So two days ago I noticed 2 (out of 3) are missing good amounts of tail feathers. I have separated the Plucker to small size dog crate in the run with own food and water. Then at night I move cage into coop to stay warm with pine shavings. (No heat lamp and the low will be 2° with wind chills -30°). And if I'm paying close enough attention.. both being plucked are laying eggs. (Absolutely sure one is).

Should I continue isolation? If so for how long? Any more rhyme or reason why the more aggressive one doesn't lay? Am I crazy?? Lol.

 

[Welshies]

UPDATE:

So two days ago I noticed 2 (out of 3) are missing good amounts of tail feathers. I have separated the Plucker to small size dog crate in the run with own food and water. Then at night I move cage into coop to stay warm with pine shavings. (No heat lamp and the low will be 2° with wind chills -30°). And if I'm paying close enough attention.. both being plucked are laying eggs. (Absolutely sure one is).

Should I continue isolation? If so for how long? Any more rhyme or reason why the more aggressive one doesn't lay? Am I crazy?? Lol.

Your birds might be lacking protein as well as being overcrowded.
You could continue isolation but I highly suggest you sell some or cull.

 

[alexa009]

Yes, a pecking order with bossy chickens is usually very common especially in my flock. My chickens were always pecking and chasing each other so I expanded the pen about double the size. Mine also have some high protein in their feed and now they get along pretty well plus they have an extra feeder and waterer in case a bossy chicken is using it and won't let them go near it, that way they can move on to a different one.

 

[CJsCoop]

I had a feather picker/ eater. I think hers really was a protein deficiency. I switched to an all flock feed, added black oil sunflower seeds, did the hanging food (apples, cabbage, etc), and put pick no more on the afflicted hens. She has totally stopped. So, there’s hope!

 

[Hillary Anne]

Ugh... this JUST happened to us. We started with two hens and lost one when the temperature dropped a near 40 degrees and then shot back up. Because of the impending winter, we wanted to ensure we had other chickens to keep our surviving hen warm and social. The integration was fine, it was like the Thunder-dome for a day and then things settled. But as it turned out the two new chickens brought a terrible pecking behaviour with them.

Many butt feathers were lost over the holidays and things were getting really bloody which was not helping. I did a ton of research and tried just about everything, but our chickens are living pretty good lives so I was running out of possible changes to make. Two weeks ago I spent the day sewing saddles for all three of them. Even though they are not all getting pecked, they all needed to have jackets to avoid bullying. They hated it at first, but after a day or two things settled down. So far, I'm comfortable saying it has worked. They look ridiculous, but there hasn't been anymore pecking and feathers are growing back.

 

[Welshies]

Ugh... this JUST happened to us. We started with two hens and lost one when the temperature dropped a near 40 degrees and then shot back up. Because of the impending winter, we wanted to ensure we had other chickens to keep our surviving hen warm and social. The integration was fine, it was like the Thunder-dome for a day and then things settled. But as it turned out the two new chickens brought a terrible pecking behaviour with them.

Many butt feathers were lost over the holidays and things were getting really bloody which was not helping. I did a ton of research and tried just about everything, but our chickens are living pretty good lives so I was running out of possible changes to make. Two weeks ago I spent the day sewing saddles for all three of them. Even though they are not all getting pecked, they all needed to have jackets to avoid bullying. They hated it at first, but after a day or two things settled down. So far, I'm comfortable saying it has worked. They look ridiculous, but there hasn't been anymore pecking and feathers are growing back.

I wonder why those new chickens pecked. Sounds like a dietary deficiency, IMHO. I am so glad you sorted it out