Please help! I am completely overwhelmed.

[darkmatter]

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See my BYC page for pics of my setup, I've had this going for twenty years. Sounds like your chickens are crowded and stressed out.

 

[onthespot]

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X2. Another way I have found to cut social tension is to put food and water at different levels, up on a platform which can be a piece of ply wood on top of a dog crate or up on a table you never want to use again, lol. And put roosts at different levels and angles so they can feel separate from each other and not forced to be in each others' face all the time. For hiding places, I lean small pieces of plywood against the sides, supported by a cinderblock at the foot so they don't get knocked down, around the perimiter of the coop or run, near their food and water. Hope it helps.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Did you see the pecking? Your'e sure this isn't a rooster mating problem? I've seen some heavily pecked chickens with no tail feathers from a rooster, so just thought of that. Your setup doesn't sound that bad, but maybe reducing flock size would be better than rebuilding everything.

 

[andie01]

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We are feeding them the start and grow formula that has 18% protein.

 

[andie01]

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I have seen them pecking. I went to our local co-op yesterday where my husband purchased the chickens from. He was told that he was being sold 4 Black Orpingtons, 4 Americaunas, and 4 Buff Orpingtons. When I spoke to the gal yesterday, I found out that our 4 black and white chickens are Wyandottes and that they do tend to be a more aggressive breed. I had initially thought that the one Americauna was the instigator of the pecking, but now I am thinking that she may have just been doing it because of the blood on the other three that had gotten pecked. The 4 Wyandottes that we have do seem to be doing the pecking. I've thought about getting rid of them, but feel bad doing that. I'm thinking that the 4 Wyandottes may get to live in the existing coop and we'll put the Americaunas and Buff Orpingtons in the new coop once it's built.

 

[TrystInn]

Andie, you might try adding a red light to the coop at night. The red will confuse them because they won't be able to see the blood and it will help keep them calm. You can buy red-colored lightbulbs at home improvement stores.

 

[mommissan]

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We are feeding them the start and grow formula that has 18% protein.

I lean towards the protein myself. I have worked with pheasant farms and the pecking is worse when the protein is low. my birds get meat as a treat. Blinders were also used when diet change wasn't an option.

 

[MKingsolver]

Oddly enough we were going through this very same thing with a Wyandotte. It finally got so bad that I had to rehome her. My other kids are doing well. I like to toss out scraps and they really enjoy a halved canteloupe or honeydew! I'm sorry you're having such trouble and I completely understand how you feel because I considered walking away from the whole thing, too. But...I've never been a quitter so I'm just trying to maintain my sanity and hang in there. I hope you can do the same.

I also heard Flock Blocks were good for combatting cannibalism, maybe you could try one of those? I currently have our kids on Purina Flock Raiser which is 20% protein so maybe adding just a bit more protein and giving them things other than each other to pick at might help?

I wish you all the best! Just think...when we start getting those fantastic eggs all the frustration will be worth it!

 

[Sinfonian]

Maybe I missed it, but is this a pecking order issue? Did you introduce these pecked chicks to the rest of the existing flock? It sounds just like that. So sorry you're having those issues.

I'm afraid that those pecking chickens may have developed a taste for it and may cause problems forever. Please tell me I'm wrong here. I'd hate to recommend culling and be wrong.

You have an unenviable situation. Good luck! I sure hope you figure it out.

 

[beagletack]

I would add some roosts in the run and buy some crickets at your local bait shop fpr treats. They will get so excited chasing the crickets around they will forget about cannabilizing , plus the crickets are good protein.